Kanō Jigoro's "Mind Over Muscle" delves into the philosophy of Judo, extending beyond mere physical techniques. It emphasizes the importance of mental discipline, self-cultivation, and moral development as integral aspects of the martial art. The book explores the interconnectedness of physical and mental strength, highlighting how Judo training can foster character development and personal growth. Kanō's principles of mutual welfare and benefit ('jita-kyoei') are central to the text, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and mutual benefit in both Judo practice and life. The book offers insights into the holistic approach to self-improvement that Judo embodies, promoting not only physical prowess but also moral and intellectual development.
The book discusses the benefits of prioritizing a single task and provides strategies for overcoming distractions, building productive habits, and maintaining focus. It challenges common productivity myths such as multitasking and the idea of a balanced life, and introduces the 'Focusing Question': 'What's the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?' The authors also discuss time blocking, habit-building, and aligning short-term actions with long-term goals to achieve success in various aspects of life[1][3][5].
In 'Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,' Greg McKeown argues that by applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, individuals can regain control of their time and energy. The book is divided into sections such as Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, providing practical advice on distinguishing the vital few from the trivial many and eliminating non-essential activities. McKeown emphasizes the importance of clarity of focus, the ability to say 'no,' and living 'by design, not by default.' This approach helps readers achieve more by doing less and making the highest possible contribution in their personal and professional lives.
In this episode Ryan and I talk about: what Ryan considers to be human flourishing, things he is still figuring out at age 50, Japanese physical culture, how his physical practice has evolved over time, what he was like as a kid and how he has changed, the origin story of GMB, martial arts, dealing with injuries, biggest hurdles he has had to overcome with GMB, why GMB was successful, tips on growing an online community and business, physical autonomy, auto regulation, skill based training, movement transitions and why they are important, stripping everything back and getting to why you are moving in the first place, and much much more!
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