Inspirational Quotes from Rickson Gracie, Roy Dean, and John Danaher

---

The Artistic Essence of Jiu-Jitsu
Roy Dean eloquently elucidates the artistic dimensions of Jiu-Jitsu in his book:
"Jiu-Jitsu is not just movement patterns and physics; it’s an art."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 133)

---

Intellect Over Brute Force
Renzo Gracie and John Danaher emphasize the critical role of mental agility in Jiu-Jitsu:
"Reduced to its core, Jiu-Jitsu is the employment of intelligence and skill to overcome brute strength and aggression."
(Mastering JuJitsu, page 2)

---

Personal Transformation Through Jiu-Jitsu
Reflecting on the profound impact of the discipline, Roy Dean shares:
"Jiu-Jitsu changes who you are. It gets you comfortable with change and appreciative of variation. Jiu-Jitsu allows you to look at people without fear or apprehension."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 226)

---

A Philosophy Beyond the Mats
Rickson Gracie captures the essence of how Jiu-Jitsu transcends mere practice:
"Jiu-Jitsu transcends the mat and embraces life in a much more complete way."
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

The Power of Community
Rafael Lovato Jr. vividly illustrates the sense of togetherness found in training:
"Martial arts can really bring everyone together, especially Jiu-Jitsu. You see it in academies all across the world. Many times when I’m on my mat, I look around and see all these people sharing their techniques, energies, and having fun together."
(Jiu-Jitsu – A Way Of Life by Stuartcooperfilms)

---

Resilience in Life and on the Mats
Fabio Santos elucidates the practical applications of Jiu-Jitsu in everyday challenges:
"The hardness on the mat will transfer to making life easier for you in real life."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Confidence and Emotional Strength
Rickson Gracie reflects on personal development facilitated by Jiu-Jitsu:
"Jiu-Jitsu can support you in terms of giving you more confidence, and more capacity to handle stress and emotions…"
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

Equality on the Mats
Roberto Cyborg Abreu humorously notes the universalizing nature of Jiu-Jitsu:
"It doesn’t matter how much money you have, what possessions you have, or who you are; as soon as you step on those mats, you’re going to get choked."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Friendships Forged Through Jiu-Jitsu
Fabio Santos celebrates the familial bonds cultivated through the practice:
"Jiu-Jitsu brings so many people together into a family, and that’s the most awesome thing about Jiu-Jitsu: the friendships that you make."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

A Safe Form of Combat
John Danaher articulates the unique safety benefits associated with Jiu-Jitsu:
"What I like about Jiu-Jitsu is that unlike other forms of combat, whether that be warfare or crime, there’s no negative side to it. No one gets seriously hurt, no one’s possessions get stolen, no one’s lives get ruined or ended. It’s combat with benefits…There’s no serious loss here; the only thing that’s hurt or bruised is your ego."
(John Danaher Interview Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Adaptability and Courage
Roy Dean emphasizes the adaptive nature integral to Jiu-Jitsu practices:
"We are adaptive creatures. Jiu-Jitsu keeps that spirit of adaptation alive and allows us to recognize opportunities to act while forging within us the courage to try."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, pages 226–227)

---

Focus and Efficiency
Focusing on achieving maximum outputs, Roy Dean states:
"Jiu-Jitsu teaches you how to focus. How to get more accomplished with less effort. You start to see how the art advances your potential as a human being."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 226)

---

The Evolution of Mind and Body
Rickson Gracie speaks about the multifaceted growth stimulated by Jiu-Jitsu:
"The evolutionary process in Jiu-Jitsu makes you feel increasingly capable of seeing the underlying principles, anticipating moves, and connecting with physical, spiritual, or mental elements."
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

The Birth of a System
Helio Gracie reflects on the foundation of Jiu-Jitsu as we know it today:
"I created Jiu-Jitsu, what is now referred to as Jiu-Jitsu, which is exactly the best fighting system that exists. Because with the weight and the age that I had, I was able to fight world champions that weighed 100 kilograms."
(Hélio Gracie’s last interview)

