Big Elephant, Small Rope

The classic story of the fully grown elephant held to a perimeter center post by a small rope, when it would be beyond easy to escape with a minimal effort tug.

As a baby it pulls and yanks on the small rope, trying to free itself, but the rope is able to hold the not-so-powerful baby elephant.

Day after day it tries again, and continues to fail. After some time, the elephant gives up, knowing deep down that the rope is too strong to escape from.

As time goes on, the rope doesn’t change, but the elephant grows stronger and stronger, getting strong enough to easily yank and snap the rope, but doesn’t even try.

We see this in Jiujitsu, before we even get started, in our early days, and throughout our journey.

We were too sickly and unfit enough to make any sports team in high school. Now that we’re adults, we’re certain we can’t “make the team”. Opportunities pass us by knowing we wouldn’t make the cut if we tried.

After 50 times getting caught in that same damn submission we assume we can’t escape and give up trying. The next 50 subs are unresisted gimmes just by being initiated by our partner.

We have that training partner that just has our number. Every damn roll seems the same, and seems they will forever. We acquiesce and hand over the next 50 rolls to them without resistance, accepting our fate. Or worse, avoid the roll opportunities.

We should test our assumptions frequently, give the rope a yank now and then. It won’t always give, but at least we’ll know our assumption is correct…for today. We circle back frequently, confirming our assumptions or making new ones. We do this not just in our early days, but throughout our journey on the mats, and in life.

This goes for relationships off the mats, college and career choices, our hobbies and fitness goals, anything that matters to us, all of which require constant assumption and reassumption.

Just because we couldn’t at one time doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t today. Couldn’t doesn’t mean can’t.

A reminder to question our assumptions, and to test them frequently.