It's the Microwave's Fault

When I was growing up, we didn’t have microwaves. If you wanted warm food, you had to heat it on the stove or, if you were lucky enough to have one, a toaster oven. The process took time—five or ten minutes for simple reheating, longer if the food was frozen. If you needed to boil water, that was another 15-20 minutes on the stovetop. This was just the way things were. We accepted it because there was no alternative.

Then, sometime in my early teens, we got a microwave. Wow! What an amazing invention! Something that once took five or ten minutes now took mere seconds. Leftovers? Ready in 45 seconds. Hot water? Less than a minute. It felt like magic. And looking back, I realize this moment marked the beginning of a major shift—not just in how we prepared food, but in how we approached life itself.

The microwave was just the start.

The Acceleration of Convenience

Shortly after, we entered the age of the internet. First, it was dial-up, but even that was a game-changer. Before, getting information meant a trip to the library, combing through books and periodicals for hours. Suddenly, we had access to an abundance of knowledge at our fingertips. It wasn’t instant, but it was much faster than before.

Then came email. Written correspondence, which once took days or even weeks through the postal system, could now be sent and received in seconds. Communication that had required patience and planning was now immediate. We didn’t have to wait for a reply; it was nearly instantaneous.

Next, cell phones revolutionized our lives. No longer were we tethered to our homes or reliant on pay phones. The first models were bulky and expensive, but they introduced a new level of accessibility. Over time, cell phones evolved to include the internet, and speeds increased exponentially. Today, the phone in my pocket has more computational power than the systems that guided Neil Armstrong to the moon.

With all these advances, life became incredibly efficient. Tasks that used to take hours or even days now took minutes, if not seconds. On paper, this was an incredible improvement. We gained time, convenience, and access to an endless supply of information. But as I reflect on these changes, I have to ask: What did we lose in the process?

The Cost of Instant Gratification

While technology has given us speed and efficiency, it has also diminished our patience and commitment. The expectation of immediate results has permeated every aspect of our lives. We don’t want to wait for food, for responses, or for knowledge. We no longer need to memorize information because we can always look it up. Our ability to sit with discomfort, to persist through difficulty, and to commit to long-term growth has eroded.

This is where disciplines like Jiu-Jitsu and Judo come in.

Restoring Patience and Commitment Through Martial Arts

Jiu-Jitsu and Judo require something that modern technology often undermines: persistence. Yes, we have instant access to the best techniques in the world through videos and online instruction, but watching them isn’t enough. We still must get on the mat, put in the reps, and experience the struggle firsthand.

There are no shortcuts.

We must have the discipline to practice, the patience to repeat movements until they become second nature, and the resilience to keep going when things don’t work the way we want. Failure is inevitable, but it’s also a crucial part of the learning process. If a technique doesn’t work, we must analyze, adjust, and try again. This requires commitment, something that our instant-gratification culture does not easily cultivate.

Jiu-Jitsu and Judo teach us the value of slow, steady progress. There is no "microwave" solution to mastering these arts. You cannot rush proficiency. You must show up, train, fail, learn, and repeat—over and over again. And in this process, something powerful happens: We regain our patience. We rebuild our ability to commit. We develop a mindset that values persistence over quick fixes.

Concepts used outside the academy.

The principles learned in martial arts extend far beyond the dojo. Whether it’s in personal development, career growth, relationships, or any meaningful pursuit, success requires time and effort. There will always be the temptation to look for shortcuts, but true mastery in any field demands consistent, deliberate practice.

Technology has given us incredible tools, but we must be mindful of their impact on our mindset. We should embrace efficiency where it serves us, but not at the expense of our ability to commit and persevere. Sometimes, the best things in life take time.

So maybe it all started with the microwave. But the good news is, we can counterbalance the effects of instant gratification. We just have to be willing to step onto the mat, put in the work, and embrace the process—one patient, committed step at a time.

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