Jun 26, 2026

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In BJJ, “rolling” is live sparring—a 4 to 10 minute feedback loop where theory meets resistance. This series, Rolling Days, applies lessons from the mats to the landscapes of cyber and threat intel.

In class tonight, we worked on a pressure pass from an open guard into a submission of choice. It was a funky pressure pass, as it was in the context of MMA, so the goal was to move into a ground and pound position. The drill provided a lot of agency. Quick decisions based on reaction, combined with chaining movements together, provided plenty of scope for creative initiative. From guard, we had the ability to sweep our opponent or provide resistance. The only constraint was starting from open guard.

Later at home, I was thinking about the recent Mishal Husain interview with Signal Foundation CEO Meredith Whittaker on Bloomberg Podcasts. After being a Signal user for some time, Whittaker properly hit my radar a few years ago during a series on Al Jazeera titled Studio B: Unscripted ‘ The AI Series: AI and Surveillance Capitalis m.’ Whittaker discussed the risks AI poses to democracy with Camille François, a researcher focussed on disinformation and digital harm. I’ve listened to Whittaker interviewed many times since, and two themes persist, accountability and agency.

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Specific Training

The degree of agency in training tonight, coupled with Whittaker’s discussion with Husain about the trade-offs we are and aren’t willing to make, felt deeply resonant.

Agency is the ability to make meaningful choices within a system, and as Whittaker pointed out, when three companies control the majority of operating systems—Google (Android), Apple (iOS), and Microsoft (Windows)—and can implement agents that access our personal information, the premise and promise of privacy from companies like Signal is undermined.

‘This is a quiet but profound shift that we are witnessing’ - Meredith Whittaker

The Position: Open guard is constrained, but not powerless. It preserves options and allows engagement on your terms. User agency serves a similar function.

The Pass: A good pressure pass develops through small advantages. Space narrows, options disappear, and control shifts gradually.

The Counter: Whittaker’s concern is that AI agents require extraordinary levels of access to be useful. Convenience increases, but acting on our behalf requires permissions approaching root access.The Lesson: Every concession changes the position. On the mats, surrendered frames become openings. In technology, accumulated permissions become control. As Whittaker argues, the question isn’t whether we grant permission, but why the system requires it in the first place.

Bonus: If you are looking for deeper conversations around AI subscribe to Goju Tech Talk and join the GTT community on Discord .

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