It’s a holistic view of the life of a warrior. And how battles are a lot less about violence than we think. More much flow is needed, to win battles, than strength.
The book is also a great starting point to learn about the history of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracies.
Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 3/5
Mindset: 4/5
Some of My Highlights:
“Traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu was developed for armed combat on the battlefield, but Judo was created in the late 1880s by Jigaro Kano as a safer, more sporting, weaponless alternative.”
“To Carlos Gracie, Jiu Jitsu was as much about psychology as it was about martial arts.”
“Carlos believed disease was the body’s form of protest, the way it told you that something was wrong with you.”
“Emotions are contagious. Hélio used to say that you had to break the emotional wave before it broke on you.”
“At one point, my dad went unconscious, but because he didn’t tap, Kimura thought his choke wasn’t working and released it, and Hélio regained consciousness.”
“For young kids, Jiu Jitsu should be nothing more than a fun form of recreating that introduces them to the movements through games and structured play.”
“Hélio always stressed the importance of sharpness, timing, and the killer instinct.”
“This experience taught me an important lesson about Jiu Jitsu: sometimes it’s not about escaping but about finding whatever comfort you can in hell.”
“I don’t make them examine just how they fight, but how they feel when they fight.”
“The ocean is too strong to fight; you have to flow with it, remain calm, and navigate your way in and out of incredibly complex situations.”
“As Gracies, we were all taught the protocols on fighting, diet, and training, but it was our decision to follow them or not. The lack of pressure, ironically, made me feel more grounded.”
“Curiosity coupled with courage allows you to go beyond your limits, venture into the unknown, and establish new limits that you never thought were possible.”
“I eventually learned that the capacity to accept anything, especially death, was the key to my physical, mental, and spiritual growth.”
“Without a spiritual connection to both life and death, you can’t reach the next level of performance.”
“Both sports forced me to reinvent myself as a much more physical fighter who relied on strength and speed rather than intelligence or technique.”
“For me, Jiu Jitsu needed to be more like chess – staying many moves ahead of my opponents and using my functional intelligence to take advantage of any windows of opportunity.”
“We started arguing and then Rolls dumped a bucket full of ice and water on my head. That shocked me back to my sense, and as I was gasping for breath, the bell rang.”
“I realized that if I could control my mind, I could improve every aspect of my performance. If you have this kind of spiritual security, you realize that physicality is only one part of the puzzle.”