BJJ Meditations Joe Hannan

This episode first appeared on The Highest Levels, a BJJ Mental Models Premium show hosted by Emily Kwok and Joe Hannan. The Highest Levels is all about dissecting the tactics and psychology of optimal human performance -- work that Emily and Joe do daily with some of the world's leading performers in finance, science, and professional athletics.
In addition to being Joe's Jiu Jitsu coach and colleague in the consulting business, Emily is also Joe's friend and business partner at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this episode, Emily helps Joe process his experiences from competing at the New York Open, offering action-oriented glimpses of how everyday athletes and humans can use peak performance modalities to catalyze their athletic and personal growth.
Key Takeaways
Progress requires looking deeply within to identify our demons, then coming up with plans to exorcize them
Growth through competitive experience is often challenging, and the degree of challenge suggests the degree of growth on the other side
Transformative growth is possible when we embrace a life of training that touches everything we do on and off the mats
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Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session

In this episode, Joe discusses the topic of leadership and shares his experiences as a leader in his jiu jitsu school. He explores the polarities and challenges of leadership, including consensus building vs. representation, athlete vs. shepherd, cultural steward vs. toilet scrubber, and entrepreneur vs. community builder. Joe emphasizes the importance of balancing these polarities and being a conscious leader who is aware of their flaws and committed to personal growth. He also encourages listeners to evaluate their leaders and decide whether they want to be led by them.
Takeaways
Leadership is an exercise in balancing polarities, such as consensus building vs. representation, athlete vs. shepherd, cultural steward vs. toilet scrubber, and entrepreneur vs. community builder. Being a conscious leader means being aware of your flaws and committed to personal growth. Leadership is a responsibility that requires balancing the needs of the community with the goals of the business. It is important to evaluate your leaders and decide whether you want to be led by them.
Building a strong and supportive community is essential for the success of a jiu jitsu school. Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:08 Avoiding the Topic of Leadership
06:05 Lessons Learned from Being a School Owner
08:00 Balancing Polarities in Leadership
13:46 The Challenges of Being a Conscious Leader
23:38 Evaluating Your Leaders
29:48 Building a Strong Community
30:15 Conclusion
Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session
 
 
 

This episode of BJJ Meditations explores rank and hierarchy on and off the mats. Hierarchy is an unavoidable aspect of human society, including in the context of Jiu Jitsu schools, where it is a reflection of competence and serves as a proxy for skill level. 
Hierarchy is relative and not all black belts, brown belts, purple belts, etc. are the same. Anyone who trains seriously knows this well. Regardless, we can can observe false translations of competence throughout life. In other words, "Because I am good at X, I assume that I am good at Y and Z."
Joe explores how people sometimes confuse their competence in one domain with universal competence, and how this highlights the importance of being honest and taking a full assessment of what one doesn't know. 
Overcoming the obsession with rank and status requires a long and arduous process of cultivating depth of skills, presence, and mastery. It is unrealistic to think that we have achieved complete competency in one domain, as we are constantly growing and evolving. 
Takeaways
Rank and status serve as highly imperfect proxies for competence and skill level. Not all individuals of the same rank are equal in skill. Status and hierarchy can vary depending on the region and context. Understanding the currency of status in different areas can provide insights into social dynamics. Wealth, power, and fame are often used as metrics to determine status and hierarchy in society. These metrics can be flawed and may not accurately reflect a person's intelligence or character. Being honest and taking a full assessment of what one doesn't know is essential within hierarchical systems. Chapters
00:00 Navigating Strange Experiences
02:48 The Importance of Self-Improvement
04:51 The Inevitability of Hierarchy
07:15 The Currency of Status in the Northeast
09:33 The Impact of Location on Status and Hierarchy
11:56 The Importance of Honesty and Self-Assessment
12:43 The Confusion of Competence
13:20 Equipping People to Navigate Confusion
14:18 Liberating Individuals and Finding Their Path
14:54 The Power of Jiu-Jitsu
15:10 Training Jiu-Jitsu as a Path to Overcoming Obstacles
16:12 The Complexity of the Human Condition
16:26 Moving Beyond Rank and Status
17:38 Embracing the Journey of Growth
18:02 Taking Action and Integration
18:56 Resources and Support
19:10 Coaching Services
19:26 Training at Princeton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
19:46 Expressing Gratitude and Looking Forward

In this episode, Joe discusses the concepts of certainty and uncertainty in the contexts of jiu jitsu and life. He explores the idea that certainty can be boring and that the pursuit of certainty often leads to fear, anxiety, and doubt. He also touches on the role of coaches and the value of asking the right questions.
The host draws inspiration from a book called The Captain Class and shares insights from the show Bluey. Joe concludes by encouraging listeners to embrace the mystery and infinite nature of life.
Takeaways
Certainty can be boring and may lead to fear, anxiety, and doubt. Coaches can maximize their value by developing the skill of asking the right questions. Competition in jiu-jitsu brings out intense emotions, but it is part of the infinite game of life. Embracing the mystery and uncertainty of life can lead to a more fulfilling experience. Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Training Reflections
06:01
The Nature of Fear, Anxiety, and Doubt in Competition
12:47
The Paradox of Certainty and the Desire for Surprise
Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session
Train at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: https://www.princetonbjj.com/
Read more of my work on Substack: https://joehannan.substack.com/
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#bjj #jiujitsu #stoic #stoicism

In this episode, Joe reflects on his current state of mind and training in between competitions. He discusses his tendency to not drive things to completion in his jiu jitsu game and his efforts to improve in this area. He also explores his aversion to finishing things and the emotional import of feeling stupid and fucking up.
Joe shares his experiences of training without an edge and investing in loss, as well as his mindfulness practices and their impact on his HRV -- and how these practices connect back to jiu jitsu. He concludes by discussing the uncertainty in his professional life and the importance of learning to dance with grace through life.
Takeaways
Reflecting on performance and identifying areas for improvement is crucial in jiu-jitsu. There can be a reluctance to finish things due to fear of failure or the unknown. Investing in loss and exploring vulnerabilities can lead to valuable insights and improvements. Mindfulness practices, such as HRV breathing and seated meditation, can help in dealing with uncertainty and being present. Learning to dance with grace through life is a valuable goal. Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reference to 'Time Out of Mind'
05:19 The Aversion to Finishing and the Emotional Import of F*****g Up
09:40 Training Without an Edge and Investing in Loss
16:22 Mindfulness Practices and Dealing with Uncertainty
Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session
Train at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: https://www.princetonbjj.com/
Read more of my work on Substack: https://joehannan.substack.com/
Follow BJJ Meditations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjj_meditations/
#bjj #jiujitsu #stoic #stoicism

Reflections from my experiences at the New York Open and the lessons learned from competing, including the importance of finding your own approach to competition and the value of looking stupid.
Other areas of exploration include:
The journey of psychological preparation The challenges of anxiety and stress Methods for balancing intensity and relaxation for improved performance in performance and the need for balance The importance of self-reflection and growth in the competitive journey  Takeaways
Find your own approach to competition and adapt principles to suit your needs. Embrace the value of looking stupid and learn from your experiences. Psychological preparation is crucial for performance in competition. Balance intensity and relaxation to optimize performance. Self-reflection and growth are essential in the competitive journey.  Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session
Train at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: https://www.princetonbjj.com/
Read more of my work on Substack: https://joehannan.substack.com/
Follow BJJ Meditations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjj_meditations/
#bjj #jiujitsu #stoic #stoicism