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CHORTEACH

ARTICLE
Developing Black-Belt Choral Musicians:

Transferable Lessons and Methods

from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

JEFFERY WALL

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the Feb- concepts come from the author’s own experiences, and
ruary 2024 issue of the ArkMEA Journal (Arkansas Music others have been adapted from a book by Rener Gracie
Educators Association). It has been slightly updated by the author titled, The 32 Principles: Harnessing the Power of Jiu-Jitsu to
and is reprinted with permission. The content is based on the Succeed in Business, Relationships, and Life. 1
author’s interest session at the 2024 Southwestern ACDA Region
Conference.
Connection
In order to effectively control an opponent, one must
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art that control distance. BJJ players must physically connect
is often used as a vehicle to impact practitioners posi- to their opponent and leave no space for movement or
tively, building resilience, patience, confidence, and dis- counter-attack until they are ready to move or elicit an
cipline through terraced skill-building in a community expected movement from their opponent. It is also true
of individuals from all walks of life. A form of submis- that BJJ players often share a connected camaraderie.
sion grappling, it has been described as having many Having traversed through difficult training together, they
of the mental challenges of chess with physical conse- share a bond with their training partners and mutually
quences via pins, joint manipulation, and strangulation share aspects of their lives. Connection allows the “abil-
holds. It is an effective method of self-defense, a com- ity to communicate, listen, negotiate, observe, problem
petitive sport, a hobby, and a lifestyle for many. The solve, escalate, deescalate, empathize, pacify, praise, em-
physical and mental benefits of this art form deserve brace, or perhaps totally avoid [to help] maintain control
our attention in the choral world. In this article, we will in everyday social situations.”
2
explore the unexpected lessons and methods from the Connection is the catalyst principle upon which all
jiu-jitsu mats and how they can be effectively trans- ensemble music learning occurs. After all, musicians
ferred to the rehearsal room. As a black belt with over must connect with each other first to effectively commu-
thirty years of martial arts experience, some of these nicate with an audience. Additionally, think about how

CHORAL JOURNAL May 2025 Volume 65 Number 8 61