Still a Student

The Art of Flow | Professor Chris Lund

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to spend time training at the Inosanto Academy in Marina del Rey, California. Some of my favorite memories come from attending the International Instructor Camps.

Each morning, before the camp began, we'd have a one-hour Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class with Jean Jacques Machado. It was typically a small group, often just eight to twelve of us, and I always looked forward to those sessions.

What I remember most wasn't any particular technique. It was watching how effortlessly Jean Jacques taught the class. He'd have a small group of us, ranging from brand-new white belts who could barely tie their belts to a couple of us seasoned black belts, with every level in between, all learning together. Somehow, he had this masterful ability to make the class a meaningful learning experience for everyone.

And then there was Guro Dan Inosanto.

Here's a man who trained alongside Bruce Lee, helped shape the early development of what we now recognize as mixed martial arts, and spent a lifetime studying and teaching martial arts around the world. At the time, he was in his early eighties, and there he was, on the mat with the rest of us, laughing and giggling while working on armbars.

I remember watching him and thinking, here's someone who has accomplished so much in martial arts and still approaches it with the excitement of a kid. There he was, in his eighties, laughing, experimenting, and enjoying himself just like everyone else. No status to worry about, nothing to prove. Just someone who genuinely loved what he was doing.

I think experiences like that help put everything into perspective. Sometimes we get so focused on improving, learning the next technique, or reaching that next belt that we forget to appreciate the experience itself. There's something to be said for simply showing up, enjoying the movement, and having a good time with the people around you. Every once in a while, it's worth asking yourself, what is this really all about? Watching Guro Dan that morning gave me a pretty good answer. It's about enjoying the training, the people, the friendships, and everything that comes with it. Sometimes it's really as simple as that.