Jiu Jitsu Meme Review with Ryan Hall

Meme Review Ratings and Content

• Rating System: Memes were scored on a scale of 1 to 12, where higher numbers indicated better humor and lower numbers indicated poor quality or "horrible" execution.
• "Sobbing after adult class": Assigned a score of 4; identified as a deep philosophical observation rather than a pure joke.
• "Gifted vs. Practice" meme: Scored 4; Ryan Hall notes it is "accurate" but lacks humor.
• Sumo Geisha/Kiss of Salami: Noted for its absurdity; no specific numerical score given, but described as "anybody" content.
• "Modern Jujitsu guy using Japanese words": Hall expressed skepticism regarding Eddie Bravo's renaming of techniques but conceded the value lies in personal preference and memory aid.
• "Best defense against body triangles is to get really fat": Assigned a low score of 2 for being "horrible."
• "Curing coronavirus with a blue belt": Scored 12 for being "wasteful" and "disturbingly accurate" regarding the dropout rate at the blue belt rank.
• "Cardio vs. Sparring appearance": Scored 1; Hall declined to rate it fairly due to a lack of cardio experience, stating "running breeds cowardice."
• "Submitted 46 times (0 IBJJF legal)": Scored 2 (with potential for a negative score) for its accuracy regarding illegal submissions.
• "Promotion during COVID waiting to roll": Scored 1 as a "bad" joke.
• "90% of BJJ instructionals": Scored 6; Hall admitted he performs the same behavior.
• "Overpriced goods during economic crisis": Scored 11; praised for the accuracy of the commentary on spending money on half-guard DVDs.
• "Guy who murders you on the mat vs. reality": Scored 11; described as "absolutely accurate."
• "Teammate losing match but recorded": Scored 11; recalled the era of using old-school digital cameras.
• "UFC fan not understanding ground game": Scored 7; noted as accurate but less funny, with a humorous reference to Roger Gracie.

Ryan Hall's Philosophy on Talent and Training

• Talent vs. Discipline: Hall rejects the notion of innate talent, attributing his success to "discipline and grit," which he views as a choice rather than a genetic gift.
• The "Facilitative Belief": Hall argues that if a goal is truly desired, external discouragement will not stop the individual; he cites a friend's advice: "if I can talk you out of your dream, you don't want your dream."
• Branding in Jiu-Jitsu: Hall expressed discomfort with the heavy branding trends in Jiu-Jitsu but acknowledged that if unique terminology (like Eddie Bravo's) aids memory, it is valid.
• Role of Training Partners: Hall shared that training against superior opponents (like Marilo Santana) is essential for self-evaluation, noting that "gap stays the same" as long as one keeps training.

Anecdotes on Skill and Learning

• The "Eric Ryerson" Epiphany: Hall recounted a 2004 story where a 130-pound, 8-month white belt at Ronan Athletics completely dominated him, sparking his realization that technique supersedes size and experience.
• The Marilo Santana Experience: Hall described a 2009 meeting with Marilo Santana in the snow, where Santana effortlessly submitted Hall "35 times" to a 1,000-yard stare, teaching Hall that the issue was skill, not size.
• Post-Training Trauma: Hall and Hall both described the specific psychological state after being dominated: driving home slowly with no music or podcasts, overwhelmed by a sense that "life is meaningless."
• Observation as Learning: The group noted the common habit of sitting in the back of a car watching others train, often with a "tear slowly" feeling, as a form of passive learning and validation of their struggles.