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Jul
10
One Love–it’s a Bob Marley song, but it should be a jiu-jitsu mantra. It should be spoken when people from other gyms come to train at yours or vice-versa.
“Hey, my name is James, I’m visiting from Tucson. I‘m wondering if I can train at your gym for a couple of days.”
“Of course, James–One Love.”
I know it sounds very 1960’s, but that’s how it should be. “One love” to me is simply a statement that says that we are the same, we have the same passion, we are all citizens of a jiu-jitsu nation.
“I do no-gi, can I still train with you guys?”
“One love, man, come by for sure, we have a gi you can borrow.”
“One love” is acceptance, and frankly, well, love. I think the jiu-jitsu community as a whole is very loyal to the school at which they train. Some people like to train at different places at the same time. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with that. The whole creonte (Portuguese for traitor) thing is ridiculous. Train where you want, gi or no gi, Gracie or Walt Bayless, for the mat or for the cage, it all comes down to this—One Love.
