Roll, Cut, Fly: The Rhythm of Mastery
Into the Darkness
This week, I had an unforgettable experience flying in a Chinook helicopter with my friend Zach, a skilled military pilot and fellow black belt.
It was dark. We wore night vision goggles. And I sat back in awe as I watched him work.
For hours, he moved that massive machine through the sky with quiet precision and full control. I didn’t know what buttons he was pressing or what calculations he was making, but I could see the mastery in every motion.
And it made me think about you… the athlete, the coach, the competitor, the person reading this right now who is chasing mastery in your own craft.
The Art of Mastery
No matter your field—jiu jitsu, medicine, teaching, parenting, piloting—there’s a zone we all strive for.
That moment when your hands move with intention. When your body reacts before your mind even catches up. When the repetition, the training, and the hours of effort finally click.
That’s not luck. It’s not just talent. It’s years of showing up while applying yourself.
It’s mastery and domination of the subject.
Your Arena
Zach’s arena is 10,000 feet in the air. Mine is under bright lights in the OR. Yours might be on the mats, in the gym, in a classroom, or behind a computer.
Wherever your arena is, the path is the same:
Presence.
Precision.
Practice.
How to Achieve Mastery
Motivation can only get us so far. For me, mastery requires the following:
Specific goals – S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed). I have a word document dedicated to goals and values for various areas of my life including profession, health/fitness, and relationships.
A Schedule – I use google calendar. If something is on my calendar, it gets done.
Feedback – from my jiu jitsu partners, my coaches and mentors, my patients, and my partners at work.
Self study/reflection – the work behind closed doors is just as important. This includes studying videos (my own and others), taking notes, journaling, and drilling.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to overlook mastery when it’s not your own. But when you pause long enough to recognize it (in others and in yourself), you begin to see the beauty in the work.
Dr. Megan Lisset Jimenez
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