An athlete must see through the illusion of competition | John Danaher and Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: • John Danaher: Grapplin...
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Audible: audible.com/lex to get 30-day free trial
- Calm: calm.com/lex to get 40% off premium
- Indeed: indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
- MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off
- Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings
GUEST BIO:
John Danaher is one of the greatest coaches and minds in martial arts history.
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
SOCIAL:
- Twitter: / lexfridman
- LinkedIn: / lexfridman
- Facebook: / lexfridman
- Instagram: / lexfridman
- Medium: / lexfridman
- Reddit: / lexfridman
- Support on Patreon: / lexfridman

[@LexClips]

Full podcast episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4u1k3dtppahY7c Lex Fridman podcast channel: kzbin.info Guest bio: John Danaher is one of the greatest coaches and minds in martial arts history.

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

As a young wrestler, my coaches strongly encouraged us to go to tournaments every weekend to get as many matches as possible in a year. So, many of us would sign up for two weight classes or two styles (freestyle and greco for example), so that you could get s minimum of four matches (double elimination) in a day. This strategy works. It puts you in competition so you have to face the fears of losing. The fear of losing is a common roadblock and prevents many people from ever doing it. You can’t expect children to understand the psychology of those fears (What if I’m not good enough), so you just encourage them to do it and praise them for doing so. As a coach, I encouraged my athletes to do this and voluntarily drove them all over the state on weekends. For those who did this, they went very far in the sport. Many of those who went very far weren’t the most exceptional athletes. They were just dedicated to competition.

[@KitagumaIgen]

The only way to practice the art of competing one has to compete, it is different in kind compared to any type of training. ...and by doing that one learns to compete and to lose (both doing it with grace and enduring it in pain).

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

@@KitagumaIgen 100%!! Most of my biggest lessons came from competition. All the discipline of training and weight cutting-you leave a part of yourself on the mat. No doubt that I used my competition experiences to train more specifically. Without the competition, I wouldn’t have developed my discipline for training. I hated losing, so I trained hard…and if I lost, I knew I had to develop a plan to correct what I was doing wrong out there in competition. I believe it is important for people to compete, especially when they are young, to develop a mindset for discipline and put yourself out there. It’s vulnerable to put yourself out there, but the character it builds is priceless

[@luke53285]

I grew up in this wrestling culture, I did end up going very far, but I will say the burnout this style causes is unreal.

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

@@luke53285 it certainly can. I found that for myself, burnout came from weight cutting and focusing so much on the outcome, rather that just trusting the process. I later figured that out and worked hard with kids to learn how to have fun out there and not weigh so heavily on the outcome. You aren’t a loser because you lost a match. Easier said when it is in the past, but it is true. You learn so much from trying so hard and it not working out actually, that those loses really help you to gain so much in the future with other aspects in your life

[@dennistrieswrestling]

“When you see a magician and you have his tricks explained to you, you never see the magic again” that’s deeply profound

[@vecter]

Isn't that kinda obvious...

[@frankjacob8360]

And simple

[@TDashem]

When I see the magician, and have his trick explained to me…I still can’t do it.

[@NickMart1985]

When you apply this how your country is run, and how the businesses around you function, and how the systems you believe in actually operate, it changes literally everything. 80% of the population believes in the illusion.

[@arzheenothman1719]

can someone explain this? and how it relates to competition?

[@WuDan_BaDGeR]

This is man’s Legacy and respect amongst the BJJ/MMA community will last for generations. What an icon. I love that he’s done so much for the sport. A true martial artist.

[@c.galindo9639]

This man is an athletic training guru. He understands how to relieve the image that being out in a grand staged event will bring psychologically to a fighter or any athlete that may feel overwhelmed to be watched over and focused on in such a grandiose spectacle. Simply stunning and really relieving to have this man’s insight and knowledge on the matter

[@metaphor5774]

This insight works for dissecting one’s anxiety in daily life too

[@100Denario]

This guy is the Cus D’Amato of BJJ. I love trainer philosophers.

[@harryzed9090]

I think that most people here who point out that match intensity is so different than practice, forget to match the match intensity for short periods in their training. I play soccer and in our grouptraining we never match the actual match intensity. That's a big mistake. But I solve it for myself by once a week performing a 15 min horribly tough workout where I can feel my muscles burn and fatigue like in a match. It really helps because then you don't get that overwhelming 'wow fck this is intense' feeling during matches anymore.

[@FR-ty5vn]

I was a striker - you should try Jiu Jitsu…

[@jpgjohnnie]

Fire pod Lex! Thanks big dog

[@rumckinley]

Your videos never cease to open my brain and put me in such a wonderful state. I love the Lex Fridman podcast! You never cease to bring out the beauty in such vastly differing subjects, in effect, providing so much evidence for our unity. Thank you, I love you, I’m sorry I don’t have any more interesting comments! Love this video!

[@JA-xg5dp]

Well articulated

[@bulmer69JR]

You have to get used to the realm of competition though, thats why it makes it different. Sure we have hard fight days in the gym but, theres nothing quite like walking out to a crowd of people with loud music and, your opponents friends and family yelling to kill you. Its easier in the gym because you're comfortable but you need to get comfortable competing or the nerves can get to you sometimes.

