3 Insights
“The pankratiast’s body should be robust like the boxer’s and supple like the wrestler’s.” – Philostratus, Gymnastikos
“Do you get up early? I do regularly, it’s good to make a habit of it. It’s precious and already very dear to me, that early morning twilight.” – Vincent Van Gogh
“Seekers of wisdom first need sound intelligence.” – Heraclitus
What I Learned this Week
The average male life expectancy in the United States is 77.4 years. For a dad in his early 40’s, that means you have roughly 35 years left.
On average, people spend 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phones each day.
Individuals reportedly check their phones an average of 58 times each day. The Japanese spend under half of the global average time on their smartphones. Depending on their age, 29 to 56% of Americans feel they are addicted to their smartphone.
If you get roughly 8 hours of sleep, you are spending 25% of your waking hours staring at a screen. Don’t be average. Be better than average. Life is too short. Imagine what you can do if you did not spend 51,100 of your remaining waking hours (around 204,400) on a smartphone.
Declare Martial Excellence
While Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) as we know it today was created in the early 20th Century in Brazil, a similar martial art known as Pankration has roots in ancient Greece. A combat sport introduced into the Olympic Games in 648 BCE, Pankration combined elements of boxing (pygmachia) and wrestling (pale), with fewer restrictions. The word’s origins means all powers which originates from the Greek word for pan (“all”) and kratos (“strength” or “power”).
Competitors could strike and grapple. Rules were limited to no biting and no eye-gouging. Victors were declared by submission, knockout, or death (in some rare cases). The sport and techniques were praised for showcasing the ideal Greek warrior’s strength, skill, and endurance. Pankration was a way for warriors to prepare and pursue excellence in combat.
Pankration is sometimes seen as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts (MMA) because of its open-style combat format. In any combat sport there is distinction between Fundamentals and Advanced Skills.
Fundamentals are the foundation to learning any skill.
The Latin word “fundamentum” means “foundation.” A strong foundation can hold up any structure. Fundamentals are our own foundations for life.
Parenting foundations could include:
- Unconditional love
- Never ending patience
- Emotional control
War time foundations could include:
- Preparation
- Violence of action
- Communication
- Teamwork
Work place foundations could include:
- Training
- Focus
- Prioritization
Nowadays skills in need seem to be changing as rapidly as technology continues to evolve.
But with all the technology, tips, tricks, and information, one could argue most modern humans are sicker and more unhealthy than ever. Why?
Because of a lack of fundamentals. Do we focus on sleep quality and quantity? Do we consistently vary our intensity of physical activity? Do we find time to play and relax? Do we enjoy whole foods over cheap and easy treats?
Fundamentals at work are similar. Are we learning the basic skills over and over to perform at a high level? What are fundamental skills that every one should master?
Knowledge is scarce. Wisdom is rarely discussed. Action itself requires a relentless work ethic.
Do you know how to distinguish the urgent from the important? How else could our ancestors know if the rustling in the bushes was a field mouse or a mountain lion? They relied on their senses. They knew how to listen to their instincts. Too often workers today rely on a spreadsheet or some other quantitative output.
While data helps, instincts matter more.
Do you know how to focus your time and your attention? How else could our ancestors work to build communities if the basic needs of shelter and food were not yet taken care of? At work do you focus on parroting problems or stating solutions?
We all deal with challenges, but a fundamental skill is recognizing that no matter how tough our situation could be, there is some small incremental step we can take to reassert control over the outcome.
Fundamentals require practice. Setting clear goals. Avoiding distractions. Focusing on your effort. Simple tactics day in and day out can help you master the basics. One could argue then that excellence is a direct result of your focus on the fundamentals. Think about how your life could improve with a focus on martial excellence.
Reflections
What fundamentals am I learning to solve problems under extreme stress?
The Real Con 126