Philosophy Black Belt
Philosophy Black Belt
Michael Tremblay is an expert philosopher, award-winning martial arts black belt, and Carleton alumnus.
After completing both a BA and MA at Carleton University, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Queen’s University. His research focuses on Ancient Greek Philosophy and the fundamental questions surrounding moral education. Specifically, his SSHRC-funded doctoral thesis examines ancient Greek Stoics, such as Epictetus, who explored the connection between rigorous training and practice in order to become a better person and to lead a “good” life.
According to Tremblay, we typically encounter questions of what makes a “good” person when we are young. Our desire to pursue this type of moral questioning fades as we get older. However, Tremblay sees in philosophy a potential to keep exploring such complex questions long into adulthood as a means to not only contemplate what makes a fulfilling life, but to actively pursue a meaningful life through practice.
Tremblay is no stranger to dedicated study and practice. His primary sport is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Diligent training has led him to the world championship and the national team. He is also on a wrestling team at Queen’s University and has won 5th place in the U Sports Championship.

His interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was nurtured from a young age. Tremblay started martial arts when he was six years old and he fell in love with the sport when he was fourteen. He attributes his success to his family’s strong attachment to the sport: his father is the founder of Alpha Mixed Martial Arts in Carleton Place. His sister, Alison Tremblay, is also an award-winning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
With his family’s investment in martial arts, it is no surprise that Tremblay excelled in this sport.
However, he did not approach the study of philosophy with the same assurance. In fact, he had no clear incentive to study philosophy, but nurtured this interest through a process of discovery that he credits to the unique environment at Carleton University.
After high school, he had not given much thought to a post-secondary degree, but simply considered a four-year degree as a means to find work. Initially, he enrolled in psychology at Carleton, following his sister who was already a student at the university. Without a keen interest in the subject, he was not achieving the best grades. Eventually, he started to take electives in philosophy and thoroughly enjoyed them. He enjoyed the courses so much that he enrolled in an MA at Carleton.
His enthusiasm for philosophy can be attributed to two things: the close comparison between philosophy and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the Carleton community.
Tremblay explains how martial arts and a PhD in philosophy offer an opportunity for self-improvement through theory and practice, which is achieved through rigorous training.
At the age of fourteen, Tremblay began an extensive training routine in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, training four to five days a week. He received a black belt at the age of twenty-four. He argues that there is a “depth to mastery” that is only made apparent through this type of martial arts training. If you want to excel at something, you have to be willing to understand it. It is crucial to take the time to develop this understanding by continually challenging yourself.
Similarly, success at the PhD level demands the same type of time commitment. To master graduate school, you have to apply the same mental and physical rigor. Practising martial arts and competing became a vehicle through which he could learn to confront the difficulties of the graduate program and excel as an academic.
Tremblay reveals that academic conferences are not that different from martial arts competitions. While training for a competition, you have to first engage in a form of self-reflection through which you discover your weaknesses. This level of self-awareness allows you to acknowledge your vulnerability and ultimately transform your weakness into a strength. This type of self-discovery is not easy. Through competitions, you will inevitably encounter both personal accomplishments and losses. In order to finesse your skills, you have to be willing to think about loss in the same way that you think about accomplishments: you must embrace loss and look forward to it.
Like a skilled martial arts fighter, students need a strong opponent and coach to help them to improve in graduate school. Tremblay found an academic coach through his MA supervisor and associate professor at Carleton: Dr. Annie Larivée. Under Larivée’s supervision, Tremblay discovered how his training resonated with ancient Greek philosophers. They provide a space to foster theoretical discussions around moral education and self-betterment. More importantly, their discussions extend beyond theoretical ruminations and promote the virtuous transformation of a person through training and practice.
Tremblay discusses how the process of self-discovery cultivated through martial arts is echoed in the inscription at the Oracle of Delphi “know thyself” which inspired Plato’s Socrates:
“Socrates, in this sense, thought philosophy was a pursuit of not just knowledge of the world, but most importantly self-knowledge. Carleton gave me the opportunity to begin this pursuit of self-knowledge. Carleton’s philosophy program allowed me to begin to know myself, and figure out who I am, what I am passionate about, and how I can make a difference in the world using this passion.”
Tremblay eagerly states that philosophy is the “best discipline” to study. Philosophy helps you to astutely negotiate between logic and emotion. By investigating this distinction, you can perfect your skills in logic, and learn to structure and articulate your thoughts. It is a discipline that fosters an understanding of how thinking works, which Tremblay asserts will permeate everything he will do for the rest of his life.
Although he originally had no professional aspirations to pursue a degree in philosophy, Tremblay states that his experience in the Department of Philosophy at Carleton played a crucial role in his journey of self-discovery. It sparked not only his enthusiasm for philosophy, but fostered his ambition to develop his expertise. Although he notes that it is a small department, Carleton introduced him to expert academics who sought to facilitate a welcoming and inviting environment. His relationships with both students and faculty members instilled in him the confidence to pursue his interests. Notably, the department encouraged him to ask the fundamental questions about meaning and value. Tremblay commends the department for how it encourages the student’s own curiosity and creativity to address big existential questions. For most students, university is a foundational period where they are beginning to address larger questions about their identity, social roles, and life in general. In the process of serious contemplation of larger philosophical questions, students have the unique opportunity to engage in serious self-reflection.