Fact 14: Cogito, ergo luctari

Side bar: phd literally stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Lots of dopes don’t know that.


Plato – one of the most significant thinkers of Western Civilization, was an astute wrestler. In those days (in Athens), it was assumed that a learned young man would develop his body, as well as his intellect.

Plato’s akedemia, a garden and gymnasium on the outskirts of Athens, was known as a hub for wrestling and intellectual discussion. Plato himself was not just a philosopher but also a wrestler, and a good one at that: he competed in the Isthmian Games, a competition comparable to the Olympics. In fact, “Plato” was a wrestling nickname, meaning broad-shouldered. Between his lectures in the original academy, Plato likely sparred with his pupils and practiced throwing techniques. His famous mentor, Socrates, was what we might call a “volunteer coach.” Plato records many of the Socratic dialogues as taking place at the edge of the ancient wrestling mat where Socrates philosophized with young men. Socrates was a regular at the Lyceum gymnasium where, decades later, Aristotle started his own philosophical school.
— The Public Discourse, Richard R. Eva

Other distinguished people who formerly grappled

  • US Presidents

    • George Washington

    • Abraham Lincoln

    • Teddy Roosevelt (also practiced judo and Japanese jiu jitsu)

    • Dwight Eisenhower

  • Arts, sciences, medicine, and law

    • John Irving (author & wrestler)

    • Ken Kesey (author & wrestler)

    • Neil DeGrasse Tyson (physicist & wrestler)

    • Andy Rooney (journalist & wrestler)

    • Sam Harris (neuroscientist & bjj practitioner)

    • John Danaher (philosopher & bjj practitioner)

    • Saulo Ribeiro (lawyer & bjj practitioner)

    • Bruno Fernandes (MD & bjj practitioner)

    • Eddie Cummings (mathematician & bjj practitioner)

    • Jan Gosiewski (engineer & judoka)