The Gentle Way?

Similar to Judo, the "Gentle Way", Jiu-Jitsu is translated as the "Gentle Art". All though Jiu-Jitsu means the gentle art, I kind of like the term gentle way better. Jiu-jitsu with in itself is a gentle art but we have to be sure to apply the gentle way. I look at it more like a question than a statement. The gentle way? I think to myself that if jiu-jitsu is the gentle art than I need to be sure that I am always searching for the gentle way. When I practice and drill I often think to myself, was that the gentle way? If it wasn't, than it wasn't jiu-jitsu. This is o.k. if I am not necessarily practicing jiu-jitsu. However, when jiu-jitsu can not be jiu-jitsu unless it is the gentle art. Why? Because that is what jiu-jitsu is. Wrestling may be different, submission grappling may be different but jiu-jitsu is jiu-jitsu. This is one thing I like about jiu-jitsu, it teaches you humility when you are striving to achieve the gentle art by using the gentle way. Sometimes you can be overcome by others strength in the process of figuring out the gentle way vs strength or size. The only way to do that is to let it happen and go from there. As soon as you sacrifice the gentle way for pride's sake, you have lost the real battle anyway. It teaches you self-control because you have to have it in order to keep your cool in adversity. It gives you greater respect for the art and less pride in yourself because it is not you that is stronger or faster but it is your understanding of jiu-jitsu that overcomes. All though jiu-jitsu evolves to a certain extent, the concept of jiu-jitsu is infinite. What may seem new, had all ready existed with in the concept of the gentle art. Lastly, it of course teaches you gentleness which I believe to be a great value for anything. To be able to remain gentle in a battle is just awesome. To be able to remain gentle with your mouth and attitude, even better. Especially through conflict. Are you pursuing the gentle art in the gentle way?

Another quick question we must ask our selves is what really is the gentle way? As I wrote in another blog, start with the vocabulary. Just as the name God alone proves that God exist, the word jiu-jitsu alone defines the path you take when practicing jiu-jitsu. What is gentleness? What is art? Think about these things. They will help you come to a better understanding of what you practice and how to practice it.