There have been times when a student questions my advice on the mats. I generally encourage students to explore and challenge ideas, but it is possible to take it too far.

That’s exactly what I did as a white belt. I (re)started my jiu jitsu journey at the age of 32 after completing a PhD… and somehow managed to retain just enough ego to argue with my instructor.

One day he had enough. Later I asked myself the obvious question: Why was I arguing with the person I was paying to teach me?

That moment changed how I train and how I teach.

Lessons in humility are found in the gym and on the mats.