The purpose of this site is the exploration of how martial arts, philosophy, and life intersect. My goal is to apply philosophy (theoretical concepts and teachings) to everyday scenarios both on and off the mats.

I am a student of the ancient philosophers of the Western world, including Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, and Cicero, as well as modern philosophers such as Hume, Locke, and Nietzsche. I also lean heavily on Eastern teachers such as Lao Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi, and Sun Tzu. My desire is to read broadly and apply as needed.

I have been training, competing, and coaching in various martial arts for many years. I started out in Wrestling. I then tried Karate and Boxing, but eventually found my way back to the mat. Nowadays, I mostly train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, and Sumo. The metaphor of grappling and fighting in the dojo applies appropriately to the struggles we face every day.

If there is a topic you want to discuss, whether it’s philosophy or martial arts, please send me a message and I will see what I can do. I want each of you to become your own philosophical fighter, prepared to battle whatever the world throws at you.

Sincerely,

Joshua Clements

The Philosophical Fighter