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The Tap Principle - Overcoming Personal Demons and Addictions

In Jiu-Jitsu, the Tap Principle is simple but profound: when you’re caught in a submission that you can’t escape, you tap out. It’s not defeat—it’s survival. It’s admitting you’re in over your head, resetting, and coming back stronger. Clinging to pride instead of tapping leads to injury or burnout.


Battling personal demons with Jiu Jitsu
Battling inner demons is like a never-ending cage match in the mind

What if we applied this to the personal demons and addictions that choke us in life?  


Jiu-Jitsu and the Tap: Surrendering to Win

On the mat, refusing to tap when you’re caught is a rookie mistake. A good practitioner knows when to let go, learn from the loss, and return with a better strategy. The Tap Principle isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. It’s the humility to recognize a fight you can’t win alone and the courage to start over.  


Facing Personal Demons: The Choke of Addiction

Addictions—whether to substances, habits, or thought patterns—are like a relentless armbar. They tighten their grip over time, and the longer you resist tapping, the deeper the damage. Personal demons like shame, anger, or lust work the same way, isolating you from God and others. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Tapping out to God is the first step to breaking free.  


Survival and Surrender: Letting Go to Live

In the wild, stubbornness kills. If you’re lost and refuse to backtrack, or cling to a failing plan instead of adapting, you’re done. Survival demands humility—tapping out to your limits and seeking help, whether from a map, a companion, or God’s guidance. Addiction recovery follows the same logic: you can’t muscle through alone; you need a higher power.  


Applying the Tap Principle

  1. Recognize the Hold – Admit when a demon or addiction has you caught—denial only tightens its grip.  

  2. Tap to God – Surrender your struggle in prayer, trusting Him to reset your path (Psalm 34:17).  

  3. Learn from the Roll – Every tap teaches you something. Use setbacks to build resilience, not shame.  

  4. Roll Again – Freedom isn’t instant. Keep showing up, relying on Christ’s strength to fight another day.


Tapping out isn’t the end—it’s a beginning. Jesus tapped out to the Father’s will in Gethsemane, saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). That surrender won our salvation. Your tap can win your freedom.  


Life Application Questions:

  1. What personal demons or addictions am I refusing to tap out to God about?  

  2. Am I clinging to pride instead of seeking help from Him or others?  

  3. How has denying my struggles affected my faith, relationships, or survival?  

  4. What would tapping out to God look like in my current battle?  

  5. Do I trust that Christ can lift me up if I humble myself and reset?


 
 
 

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