---

Priceless Value
On the deeper peace Jiu-Jitsu provides, Helio Gracie adds:
"The value I give, my friends and my dear reporter, the value jiu-jitsu has for me is priceless, nothing can pay for it because it gives us a sense of tranquility and peace. A tranquil man is tolerant. There is no reason for me to beat some one up if he calls me names like ugly, old, crazy or idiot; I think it’s funny. As long as he does not attack me physically, I respond fearlessly and usually a well thought answer makes an aggressor think twice. Sometimes soft talk instills more fear than any scream."
(Hélio Gracie’s last interview)

---

Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Roberto Cyborg Abreu likens Jiu-Jitsu to life’s struggles:
"Nothing will beat you more than life will, and I think that jiu jitsu is the better way of translating how to go through those struggles loving what you’re doing."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Falling in Love with the Art
Ricardo Migliarese shares the captivating nature of Jiu-Jitsu:
"Jiu jitsu is not a hard thing to fall in love with right. I mean as soon as you see it and know you can apply this stuff, and you know the power of it."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Transformation Through Training
Fabio Santos reflects on the impact Jiu-Jitsu has on people:
"That’s the gratifying part of jiu jitsu, is to watch the people and see how they change for better. Very few people change for worse."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Accessibility for All
Helio Gracie emphasizes the inclusivity of Jiu-Jitsu:
"Jiu Jitsu is for everyone, anyone can learn: men or women. It enhances anyone’s physical potential, so if you want to increase your physical potential learn jiu-jitsu, because the jiu jitsu we practice is at everyone’s reach."
(Hélio Gracie’s last interview)

---

Selling Confidence, Not Martial Arts
Renzo Gracie shares his philosophy on what Jiu-Jitsu offers:
"We’re not in the business of selling martial arts, we’re in the business of selling confidence. We’re in the business of transforming people…We’re in the business of transforming souls to make them shine. It’s not a sport, it’s not a martial art, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a way of living. It’s a way to improve your life."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

A Universal Fighting Style
On the versatility of Jiu-Jitsu, Renzo Gracie adds:
"Jiu jitsu I believe is the most efficient way of fighting in any situation, in a streetfight, in a ring, inside an elevator, anywhere."
(Renzo Gracie Legacy)

---

Perspective and Struggle
Garry Tonon talks about the perspective Jiu-Jitsu provides:
"It puts things in perspective for sure. Because you’re constantly making yourself struggle and when you put yourself through tough times it always makes your outside life seem just that little bit easier."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

The Magic of Practice
Eddie Bravo describes the journey of learning through repetition:
"In jiu jitsu you’re constantly reminded about how magical your body really is. Everyday you’re reminded of that. You suck at a move, and then you practice it over and over and then you get really good at it and then it becomes unconscious, it becomes magical. You can just do that every day. You’re reminded that your body can master anything if you just put it through enough reps."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Efficiency as a Principle
Nic Gregoriades explores the importance of conserving energy:
"Jiu jitsu, like nature, is all about the conservation of energy. In jiu jitsu ‘efficiency’ means using only as little strength and power as is required to accomplish your objectives. It means economy of motion – eliminating wasted movements and effort."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 2402)

---

Jiu-Jitsu: A Science, an Art, and a Way of Life

---

The Essence of Jiu-Jitsu
John Danaher succinctly defines the foundation of Jiu-Jitsu:
"The essential characteristic of jiu jitsu is very simple. It’s the science and art of control that leads to submission."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Philosophy in Motion
Rickson Gracie captures the philosophy behind Jiu-Jitsu’s techniques:
"You cannot fight the force, you have to use the force."
(This Week In BJJ Episode 61)

For Rickson, Jiu-Jitsu is much more than sport:
"Jiu jitsu is more like a religion, it’s more like a lifestyle, than actually a competition aspect."
(This Week In BJJ Episode 61)

---

Endless Improvement
Joe Rogan reminds us of the infinite growth potential in Jiu-Jitsu:
"Jiu jitsu doesn’t end. It goes on forever. You can always get better."
(Joe Rogan – Jiujitsu Inspiration by Stuartcooperfilms)

On its unique effectiveness, he adds:
"Jiu jitsu is the only martial art where it really works like in the Bruce Lee movie. Where the little guy really can beat the big guy."
(Joe Rogan – Jiujitsu Inspiration by Stuartcooperfilms)

---

A Visual Symphony
Ryan Hall describes Jiu-Jitsu as an art form with poetic grace:
"Jiu jitsu is a philosophy that’s expressed physically."
(Lex Fridman Podcast)

