What is the universal language?  Some would say love, music, or probably another saccharine platitude.

I would, truly, say that it is violence.  It is the method of communication we use when diplomacy and words fail.  It’s understood across all cultures.  And it’s a reality of every day life.

On the other side of fighting mastery – and I use that term loosely, but after 20 years of training and a 25 fight career in combat sports I probably have a very rare amount of experience in this subject – I find it kind of weird how illiterate most people are in this language.

As with any form of communication, if you can not speak up for yourself, others will speak for you, and they will not always have your best interests in mind.

It’s unlikely that you will ever need to use Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai in a real situation, but having an intimate relationship with the realities of violence will absolutely allow you to make smarter decisions when in conflict with another person.  It will keep you calmer, more composed, and able to think without being as tethered to an anxious emotional state.  Because behind every single disagreement is the threat of violence, no matter how small.

I’m writing this from a hotel room in Madrid, actually.  One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to drop in and train at the local gyms.  And though I am barely conversational in Spanish, I am able to communicate and converse in the language of Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai when I travel.  It’s actually an amazing way to pierce the tourist veil and connect with local people wherever I go.

Looking forward to getting back on the mats this week and “communicating” with you all!