Michael Strong asks five-year-old Alana how she decides what to do. She notices her body knows instantly in jiu-jitsu, but she has to stop and think for math and conversation. Strong suggests that reflective activities strengthen the mind the way training strengthens the body.
Ryan? Good.
Good. How are you doing?
I'm really well. I'm really well. So I wanna— I'm thinking about some hard things. You ready to think about hard things?
Yes, I am.
Okay, so I want to know how you decide what to do. Like, sometimes you wonder if you should You know, play outside or play inside, cookies or carrots. How do you make decisions about what to do?
I use my brain.
Wonderful, I'm glad you use your brain. Do you kind of think about, if I do this, then what will happen? No. Can you ever remember having a hard time deciding what to do? Or do you always know what you're going to do instantly?
I do know— I do not— sometimes I do not know what I'm going to pick.
And then do you think about which of two options or more you like better?
No, I don't.
You don't? You just kind of stop and just think for a little bit before you decide? Yes. And do you ever make a decision and then you're unhappy with that decision?
I am sometimes.
You remember an example?
No, I don't.
That's okay, it's hard. I don't have an example in mind either, but sometimes I like to think with specific examples because then you can remember things. And I'm trying to figure out, do you think you make really good decisions almost all the time?
I think so.
Good for you. Good for you. Are there some times when you don't think at all, that you just instantly know what to do, and you just know it's the right thing to do immediately?
Yes, I do sometimes.
Oh, I bet. Remind me which martial art. I always forget the name of the martial art you're doing.
Jiu-jitsu.
So do you actually do like little, um, little contests in jiu-jitsu where you try to fight with another kid?
Well, we're not real fighting with them. With another kid, but we're actually just training.
Training, that's what I mean, that's what I mean. Thank you for the correction. I really appreciate the correction. I didn't know what you call it, and so I used the word fighting and I thought, uh-oh, I shouldn't use the word fighting. So thank you, Alana, I appreciate that. So when you are training with another kid, does your mind instantly know what to do, where to put your hand and where to put your foot?
Yes, it does.
Okay, are you pretty good at training?
Yes, I am.
And just because I don't know, is there, is there kind of a winner and loser in training or not at all?
Not at all.
Okay, do you ever watch grown-ups doing jiu-jitsu?
Grown-ups?
Yeah, like Adults, do you ever see trainers or adults doing training in jiu-jitsu?
Yes, I do.
Have you ever seen a jiu-jitsu contest?
I haven't been in one.
Okay. Well, so when I go back to decisions, I know that your father sometimes watches mixed martial arts. Have you ever seen your father watch MMA?
Um, sometimes he watches me and sometimes he works.
Okay, I was talking about something else, but that's okay. Um, so when you, when you are in jiu-jitsu, your mind and body know what to do immediately, correct?
Yes.
So what kinds of things do you have to stop and think about if not jiu-jitsu?
I don't really need to stop and think about it. Stop and think about what I'm gonna do in jiu-jitsu though.
I agree, I agree. Right now you're stopping and thinking. When we're talking, very often you stop and think. Is that right?
Yeah, but not really in jiu-jitsu.
No, no, I agree, I agree. One of the interesting things— to me it's interesting, I think it's interesting— that in jiu-jitsu, know what to do immediately But right now you have to stop and think. It feels— does it feel different to you?
It does.
Do you like both, or do you prefer jiu-jitsu, or a little of both?
A little bit of both.
Okay. And I was wondering if there are other times in your life that you think other than when you and I talk, when you stop and think, use your brain. I didn't hear you. Did you say something, Alana?
Yes.
What did you say?
I do not know if I do that.
Okay, how about math? When you're doing math, you ever have to stop and think of math, or never?
Sometimes.
So what's 1 1? Excuse me? 1 1? Yeah.
2.
Did you have to stop and think?
No.
How about 2 plus 2?
4.
Did you have to stop and think? How about 4 plus 4?
4 plus 4.
Seems like personal development is like the only thing you got on there. Um, 8. Did you have to stop and think? Yes, I did. So when you do math at school, do you ever have to stop and think?
Sometimes. Okay.
So I'm just very interested in when we know how to do things like in jiu-jitsu, and I bet you are brilliant at your body and mind know what to do in jiu-jitsu immediately. Sometimes, like when you and I talk, and with math, we have to stop and think. And so I just wanted you to— I want you to start to wonder, start to notice. Do you notice if you ever stop and think in other parts of your life?
Um, no, I haven't seen.
Okay. It's great to be able to do things immediately. I love things like jiu-jitsu. We do it immediately. And there are also things like mathematics and systematic conversations. We have to use our mind. I bet jiu-jitsu makes your body really powerful. You think you're getting a powerful body from jiu-jitsu? I do. You think maybe you're getting a powerful mind from stopping and thinking with math and Socratic? You don't think so? Okay, well, I think my hypothesis, if you remember— I bet you don't remember what hypothesis is. I do.
It's like a guess.
Oh my gosh, you are so amazing. I am impressed. I'm impressed. My hypothesis is is that we are getting your mind to become more powerful and stronger, just like in jiu-jitsu they are getting your body more powerful and stronger. Does that seem even possible? Yes.
Yes.
Okay, okay. Um, great. Well, I want you— I think you fought really, really hard today. Um, I think you used your brain. Is your brain tired at all or not at all?
Nope.
Okay, you're so strong. What are you looking forward to this week?
Excuse me?
What are you looking forward to? Is there anything you're looking forward to doing this week? Or today?
I do not know.
You can what?
I do not know.
Okay, that's okay. Well, I hope you have a really fun day. I'm gonna let you go, and we'll probably see you next week, okay?
I'll see you next week.
Bye-bye, Alana. Take care.
Bye.