"If you watch jiu jitsu done well it looks like water moving around a solid structure."
(Lex Fridman Podcast)

---

Strategic Mastery
Nic Gregoriades highlights the importance of position in Jiu-Jitsu:
"What differentiates Brazilian jiu jitsu from most martial arts is the employment of positional strategy. In jiu jitsu, the position you are in relative to your opponent is paramount. A kick-boxer or a karateka is concerned with knocking out their opponent, but besides distance and angles, they do not give much thought to the position of their body in relation to their opponent’s. Jiu-Jitsu first seeks to establish a position, and then to finish the fight."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 378)

---

The Gentle Art
Jean Jacques Machado highlights the control Jiu-Jitsu offers:
"When we say jiu jitsu is a gentle art, we mean that. Jiu jitsu gives you the choice to choose to hurt someone or not."
(JRE MMA #73)

---

The Reality of Training
Roy Dean speaks about the demanding nature of Jiu-Jitsu:
"Martial arts are difficult. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is particularly hard. People will drop out. They will quit."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 193)

"The demands of jiu jitsu temper your spirit in a deeply beneficial way, but it can also drain you."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 218)

Nic Gregoriades reinforces this idea with the rarity of achieving mastery:
"Jiu jitsu is challenging. It’s been estimated that for every 1000 people that try it only 5 or so continue and make it to the black belt."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 99)

---

The Journey of Jiu-Jitsu: Insights and Perspectives

---

The Challenges and Rewards of the Path
Roy Dean highlights the duality of Jiu-Jitsu’s demands:
"The demands of jiu jitsu temper your spirit in a deeply beneficial way, but it can also drain you."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 218)

Nic Gregoriades reflects on the rarity of achieving mastery:
"Jiu jitsu is challenging. It’s been estimated that for every 1000 people that try it only 5 or so continue and make it to the black belt."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 99)

---

The Mindset of Progress
Jared Weiner emphasizes the importance of effort and humility:
"Don’t feel like you deserve things. Nobody deserves anything, you have to earn everything. You’ve got to work hard for things. I can’t stand when people come in and think they deserve things."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

Jean Jacques Machado encourages persistence over accolades:
"I’m a white belt that never gave up. And that’s the mentality I want my students to get. The belt is the least thing you have to worry."
(Jean Jacques Machado Full Interview by PlugOneTwo)

Chris Harding reflects on resilience in the face of challenges:
"From white belt through black belt, one of the things I always try to explain to people is that there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs, and it’s how you react to those downs that get you through the days, so a lot of challenges put in front of you, it’s how you react to those challenges and whether you let them mold you or you mold them."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Adapting Your Practice
Roy Dean advises tailoring Jiu-Jitsu to serve your life:
"The discipline of jujutsu should serve your life. If it stops serving you, then make an adjustment in your relationship to it. Don’t just do more."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, page 227)

---

The Art of Elegance
Nic Gregoriades expresses his devotion to the craft of Jiu-Jitsu:
"I don’t care about winning competitions or stripes on my belt anymore. I’m not even concerned about submitting my opponents in training. I care about moving with grace and about making my jiu jitsu as fluid and elegant as possible. I’m devoted to the very craft of it."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 2421)

---

Deep Learning
Josh Waitzkin advocates for focused, thorough mastery:
"I believe in diving deep into a small pool of information. For instance when you learn a new move in jiu-jitsu. Learn something on one side of the body, learn it very deeply, then learn it on the other side when you’ve developed that deep feel."
(The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Page 187)

---

Invisible Jiu-Jitsu
Rickson Gracie speaks about the subtleties of technique:
"I’ve been preaching the invisible jiu jitsu for a while, and now it becomes very appropriate to start to develop this kind of jiu jitsu which doesn’t translate in fight itself but translates in more self recognition. It’s the part of jiu jitsu where you start to understand how a little shift of your angle can change the whole performance of your opponent. How a little timing or deflection, or connection, can really be positive in your engagement."
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

Fundamentals and Ego
Saulo Ribeiro highlights the importance of foundational skills:
"When I see you grapple, I am not impressed if you win or lose. What I want to see is your use of the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu. It does not matter how it ends. I do not care if you tap five times as long as you try to use technique."
(Jiu-Jitsu University, Page 13)

