tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post2483610243662864302..comments2023-05-30T07:23:05.061-07:00Comments on Rolling Uphill: On ToughnessChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08264320663688649089noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post-58499617347143382892010-12-21T17:55:10.917-08:002010-12-21T17:55:10.917-08:00Good post friend. Lots of good insights you broug...Good post friend. Lots of good insights you brought up. I haven't been coming to class nearly as much as I'd like to lately because I've been scrambling to get my ducks in a row before I leave in a couple weeks. See you around class bro.<br /><br />-New JonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post-61937527108576326572010-12-20T16:28:03.799-08:002010-12-20T16:28:03.799-08:00I try to abide by the first rule of fight club...S...I try to abide by the first rule of fight club...Sometimes though my professional job compels me to explain my injury.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02600267842086890594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post-68133549541374132142010-12-20T12:56:33.912-08:002010-12-20T12:56:33.912-08:00I think toughness has an elusive definition. My pe...I think toughness has an elusive definition. My perspective is "tough" does not have to mean "badass." Certainly physical prowess is part of being tough. But I also take it as meaning that life can throw all kinds of crap at you, and even if you're left scarred, you'll come out on top...being able to weather the storm, so to speak. I think BJJ definitely can definitely help build that kind of toughness.<br /><br />But you are right. The story at the end of the link is tough as it gets.SkinnyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03828780498797612518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post-87582751164457465572010-12-20T07:39:37.973-08:002010-12-20T07:39:37.973-08:00Definitely not a prerequisite, and not necessarily...Definitely not a prerequisite, and not necessarily a result of training: I wasn't tough before I started, and I still wouldn't call myself tough after four years of training (though admittedly, anything which has the slightest hint of <a href="http://www.slideyfoot.com/2010/11/bjj-aggression.html" rel="nofollow">aggression</a> is something I tend to avoid). <br /><br />Also, I try to keep a certain amount of perspective on the connection between 'martial art' and 'tough'. Although BJJ is definitely one of the more demanding physical and mental challenges out there, you can tap at any time. That is a major part of its appeal for me: unless you're paired up with a total psycho, you're largely in control of your own safety.<br /><br />You could argue that is as distinct from something like muay thai, boxing, judo etc, as you can't tap midway through a punch or when you're flying through the air. <br /><br />Or to make another comparison to what I think of when somebody says "tough", martial arts have nothing on <a href="http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55525" rel="nofollow">this</a>.slideyfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05374174757753962274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6530485715481805042.post-78313530244602438152010-12-19T23:26:55.423-08:002010-12-19T23:26:55.423-08:00I think it can be either way. Some people start tr...I think it can be either way. Some people start training because they want to be tough...others are already tough, but they want to be technical. Others think they're tough and need to be humbled. I love that "tough" is one of the most difficult things to judge about a person. There are some very good BJJ guys around here that definitely do not look tough...and yet they could take apart 99% of the tough looking guys you throw at them.<br /><br />Regardless of how you come into it, I believe that dedication to jiu-jitsu will result in legitimate "toughness" (and hopefully a corresponding measure of humility) that will bleed over into other areas of life.SkinnyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03828780498797612518noreply@blogger.com