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt

[@harryzed9090]

You missed the whole point. That family cheering, the music, the entourage etc, it's all an illusion and people (including your family) believing in that illusion. And it's up to you not to believe the illusion, but just practice the sport like you did so many times

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

@@harryzed9090 he’s definitely right about that. You can get all caught up in that when it comes down to it, it’s just a man against a man. I loved how he described that.

[@teancumwilliam2929]

trying to block it out is the hard part

[@stdavis22]

I think the best approach is to treat training sessions with the same focus and intensity as competition. You wont rise to the occasion, you''ll fall to the level of your training when under pressure. Im not relating this to jiu jitsu, my competition is in pool/billiards. I practice as if im playing the best in the world, if I miss i consider it a loss and rack to start over. Then when I get into competition im already i the mindset of no mistakes, play perfect, and thats the standard

[@tommyrq180]

All the pageantry helped me concentrate and perform better than I ever could in the wrestling room (practice) or gym (judo). The illusion was important for my concentration and optimal mental state. I was never a very good practice athlete. Everyone is different.

[@obscurelines]

I remember FreddieRoach saying that Anderson Silva was nothing to look at in the gym and then would step out in the octogon and starch people. For my part (mostly judo for many years), I'd overgrip in regional comps and blow myself out like a minute into a fight. By the end of a comp I'd be almost ill. Something I'd never managed even in intensive training.

[@livingshadows6731]

100% agree and I'm a professional athlete

[@fyelow9123]

@@livingshadows6731 Someone like Israel Adesanya plays into the performance and allows this "Illusion" to give him strength in his own narrative, is this similar to what you do in your sport?

[@scooble]

I can relate this to motorcycle racing. When in the 'zone', I literally used to dispassionately perceive other riders as objects on the track that i needed to negotiate, much like a corner. There was no rage or animosity, but looking back, it felt scary that I didn't care whether they lived or died.

[@Morgan-ws1ng]

Sure buddy. I bet you’ve never been on a motorcycle in your life.

[@kylebell466]

@@Morgan-ws1ng yeah couse its sooooo hard and exclusive to get a motorcycle and race the thing. just couse you have a whitebread life doesnt mean everyone else does. go eat shit.

[@scooble]

@@Morgan-ws1ng yeah...sure; kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXqzlIWBht13m6M

[@katschrodinger954]

@@Morgan-ws1ng How did you get into the zone prior to a meet?

[@Morgan-ws1ng]

@@katschrodinger954 I don’t need to. I just see red and go

[@The_Zefside]

Yes! I love learning from John Danaher!

[@PaulWTaber-zd8ds]

When money is on the line it’s different than training, it’s not an illusion if money and other benefits come from competition

[@darylfoster7944]

Exactly. A putt for a million dollars is not the same as a putt on the practice green. Or making a free thow with 5 seconds left in a playoff game. Most people actually fail in those situations.

[@VGEmblem]

That's why you separate it in your mind to just see it as another day. Plus you already think of those things while training (for motivation)

[@MarxismIsACancerousReligion]

Lex almost short circuited when John made a joke about joes meaty head.

[@edstoffregen3623]

this thought process can be applied to other sports beside fighting: any competition-archery, running, disc golf, downhill skiing. Get it in your mind just another practice session

[@jimmieraper5807]

Teams dedication is what keeps me going.

[@NickMart1985]

Business, politics, everything.

[@darylfoster7944]

Putting for a million dollars is not the same as putting on the practice green. It just isn't.

[@stdavis22]

I think the better approach is to treat training sessions with the same focus and intensity as competition. You wont rise to the occasion, you''ll fall to the level of your training when under pressure. Im not relating this to jiu jitsu, my competition is in pool/billiards. I practice as if im playing the best in the world, if I miss i consider it a loss and rack to start over. Then when I get into competition im already i the mindset of no mistakes, play perfect, and thats the standard

[@NickMart1985]

@@stdavis22 billiards doesn’t destroy your body. Even golf will destroy you physically if you don’t take it easy.

[@ColaCocaMan]

Intensity of Conflict: The varying acts of intensity onto another being during engagement.

[@sbreslin41]

Great insight

[@frankmartorell3853]

i think this could actually apply with anything like artist, scientists, etc...

[@Guywithair2]

I can just think about a tournament and my heart rate will shoot up.. that is how anxious I am.

[@nateswain4633]

I'm exactly the same. It's elevated now listening to this. I'm working on it

[@Guywithair2]

@@nateswain4633 yup lol same. I did compete in October for a super fight. I was tired after 20 seconds. It was submission only and ended up being a draw.

[@hfspace]

I disagree that competition is the same as training. the difference in intensity matters. There is a difference if you get hit full force or restrained as in training (to prevent injuries), so that you can get away with less as the consequences are more grave.

[@KitagumaIgen]

One Wednesday I dislocated my shoulder, that Friday I managed one hard cross-country training session just fine, the race Saturday I had to abandon because it was significantly different - and impossible to do at race-level intensity.

