Grit: What West Point, Duckworth, and the Mat Have in Common

Angela Duckworth’s Grit defines grit as the ability to pursue long-term goals through setbacks, boredom, and difficulty. The key insight: it’s not genetic. Grit can be taught and trained.

At West Point, grit gets stress-tested. My class entered in 1992 and graduated in 1996. From Beast Barracks to dark-o’clock formations, from academic pressure to field exercises, everything is designed to reveal and build character. Later, commanding an infantry company in Iraq, the lessons hardened. You learn to steady your breathing when the stakes rise, think clearly when you’re tired, and take the next right action even when the path is hard.

Jiu-Jitsu gives kids a miniature version of that training. They drill a movement and fail. They drill again and fail better. They plateau, get frustrated, and think about quitting. Then something clicks. The escape works. The guard pass lands. They connect the dots: consistent effort beats talent. That connection becomes a lifelong asset in school, sports, work, and relationships.