I firmly believe that life will continually try to teach you the same lesson, with increasing pain, until you heed the call.

we must remember that the end of personal mastery is service to others.

In my own life, I have always viewed personal mastery as simply a medium through which I become capable of providing more service toward my fellow man.

In whatever we do, we should be investing in ourselves and not our jobs. Everything I have ever pursued has been for the sole goal of who I was becoming in its achievement. I competed and fought because of the man I became. This is the only worthwhile victory. You cannot take the trophies with you.

I can think of no more worthwhile aim than pursuing mastery in this craft while transcending one's own limitations.

By becoming a black belt, you will become whatever it is you wanted to be in the first place, and Jiu Jitsu will have served its aim.