It is easy to have a positive mental attitude when everything in life is going smoothly. But true mental resolve is tested when life isn’t going so well. At these times, we need to reflect on maintaining a positive attitude. Training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) provides constant opportunities for maintaining and spreading positivity.

What do BJJ and a positive mindset have in common? If we look at the very foundations set by Grand Master Carlos Gracie Sr., it quickly becomes clear how closely they are connected.

12 commandments from Grand Master Carlos Gracie Sr.

Based on training that began more than 100 years ago, Grand Master Carlos Gracie Sr. laid out a set of guiding principles to help Brazilian jiu-jitsu students improve their lives both inside and outside the gym. We still stand by these principles to this day.

1. To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
2. Speak to everyone about happiness, health, and prosperity
3. Give all your friends the feeling that they are valuable
4. Always look at events from a positive point of view, and turn positively into a reality
5. Think always in the best, work solely for the best, and expect always the best
6. Always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
7. Forget about past mistakes and concentrate your energies on the victories ahead
8. Always keep your fellow men joyful and have a pleasant attitude to all that address you
9. Spend all the time you need in Improving yourself, but leave no time to criticize other
10. Become too big to feel unrest, too noble to feel anger, too strong to feel fear, and too happy to tumble in adversity
11. Always have a positive opinion about yourself and tell it to the world, not through words of vanity but through benevolence
12. Have a strong belief that the world is beside you if you keep true to what is best within you

Learn more about the guiding values established by Gracie Barra by clicking here.

How to spread positivity to other students

These commandments, which are rooted in a positive mindset, require practice and the Gracie Barra mats are the perfect place to practice them each and every class. There are several easy ways for BJJ students to harness and spread a positive attitude to other students.

Start with Hello!

Commandment: “Always keep your fellow men joyful and have a pleasant attitude to all that address you.”

It is perfectly normal to feel intimidated in a student’s first jiu-jitsu classes. Beginning white belts have no idea what they are doing while everyone else seems to know each other and seems to know exactly what to do. If you have been practicing BJJ for a while, you remember this feeling.

No matter what position you are in—beginner or experienced practitioner—we are all students. The best way to approach what might feel like an intimidating situation is with a simple hello.

Gracie Barra Black Belt Mark Mullen tells a story from his own experience about the benefits of friendliness on the mats. As an instructor, Mark received a message from a student saying that several years ago he had trained at Mark’s Gracie Barra school. He meets a lot of new faces and he said that he felt a little disappointed that he did not remember the student, who by that time was an instructor himself. The student told Mark, “I only trained at that school a short time, but I remember how nice you were to me. I really appreciated it.”

This story demonstrates the power of a simple friendly interaction. As a new student, try not to overlook these moments of kindness, and be sure to pass them on to other students who may be more nervous than you!

Make your feedback positive and helpful

Commandment: “Always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.”

When you are training with another jiu-jitsu student to learn a new position or technique, it can be helpful to provide feedback. However, negative or vague criticism might work against a student, making them frustrated. Try to instead provide your partner with positive, specific feedback while encouraging them.

For example, instead of saying, “No, your grip is wrong,” you might instead say, “Your grip was great the time before last. Try to grip higher on the collar like that.” Further, when they succeed at a technique or position they are working hard at, be sure to offer positive reinforcement. “Great job! You nailed it that time.” We all would rather hear that positive reinforcement rather than criticism.

Every single student on the mat is working hard to understand and apply all the details and correct mechanics of the techniques. By providing each other with positive feedback, students will feel encouraged to keep going and do the same for other training partners they encounter.

Carry that positivity through life

Commandment: “Always look at events from a positive point of view, and turn positivity into a reality in life.”

When you overcome adversity on the mat using positivity, such as utilizing feedback and remaining upbeat despite being submitted repeatedly, that mental resilience you build will follow you off the mat. After all, bad things happen to everyone; it’s how we react that is the mark of success.

Stay positive and keep training!

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