The voices / 197 fragments

Chris Matakas

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01Undated

Jiu Jitsu opened up doors in my mind that public education had bolted shut. In hindsight, I see just how superficial my thoughts had been prior to this art. It is no coincidence that my efforts in reading and writing have run parallel with this craft. I began training Jiu Jitsu at twenty-two, and at the time of this writing I am about to turn thirty. I have learned more in the past eight years than the previous twenty-two, and have no doubts that Jiu Jitsu opened up my mind in a way traditional organized education never could. Jiu Jitsu gave me a life when I didn't know how to live. It is the best thing I have ever done, and is the foundation upon which all I will do.

Chris Matakas / quote

02Undated

Jiu Jitsu has given me an education in education, which I now see is the most valuable education there is.

Chris Matakas / quote

03Undated

Things can be added, but that doesn't mean that anything is missing.

Chris Matakas / quote

04Undated

Habits are infinitely more beneficial to the aspiring student than motivation. Motivation may get you started, but habits keep you going.

Chris Matakas / quote

05Undated

Just know that the achievement of anything grand takes consistent effort year after year. Motivation can uphold you intermittently, but it has too few calories to sustain a life.

Chris Matakas / quote

06Undated

Systems and processes will always surpass motivation.

Chris Matakas / quote

07Undated

We see that happiness is not comfort. Happiness is the freedom to choose one's own way.

Chris Matakas / quote

08Undated

Nothing feels dirtier than living a life that is not your own. No amount of money is worth my soul. I would rather be homeless and go out in a blaze of glory than subject myself to a slow and steady death of apathy and government by my environment.

Chris Matakas / quote

09Undated

Jiu Jitsu uses us to express itself, and the best thing we can do to is to become a vehicle capable of expressing Jiu Jitsu with all of its perfection minus our imperfections.

Chris Matakas / quote

10Undated

I have found that the morning is far more accessible when a good book awaits you.

Chris Matakas / quote

11Undated

We are just too busy trying to appear smart to realize how intelligent we actually are.

Chris Matakas / quote

12Undated

I firmly believe that life will continually try to teach you the same lesson, with increasing pain, until you heed the call.

Chris Matakas / quote

13Undated

Jiu Jitsu forges friendships in a way I’ve never known. Being involved in an art as intimate as this, where bodily connection is a must, the common cultural boundaries of personal space are broken. You will never see more hugs, high fives, and physical expressions of love than on the mats. Ultimately, this proves to be one of the most fulfilling aspects of our pursuit of mastery. Along the way, we learn to love others as we love ourselves.

Chris Matakas / quote

14Undated

Through Jiu Jitsu I have developed many of the most meaningful relationships in my life, and if that were the only benefit of my practice, Jiu Jitsu would still be the best endeavor I have ever undertaken.

Chris Matakas / quote

15Undated

Relationships formed through Jiu Jitsu are deeply rooted in respect for one another, and this is often not the case in matters of modern society.

Chris Matakas / quote

16Undated

Jiu Jitsu provides a place of fellowship that, unfortunately, our society has largely failed to create.

Chris Matakas / quote

17Undated

It is fellowship, this most fundamental need on our way toward achieving our highest expression of the human experience, which Jiu Jitsu provides.

Chris Matakas / quote

18Undated

This is the opportunity the fellowship of Jiu Jitsu affords us. To reach our highest potential of self, and then to offer that self to another.

Chris Matakas / quote

19Undated

As far as our relation to the physical world, I doubt there will be much more improvement. Our basic survival needs have been met, and much of our current progress is superfluous or downright troublesome. Most advancement is performed out of comfort rather than necessity. What we are lacking, what the world so desperately needs now, is adjustments of the mind. We need to see the world again with fresh eyes, and come to an understanding of who we are as individuals, and what drives us.

Chris Matakas / quote

20Undated

We see that the vast majority of our suffering is needless, and simply arises from the misidentification with our thinking mind.

Chris Matakas / quote

21Undated

I envision a world in which the vast majority of us are actively striving toward our potential by serving others through mediums we are most passionate.

Chris Matakas / quote

22Undated

When you realize you are no longer made of glass, you lose the desire to demonstrate that fragility in others.

Chris Matakas / quote

23Undated

We are force-fed beliefs through incessant advertisements by a culture that ceaselessly fosters our conformity to values which are of no service to the individual.

Chris Matakas / quote

24Undated

We are now forced to actively pursue our struggles. If we do not go out of our way to stretch our comfort zones and grow, no one nor nature will do it for us.

Chris Matakas / quote