Most people train to look better.
At BaseLine, we train to live better.
Over the past 2 years, I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Musashi BJJ. The club is named after Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary samurai who lived by a code of discipline, strategy, and relentless self-mastery.
The more I train, the more I see how Jiu-Jitsu mirrors life.
You get choked. You get humbled. You learn to stay calm under pressure. You learn that strength without technique is useless and that ego gets you nowhere.
That’s why Musashi’s philosophy doesn’t just apply to BJJ or combat – it applies to life, fatherhood, and the work we do at BaseLine.
Here are 10 of his quotes and how they tie into my philosophy in life and training.
1. “You can only fight the way you practice.”
Show up with purpose. How you train is how you show up in life.
2. “The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them.”
True strength is calm. Quiet. Always ready but never needing to prove it.
3. “Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.”
The real battle is internal. Discipline. Presence. Focus.
4. “Do nothing that is of no use.”
Be ruthless with your time. Every rep, every choice should move you forward.
5. “It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.”
Struggling in BJJ? In the gym? Good. That’s where growth lives.
6. “From one thing, know ten thousand things.”
Mastery in one area, like BJJ or lifting translates to all of life.
7. “There is more than one path to the top of the mountain.”
You don’t need the perfect plan. You need the commitment to keep climbing.
8. “Suppress the enemy’s useful actions but allow his useless actions.”
In a roll. In training. In life. Focus on what works — ignore the distractions.
9. “You win battles by knowing the enemy’s timing.”
Most people wait. You act. You move when it’s uncomfortable.
10. “Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.”
This is a lifelong game. No shortcuts. Just reps, mat time, and patience.
Whether I’m on the mats or in the gym, I carry the same mindset.
Show up. Stay sharp. Embrace the struggle.
That’s the path.
That’s the code.
And that’s what we live at BaseLine.
Coach Milligan 