"Economy of Movement" (Jiu-Jitsu's Principle) and How It Applies to Business

Economy of Movement—a core principle of jiu-jitsu—as effortless mastery through maximum efficiency.

Most businesses, like novice fighters, burn themselves out with flashy, wasteful moves when success lies in doing less—but smarter.

Why fight the market head-on when you can redirect its force and let competitors trip over themselves?

The Martial Arts Playbook: Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact

In jiu-jitsu, Economy of Movement means:

• Use the least effort for the most effective outcome.

• Don’t resist force head-on—redirect it.

• Avoid wasted motion—every move should serve a purpose.

A smaller, weaker fighter can defeat a stronger opponent by conserving energy, waiting for openings, and using precise techniques. It’s not about being stronger—it’s about being smarter.

Behavioral Insight: Why We Over-Exert Ourselves

Humans have a bias toward action. We believe: “Doing something is better than doing nothing.” This is called Action Bias, and it causes:

• Over-Engineering: Adding unnecessary features or steps.

• Over-Marketing: Blasting ads everywhere instead of focusing on key moments.

• Over-Scaling: Expanding too quickly, wasting money and energy.

Restraint feels risky, but restraint is the most powerful move—if it’s backed by strategy.

Negotiation Insight: Move Less, Win More

This same principle can be applied to negotiation.

Have you ever sat in awkward silence with another person? It feels uncomfortable. We tend to start filling in the silence.

Sales, acquisitions, speeches, and even asking for a promotion at work all involve negotiation.

The Economy of Movement can be a secret weapon even for those who HATES negotiating.

In negotiating the Economy of Movement can best be seen as strategic silence and letting the other side over-extend itself:

• Ask One Great Question: A simple but powerful question like “What’s your budget?” saves hours of guesswork.

• Wait for the Offer: Like a jiu-jitsu fighter waiting for a mistake, letting the other side propose terms first can create instant leverage.

• Use Constraints as Power: Setting clear limits (e.g., budget ceilings or time restrictions) makes you seem focused and prevents you from being pushed around.

The Simple Playbook for “Economy of Movement” in Business

Running a business can feel like managing a chaotic battlefield, with countless moving parts vying for attention. But the principle of Economy of Movement teaches us that success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less, strategically. Let’s explore how this principle can reshape how businesses operate with precision and efficiency.

1. Conserve Energy:

   • Only act when there’s a clear advantage.

   • Example: Apple waits for tech trends to mature, then dominates.

2. Redirect Force:

   • Use competitors’ strengths against them.

   • Example: Tesla used automakers’ slow innovation cycles to outpace them with constant product upgrades.

3. Reduce Complexity:

   • Simplify offerings to reduce friction.

   • Example: Netflix’s "one subscription, no ads" model destroyed cable TV’s complex bundles.

4. Let Momentum Do the Work:

   • Build systems that scale without you.

   • Example: YouTube content is created by its users, making it infinitely scalable at near-zero cost.

Final Thought: Win By Doing Less, Smarter

In business, as in jiu-jitsu, the best move is the one your opponent never sees coming—because they’re too busy collapsing under their own weight.

Success doesn’t come from more effort—it comes from less effort, applied strategically. When you move less but better, you stop fighting the market and start controlling it.

The greatest power move? Let the world trip over its own momentum while you’re already three moves ahead.