by Shannon Wagers
I’ll never forget that night in November 1993, sitting in front of the TV, watching this skinny Brazilian guy named Royce Gracie dismantle guys twice his size at UFC 1. He was maybe 180 pounds, taking down 250-pound beasts like it was nothing. Royce blew my mind with what he accomplished—and he inspired many for sure.
Fast forward, and I’m standing on the mat with Jean Jacques Machado—a legend in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). BJJ is a martial art focused on grappling and ground fighting, emphasizing techniques to control and submit an opponent. I was just hoping not to make a fool of myself. When he tied that blue belt around my waist, I felt like I’d won the lottery. But what stuck with me most was what he said:
“The belt doesn’t make you ready for the fight. How you prepare makes you ready.”
And then there was the night I met UFC champion Rich Franklin at a Cincinnati Reds’ game during a corporate event. Here’s this guy who’d battled the best in the octagon, and yet he was just as pumped to ask me questions about my own day-to-day life. He had this quiet confidence that wasn’t about his fighting skills. It came from something deeper.
The same message echoed again when I got to train with Rener Gracie. Watching him move was like watching poetry. But it was his mindset that stood out:
“It’s not about being the toughest guy in the room—it’s about being the most prepared.”
All those experiences taught me a truth that lines up perfectly with what the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians chapter six: There’s a spiritual fight happening every single day—and showing up unprepared is like stepping into the cage with no game plan. Last Sunday at Christ’s Church, our lead pastor Brad Wilson spoke about how we can be more prepared to battle with our adversary, the devil. In case you missed it, you can check out last Sunday’s teaching here.
The Fight We Don’t See
Paul lays it out in Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers . . . mighty powers in this dark world . . . evil spirits in the heavenly places” (NLT).
Just as Royce demonstrated that technique beats raw strength, Paul was saying that spiritual battles aren’t won by willpower or bravado. It’s about showing up prepared—with the right gear.
When I first got into BJJ, I thought it was all about muscle and aggression. Wrong. Jean Jacques taught me every roll is like a chess match. You need strategy, skill, and the right gear. Same goes spiritually—Paul gives us a full set of armor for this fight.
Getting Suited Up
Ephesians 6:13-17 spells it out: “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor. . . . Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News . . . hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (NLT).
Let’s break that down.
The Belt of Truth
Ask any martial artist—your belt isn’t just decoration. It holds everything together. I remember Jean Jacques tugging at someone’s belt before a roll: “If this comes loose, everything falls apart.”
Same spiritually. Truth anchors everything. But it’s not about memorizing Bible trivia. It’s about being honest—about who we are, where we struggle, where we stand. Rener used to say, “You can’t fix what you won’t face.” The belt of truth means living with integrity and not pretending we’ve got it all figured out.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
In a fight, your body takes a lot of hits. That’s why fighters protect the core. Spiritually, our heart takes hits too—doubt, guilt, and fear. But here’s the kicker: this breastplate isn’t about us being “good enough.” In Romans 3:22, the apostle Paul assures us: “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ” (NLT). That’s our shield—it’s not about our performance, but his gift.
The Gospel Shoes
Back to Rich Franklin. What amazed me most wasn’t his fight record—it was his peace. The man had faced monsters, yet he was calm and grounded. That’s what these spiritual shoes are about.
Paul calls them the “peace that comes from the Good News.” They’re not sandals—they’re boots for battle. Philippians 4:7 describes it as “God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds . . .” (NLT).
It’s not about living a stress-free life. It’s about staying steady, even when everything around you is shaking.
The Shield of Faith
Ancient shields weren’t passive protection—you had to work them. Same with faith. It’s not just something you have; it’s something you use. In my early BJJ days, I knew the moves, but froze under pressure. Faith works the same way—you’ve got to lean into it. It’s trusting God’s promises when everything around you is screaming otherwise.
The Helmet of Salvation
The head is where most fights are won or lost—physically and mentally. And spiritually? The enemy’s favorite tactic is to mess with your mind. The helmet of salvation is about remembering who you are. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are “God’s masterpiece, created . . . so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). That truth guards your thoughts and blocks out the lies.
The Sword of the Spirit
Finally, we’ve got an offensive weapon—God’s Word. But like any technique, it takes practice. Remember when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness? He didn’t argue. He used Scripture—specific truth for each attack. That’s how the sword works. It’s not about shouting louder—it’s about speaking the right truth at the right time.
Daily Training
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from BJJ legends like Jean Jacques, Rener, and Rich—it’s this: consistency beats intensity. You don’t get good by showing up occasionally. Same thing with spiritual readiness. We put on this armor daily—through prayer, Scripture, community, and living what we believe. Paul wraps it up in Ephesians 6:18, “Pray in the Spirit at all times . . . Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (NLT).
The battles are real—but so is the victory. When we’re suited up with God’s gear, we can stand strong and come out standing. Just like Royce Gracie shocked the world with his technique and preparation, we can stand firm when we know how to use the spiritual tools God has given us for our protection and our advances against the enemy.
That night watching UFC 1? I had no idea it would lead to training with legends, earning a blue belt, and sharing a hot dog with a world champion. But more importantly, it taught me that preparation is everything—on the mat and in real life.
So suit up. Every morning. Train daily. And be ready for whatever comes.
With a 26-year career at Procter & Gamble, Shannon Wagers has launched dozens of consumer products and holds six U.S. patents. He serves as the North American Manager for P&G Leadership Academy Operations and is recognized as P&G’s Master Facilitator. Outside of work, Shannon is a proud Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt under Jean Jacques Machado. He lives in Liberty Township with his wife Ruth, daughter Katherine, and their dog Bear.