"What the Samurai did with their swords, we do with our hands."
-Helio Gracie
How I take this: I don't think it is as simplistic as "we kill with our hands", or some juvenille reading of it. I think it means we strive to perfect the use of the art in a life or death situation. I think Helio meant that we train to perfect the use of, and will live and die by, our ability in BJJ. The Samurai didn't just practice cutting crap. They lived their lives with the sword as a metephor for themselves. They strove to be as perfect as their swords. They lived life fully, because of the acceptance of death. The true BJJ student and the samurai shouldn't differ in goals or mindset.... Only implements. We have no sword. That's the only difference. -Jay
Comments