I began studying Stoicism in 2017, during a period in my early 30s when I was struggling to find balance.
A close friend introduced me to Ryan Holiday’s work and gifted me The Obstacle Is the Way. I had no idea at the time that this book would become an anchor through the turbulent years that followed.
As I dove deeper into Holiday’s writing and Stoic philosophy, I started to notice the many parallels between Stoicism and jiu-jitsu. The lessons we encounter on the mat often mirror the challenges we face in life—controlling our emotions, choosing our mindset, turning obstacles into opportunities, embracing discomfort.
Over the last nine years, I’ve collected countless quotes and passages that resonated with me and have proven valuable to anyone pursuing personal growth, especially martial artists.
One that stayed with me is: “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano.”
Here’s why.
Mens Sana In Corpore Sano
Translated from Latin, it means “a strong mind in a strong body.” While many people think of the Stoics purely as philosophers, several of the most influential Stoic teachers deeply valued physical training.
Marcus Aurelius, the most famous Stoic and a Roman emperor, was a wrestler. Chrysippus, an early Greek Stoic, was a runner. Cleanthes, the second head of the Stoic school, was a boxer. Even Theodore Roosevelt, a devoted student of Stoicism, was a passionate advocate of combat sports, including wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu.
As a martial artist and reader of this newsletter, you likely already believe that a well-lived life comes from training both the body and the mind. But as the Stoics taught, the reward isn’t just the strong body or the strong mind, it’s found in the pursuit itself.
Just as in jiu-jitsu, the value of a black belt isn’t the belt, it’s the person you become on the journey. The challenges, the discomfort, the setbacks, the breakthroughs, these sharpen the mind. The years of drilling, rolling, and competing forge a capable, hardened body.
By the time you reach black belt, you’ve earned exactly what the Stoics described: a strong mind in a strong body.
Continuing the Pursuit
Whether you’ve earned your black belt or you’re still early in your martial arts journey, the pursuit never ends.
And as you move into your 40s and beyond, it becomes even more important to maintain the discipline required to keep the body mobile, strong, and resilient.
Layer on the endless distractions of social media, the constant pull toward quick dopamine hits, and technology that encourages comfort and isolation—we’re at a cultural turning point.
You can drift into the ease, addiction, and disconnection of modern life…or you can choose the path the Stoics described: the pursuit of a strong mind in a strong body.
You can choose the never-ending journey of discipline and growth—of order and progress.
Continue to swing kettlebells and clubs.
Continue to practice jiu-jitsu, roll hard, and keep your ego in check.
Continue to read challenging books, meditate, and train your breath.
Continue to get outside, be present with your family and friends, and build real human connections.
Because it’s the pursuit of these practices that leads to mens sana in corpore sano.
Final Thoughts
This quote resonated so strongly with the mission of Order & Progress that we used it on our collaboration t-shirt with Mark Wildman. Mark, a lifelong martial artist himself, deeply understands the discipline, consistency, and effort required to pursue mastery.
We paired the quote with the image of the Discobolus—the ancient Greek statue that captures the beauty of rotational, fluid, athletic movement. Created by Myron, it represents far more than athleticism; it symbolizes timeless human movement: rotational power, balance, and structure.
Our training systems are built on these same foundations. Rotation is the most fundamental and essential movement pattern, and the Discobolus Tee reflects that truth—the wisdom of ancient athleticism carried into modern training.
And committing yourself to hard, intentional practice, whether through strength work, hard training, or jiu-jitsu—is one of the surest paths toward mens sana in corpore sano.
Click here to order the limited-edition t-shirt while supplies last.
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