By Kaylee Fullington

In the moment that I entered Professor Falcioni's office I could feel that it was a safe space. Not only was the environment well decorated and welcoming, it gave me an idea of who Falcioni truly is. Looking around the room I noticed how diverse his teachings were through books and wall hangings. He allows his mind to grow through his passion for teaching others the ethics of philosophy and jiu-jitsu on campus.

He has always been one to have an open mind, as difficult as it may be at times. This practice has always come naturally to Professor Falcioni which makes sense as to why he has found contentment within the teachings of philosophy.

Our conversation began with him explaining the concept of philosophy to someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic. He proceeded to explain it as being “the discipline of all disciplines”. I found this to be eye-opening as every discipline that has emerged in time can all be tied back to the study of philosophy. After my meeting with him, I began to find meaning behind the small things that I thought were simply just coincidences. There is definitely more than meets the eye when it comes to uncovering the nature of why things are the way they are.

An important trait Falcioni is sure to keep in mind throughout his teachings is to be accepting of everyone and everything. Humans as a species have a natural born tendency to help one another and seeing the good in others is something Professor Falcioni does best.

As many may be unaware of; Professor Falcioni created a jiu-jitsu course for students to enroll in at Chaffey. Not only is he an academic professor on Chaffey grounds, but he is also a professor on the grappling mats. He teaches students the basics of jiu-jitsu while broadening his lessons as a black belt himself.

He has certainly created a new sense of community through his teachings of jiu-jitsu here at Chaffey. Students learn how to work together while respecting their peers and encouraging one another to succeed within the course. He even stretched my mind connecting the similarities between the teachings of philosophy and jiu-jitsu during our talk.

Having a philosophical mind is great to put to use when training in jiu-jitsu. His teachings emphasized the importance of problem-solving in his work whether it is a conflict between personal views or physical obstacles. He is sure to mention that maintaining a healthy disciplined mind will allow for lifelong friendships to flourish.

When Professor Falcioni mentioned that “you don’t know yourself until you know your physical limit” I gained a new perspective on the ties between each of his practices. He works to sustain his healthy mindset by meditation and remaining grateful for all that has come his way in life. He does all that he can to ensure focus on the present and cherish every precious moment in which he is given life.

Allowing your mind space to grow is the greatest thing you can do for yourself. Once you have gained acceptance of all things it will allow you to meet another version of yourself you didn’t know could exist. It is important to remain “intellectually curious” as Falcioni would phrase it because once your curiosity vanishes, so will your drive for growth.

The one thing I hope you are able to take away from this glimpse into Professor Falcioni's teachings is to never confine yourself to narrow-mindedness. When your mind is set free from its shackles the possibilities for success are infinite.

Humans of Chaffey: Ryan Falcioni