Max is an arborist and black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu living in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. He and Denis talk about the ‘street-readiness’ mindset of Jiu Jitsu, and how training and experience has brought him on a voyage from warrior to protector.
Denis (in the back) posing with the fine folks of Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu in Vancouver. Professor Max (front center) had just finished instructing the morning BJJ class.
Max on the job (back in the day)
Show Notes
You can train with Prof. Max at Gracie Barra Vancouver. Denis mentioned a book by Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, in which it is revealed that the lives of lobsters are a fascinating study in our own struggle to establish a solid place in a hierarchy that determines our success and happiness in life, and it all starts with fighting.
Earlier in the show, Denis talks about a workshop he went to in NYC where Barry Michels helped him cross a new threshold with The Shadow. It was yet another forward-moving experience fueled by The Tools. Denis goes into some detail regarding Rudolf Steiner’s take on the shadow, wherein the shadow becomes a guide to new thresholds. Inspired by what he experienced there, Denis wrote the following Prayer of Repentance to My Shadow.
The workshop was at a completely unique fitness, wellness, and medical facility, Shift where folks there treated Denis (and his fucking irresponsible shadow) with kindness and compassion. Denis also made reference to previous podcast episodes, including The Trip to Vancouver, an interview with filmmaker Chris Benker, and that time Denis’ shadow waged an all out take-over, a cautionary tale told in A Predator Like Me.