---

On the dangers of ego, he adds:
"Ego is the biggest hindrance in reaching a high level in jiu-jitsu. Often, it is difficult to compartmentalize your ego, especially when you have to perform in front of the class. It is natural to worry about how good you look, but to be good you cannot have that mentality. Don’t try to look good! It is important that others are watching while you are failing. It only matters that you try."
(Jiu-Jitsu University, Page 13)

---

Training with the Gi
Renzo Gracie explains the benefits of training with the gi:
"If you want to be a really good grappler, you have to learn with the gi. With a gi on, everything is so much harder – a hundred times harder. With no-gi, you take a good wrestler and in three months he understands where the danger comes from and his game will be fine. The moment you put on a gi, the opponent has handles to grip, so everything is much harder – harder to pass guard, to defend guard – so it teaches your hips to be extremely active to get out of the way."
(The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Page 232)

---

The Value of Beginners
Renzo Gracie emphasizes the importance of nurturing white belts:
"For me the white belt is the most precious asset we have. This is the people we have to take care, we have to look over them, we have to make sure they learn right. They get better."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Jiu-Jitsu Wisdom: Lessons for the Eternal Student

---

The Eternal White Belt Mindset
Renzo Gracie underscores the importance of lifelong learning:
"If you’re an eternal white belt you only get better. The moment you believe you’re a master, your downfall is near. It’s like you’re closing yourself from new knowledge. In my head I’m a constant, for life white belt."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

The Long, Unyielding Journey
Garry Tonon emphasizes the commitment required for mastery:
"There’s no shortcuts, it’s going to be a long journey if this is what you’re interested in."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

"Jiu jitsu and martial arts in general, it’s not a temporary thing, it’s not a seasonal thing, it’s not a one self defence class thing. This is something that, just like many other things in life, if you’d like to get good at it, if you’d like to really develop the skill, you’re going to have to work at it over and over again, day after day. You’re going to have days where you feel terrible, like you know nothing, and other days you’ll feel like you’ve made great progress—but that’s what it takes."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Mastering Ego
Eddie Bravo offers a candid view on the role of ego:
"Ego is the big reason that guys stop advancing in the sport. Because in Jiu jitsu it feels so bad when you tap. You got killed. Jiu jitsu is great because it filters out the assholes who can’t control their egos, the douche bags who can’t handle showing physical inferiority."
(The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Page 69)

"Everybody has ego. I have it too. But you have to be the black belt and the ego has to be the blue belt—you have to be controlling it."
(The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Page 69)

---

Patience and Presence
Jared Weiner encourages a relaxed, patient approach:
"Be patient, have fun, learn the basics. Enjoy the journey. Don’t be in a rush to get your blue belt, to get your first stripe, to get your purple belt. It’s going to come, but you have to be patient."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Mastery Through Technique
Mark Johnson defines what it means to be truly technical in Jiu-Jitsu:
"A great goal of jiu-jitsu is to be technical—not to be fast, or strong, or tough, or tricky; it is to be the master of movement; it is to know a technique so well that its pieces are no longer chunks of information regurgitated from your memory. It is you; it is effortless, you don’t think about it, you just do—and when you do it—it’s flawless."
(Jiu-Jitsu on the Brain, LOC 423)

On balance and drilling, he adds:
"A balanced game will allow you to attack from both sides, making your skills more complete, more effective, and essentially doubling your techniques. Always drill both sides. Balance is good."
(Jiu-Jitsu on the Brain, LOC 452)

---

The Value of Practice
Nic Gregoriades reminds us that action outweighs theory:
"Keep in mind that reading books and watching videos about jiu jitsu is not doing jiu jitsu. Just as you will never learn to swim if you don’t get wet, neither will you become a jiu jitsuka if you don’t get on the mats and train."
(The Black Belt Blueprint: An Intelligent Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, LOC 106)

---

Progressing Through the Belts
Chris Hauter reflects on the stages of development in Jiu-Jitsu:
"Purple belt is the belt where you find yourself. You cut your teeth in this sport. Brown belt is that final refinement belt, that maturing belt. Black belt you kind of start all over again. Each new stripe, I start all over again. Try to empty my slate completely and relearn jiu jitsu as if I’m brand new at it."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Control and Relaxation
Mark Johnson emphasizes the importance of self-mastery:
"In order to control your opponent, you must control yourself, and to do that, you must breathe and relax."
(Jiu-Jitsu on the Brain, LOC 152)