[@VGEmblem]

You don't play fighting 👍

[@miroslavbogdantsaliev931]

Lex, check the Bulgarian system of training and you’d be amazed.

[@benji9871]

All models are wrong, but some models are useful- interesting & useful mindset here, imo

[@torotheplumber3788]

Dunno about this one ....This is the most difficult thing to do . Never been able to do it with just telling myself it's all smoke and mirrors lol ...don't know how else to get rid of the nerves unless you compete all the time and desensitize yourself

[@Iaintrussian]

"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on youtube. You can feel it when you go to work... when you go to train... when you're on the podium..."

[@miroslavbogdantsaliev931]

There is a training system developed by a Bulgarian weight lifting coach which contradicts what is said here. What he achieved is unmatched in history. Check Ivan Abadjiev (Иван Абаджиев)! His system was based on competition intensity but when he was asked to apply it in the US, it failed because of the US athletes mentality who simply were unable to coop with the pressure.

[@margaretbooth384]

Zen and the Art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or the Roman Coliseum?

[@PcCAvioN]

Sweat on the training ground saves blood on the battle ground

[@bruceleroy8063]

Somehow I think Fedor knew this 🤔

[@MrJetlagfever]

Hi Lex, You may or may not have asked John this already, but does Gordon Ryan get nervous or fearful before competition?

[@keenb641]

This applies to life.

[@Mandude32]

1:44

[@darylfoster7944]

Except that the "performance" may involve a huge sum of money. That's where pressure is created.

[@IvarTheBoneless101]

And that is the illusion. Money has the value you place on it so if you big it up as something important you’ll create artificial pressure

[@darylfoster7944]

@@IvarTheBoneless101 money always has some value, although it varies from person to person. I doubt if you could find a single professional athlete that would play for free, no matter how much they say they love the game. So it's not really an illusion.

[@IvarTheBoneless101]

@@darylfoster7944 agreed up to a point. People absolutely do have other interests which can supersede financial ones. Saying “I want” brings about fear, pain, anxiety and emotions. But it’s completely relatively to what you want in relation to what you already have, what you’re trying to gain, what you’re trying to protect etc. If you have positive experiences in high pressure situations you slowly reduce the fear pain and anxiety in similar future situations. If you stand to lose a lot then the want becomes stronger and the responsibility adds pressure. Therefore while it is real, the effects are absolutely an illusion because they are so tangible based on these factors. For optimal performance it’s ideal to change perception to minimise negative effects and maximise positive ones.

[@youngxtho5188]

The mental aspect of competition causes some people to perform lower because of the pressure That’s the difference

[@MIbra96]

Not that easy with something like boxing. Training is rarely as intense because otherwise you'll end up as a vegetable.

[@MrRumcajs1000]

He's not honest when he says the competition is the same as training and even himself later acknowledges the difference in the intensity. Also, what he didn't consider is the fact that in special circumstances where there is more on the line a human body is capable of much more than in training because it's being pushed by the determination of the mind and I'd think that he would be the type of person to study that closely.

[@oldmanpoopie]

listen fully before you comment

[@JustMe-999a]

blah blah blah

[@michaelweb7416]

You just came to be edgy🤣

[@kylebell466]

@@michaelweb7416 how is anything he said edgy, you guys are just seething couse hes not echo chambering jon

[@MrRumcajs1000]

@@oldmanpoopie great argument! He literally said 'Nah. It's the same.' though.

[@forever1437]

Hashem blessed me with your existence.

[@nickmills8476]

And so the spell was broken

[@sebastianlowe7727]

The training has training has to be carefully monitored, intensive, intensively lExipHmapHlala

[@alvarez.l9422]

You think he watches WWE

[@vasilshkutov2890]

I love this episode, but…he just had to wear that , didn’t he.

[@Tiger-zt8sr]

Does John ever wear a normal shirt?

[@ben6591]

Yeahhh this doesn't work for boxing man

[@MrAntup]

There is no winning in training

[@Looshington]

ben simmons needs to watch this clip lol

[@JP-zz6ql]

😂

[@HalConick]

The pageantry seems to be the game for Simmons.

[@chychywoohoo]

Misinterpretation in the title as usual

[@jaywalshmusicandsong1736]

I'm not sure you understand how KZbin works.

[@chychywoohoo]

@@jaywalshmusicandsong1736 a little too well

[@xchargerOUx]

I whole heartedly agree with this concept. That competition is the root of all evil in humanity.

[@jimmieraper5807]

Hat ♃

[@NickMart1985]

Foolish. Competition is the root of everything great about humanity. People competing makes your trivial life possible.

[@xchargerOUx]

@@NickMart1985 says the simpleton

[@Thebisneychannel]

Pride is worse than competition

[@PaulWTaber-zd8ds]

When money is on the line it’s different than training, it’s not an illusion if money and other benefits come from competition

[@harryzed9090]

You won't have influence on the money. You only have influence in performing the sport as best as you can and that is the only thing you should simply do and focus on. The necessity to focus on the rest is the illusion