From the outside martial arts and business may seem like two completely different worlds, but anybody who has spent time training in martial arts knows that the two share far more than we realize. They both demand adaptability, focus, discipline and resilience under extreme pressure. Here’s some key takeaways (or takedowns) that any business person can gain from training in martial arts, and you never know, you may wish to partake in it yourself.
Discipline and Consistency Always Win
Step into one of the many BJJ gyms around the country and you’ll notice that mastery is not about strength, size or aggression, but about being consistent and showing humility in the process. Business success is about those small consistent efforts and the same applies with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, that progress comes from showing up. In martial arts repetition creates reflexes, but in business repetition creates lessons in what works and what doesn’t. Over time that discipline is going to compound, meaning that you don’t just have a skill but actual mastery over something.
Adaptability Is a Core Strength
In business and in martial arts, being rigid can undo us. If you keep forcing one technique, whether it’s a particular type of marketing strategy or a martial arts technique, on an opponent that can see right through what you’re trying to do, you’re always going to run the risk of being outnumbered and outgunned by your competitor. You’ve got to learn to flow with each circumstance and adjust to what happens in the moment. We certainly have skills that we need to learn, whether it’s in business or martial arts, but like a good game of chess, it’s about knowing when those skills are truly important in the moment. In martial arts, we have to pivot without panic, and those fighters and executives who move with awareness and responsiveness rather than being stubborn are the ones who will emerge victorious.
Dampen Your Ego
The savvy entrepreneur can learn a great deal from humility. An unchecked ego in business leads to poor decisions and a lack of faith in your abilities. We have to learn from mistakes and we have to remember that being humble is essential because every failed sparring session in martial arts is always a lesson in humility. We have to stop fearing failure, not just in martial arts or business, but in life.
Pressure Reveals Your True Self
We always learn about what we’re made of when the pressure is on, and in business or martial arts, our composure is going to shape the outcome. In martial arts, this composure is instilled through repetition, and in business we can use this skill in meetings, boardrooms and difficult client calls.
Focus and Presence are Critical
The discipline of mindfulness is what will help us experience clarity, and we need to remember that when we learn to be fully present in each moment and movement, we can catch details that other people miss. We can listen with purpose, but we can also think several moves ahead.
At its core, martial arts is not about fighting but about self-mastery and is a powerful tool that any business person or high-performing professional needs to thrive.