---

Competition and Jiu-Jitsu

---

Rickson Gracie shares his perspective on the stakes of competition:
"It’s more than sport for me, because I never get in a fight intending to tap. If I get caught I will die, I will break – I’m not going to tap."
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

John Danaher describes the purity of competitive Jiu-Jitsu:
"It’s such an honest and open form of competition, your whole body, spirit and mind, against another person’s, where there is a clear and definitive winner, where one person wins and one person surrenders."
(John Danaher Interview Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Marcelo Garcia reflects on his passion for Jiu-Jitsu and training:
"Why do I beat a lot of people? Because I love it so much, that’s why. Everything about jiu jitsu, I love it: the school, the mat, the ring. I always believe that. Maybe I’m not better than my opponent, but I know for sure I love my training more."
(The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Page 75)

---

On breaking stereotypes, Marcelo Garcia adds:
"I’ve been going against the stereotype of jiu jitsu since I started. When I started jiu jitsu people told me ‘You’ve got to look tough, you’ve got to shave your head, you want to have a big bad cauliflower ear.’ Then I realised you don’t need that to win a tournament, to submit someone, or dominate an event. You can have a great performance, be kind, respectful, and enjoyable."
(In Focus: Marcelo Garcia)

---

Self-Defense and Jiu-Jitsu

---

Pedro Valente Jr. emphasizes the holistic nature of Jiu-Jitsu:
"The primary purpose of jiu jitsu is self-defence, teaching them a complete self-defense system, but also wellness. And when we talk about wellness, we refer to physical wellness, mental wellness, and spiritual wellness."
(Jiu-Jitsu VS The World)

---

Rigan Machado highlights the balance between sport and real-world application:
"You can train a martial art, or a martial sport, such as jiu-jitsu, which is both, for sportive uses. But while you’re doing this you always have to think about reality. You have to train the sportive methods, but then always keep adapting them and yourself to be able to use them in real situations. You can’t lose sight of that or you lose sight of jiu-jitsu itself. That is the base idea of Brazilian jiu-jitsu – practice for sport, but be able to apply it for real."
(Essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Page 16)

---

Teaching Jiu-Jitsu

---

Rickson Gracie describes the importance of experiential learning:
"The best approach for teaching jiu jitsu is to make the student learn from within. He has to feel the difference, he’s not just obeying what you’re saying, but he has to [say] ‘oh man, I can feel now.’"
(Rickson Gracie 2020 – InfernoCast)

---

Roy Dean reflects on the joy of teaching:
"Watching your students win is one of the most rewarding moments you can have as a jiu jitsu instructor."
(Becoming the Black Belt: A BJJ Journey, Page 186)

---

Jiu-Jitsu History and Philosophy

---

Helio Gracie on improving the art of Jiu-Jitsu:
"As I have said many times, I did not invent jiu jitsu, I just made it better. It is as if I had an oversized kimono and tailored it to fit me perfectly."
(Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Page 26)

---

On the practical origins of the gi, he adds:
"Traditionally, a kimono or ‘gi’ is worn to simulate the clothing one would be wearing on the street, such as a jacket, coat, or shirt. The kimono is stronger and you can use it to practice a larger variety of finishing techniques, so that if the need ever arises, you will be able to use your assailant’s clothing to your advantage."
(Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Page 29)

---

On tradition and respect, Helio remarks:
"Many styles of martial arts carried on that tradition and required that practitioners bow as a sign of respect. In Brazil, as in many parts of the world, when we meet someone we shake hands. That is what I have done all my life. So if we meet, please remember I don’t expect you to bow to me. A handshake will do."
(Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Page 29)

---

On his philosophy of simplicity, Helio says:
"Since my initial involvement with jiu-jitsu, because of my lack of strength, my objective has been to have maximum effectiveness in the simplest and most effortless way possible. I did not spend my life trying to improve a system that would make me look good at a sport competition, full of fancy spins and colorful turns. Instead, I have developed a self-defense method that is complete, easy, and effective."
(Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Page 27)

---

Finally, on consistency in his approach:
"My jiu jitsu hasn’t changed. Ever since I started 75 years ago, it hasn’t changed at all. There are so many people practicing today that there is going to be a chance for people to invent their own way and try to make it better. But that doesn’t alter the product."
(Helio Gracie Interview)