The Power of Choice in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu is a journey that involves many choices. Every action we take or refrain from taking has an impact on our future events. Sometimes, we may not realize the consequences of our choices until much later, when we look back and see how they shaped our destiny.

I want to share with you a story from my early days in Brazil, when I was a young instructor of jiu-jitsu, about 40 years ago. It is a story about how I made a choice that changed my life and the lives of many others.

The Long Bus Ride

Every day, I had to take a long bus ride from my apartment to the academy where I used to teach. It was a bit over an hour of bus ride each way, going along the scenic route, as the bus calmly rode through the beachfront main avenues. It was a beautiful sight, but also a tempting one. I often felt the urge to get off the bus and join the crowds of people who were enjoying the sun and the sea, in a more than perfect weather. I thought then I was missing out on life, as I watched many of the young like me bathing in the sun and diving into the warm Atlantic waters.

But I resisted that temptation, because I had a bigger purpose in mind. I had a passion for jiu-jitsu, and I wanted to share it with others. I wanted to teach and learn from my students, who were waiting for me at the academy. I wanted to improve my skills and challenge myself on the mats. I wanted to honor my family legacy and my teachers, who taught me everything I knew.

So I stayed on the bus, even when it was hard, even when it was boring, even when it was hot. I stayed on the bus until I reached my destination, which was not just a physical place, but also a spiritual one. The academy was where the magic happened, where I felt alive and fulfilled. It was where I spent hours on the mat sharing knowledge, getting knowledge, and being physically pushed to my limits. It was where I met some of my best friends and mentors, who supported me and helped me grow.

The Road Less Traveled

At that time, I did not understand how important that choice was. I did not know that staying on the bus was preparing me for what would become a much larger task: helping spread jiu-jitsu throughout the world. I did not know that staying on the bus was building my character and my discipline, which would serve me well in the future. I did not know that staying on the bus was making me different from the rest of the pack, who followed their impulses and settled for less.

I realized all these things later, when I moved to America in the early 1990s with my brothers. We were among the pioneers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in this country, and we faced many challenges and opportunities along the way. We had to adapt to a new culture and a new market, while staying true to our roots and our values. We had to work hard to promote our art and our academy, while facing competition and resistance from other martial arts styles. We had to prove ourselves as fighters and as teachers, while maintaining our humility and respect for others.

Through all these experiences, I learned that jiu-jitsu is not only a martial art, but also a way of life. It teaches you valuable lessons that you can apply in all aspects of your life. It teaches you how to make choices that will benefit you in the long run, not just in the short term. It teaches you how to follow your passion and your purpose, not just your pleasure and your comfort. It teaches you how to take action and not be passive.

The Power of Choice

Today, I am grateful for all the choices that led me to where I am now. I am grateful for staying on the bus when I was young, because it gave me the opportunity to change many lives with jiu-jitsu. I am grateful for moving to America with my brothers, because it gave me the opportunity to spread jiu-jitsu across different continents and cultures. I am grateful for continuing to teach and learn jiu-jitsu every day, because it gives me the opportunity to grow as a person and as an instructor.

I am also grateful for all the choices that you have made to be part of this journey with me. Whether you are a student, an affiliate, or a friend, you have chosen to embrace jiu-jitsu as part of your life. You have chosen to train smart and stay humble. You have chosen to be part of this family.

I hope that this story inspires you to reflect on your own choices in life, and how they affect your future. I hope that it encourages you to make choices that align with your passion and your purpose, not just your impulses and your comfort. I hope that it reminds you that you have the power to shape your destiny with your actions.

Train Smart and Stay Humble!

- Carlos Machado