I’m gearing up for another competition. One of those ‘one last time’ situations I keep finding myself in. And as I’ve been grinding through camp, I keep coming back to the same question: why am I doing this? Everyone has a why. There are books written about it, seminars built around it, entire coaching industries […]
The Why behind everything. Read More »
Mindset & Motivation
I have loved Jiu-Jitsu for most of my adult life. It has given me purpose, discipline, confidence, community, and a livelihood. I’ve seen it change broken men. I’ve seen it empower women. I’ve watched shy kids grow into confident young adults because someone believed in them. That’s why what’s happening right now matters. For those
The André Galvão Allegations and the Cultural Reckoning Jiu-Jitsu Can’t Avoid Read More »
Coaching & Culture
I have recently devoted a great deal of time, effort, and resources to building my social media presence. Although personal vanity undeniably motivates my ambitions on some subconscious level, I also genuinely care about producing content for a wider audience. Jiu-Jitsu holds a special power that changes lives—a power I have witnessed firsthand over nearly
Back to the Source: A Jiu-Jitsu Pilgrimage to Rio Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life, Personal Writting
I’ve competed in almost every ADCC trial since 2016, so many, in fact, that I’ve lost count of the exact number. I remember watching Eddie Cummings, Enrico Coco, Rousimar Palhares, and so many other forgotten names of our sport lay it on the line for next to nothing. A few of my teammates and coaches
ADCC EAST COAST TRIALS: BACK TO OUR ROOTS Read More »
Profiles & Interviews
Creating a professional grappling circuit that bridges prestige and profitability has been the holy grail of our sport for the last decade. Ever since Gordon Ryan slapped a Burger King crown on his head, every competitor chasing a NAGA belt has dreamed of the day they could make enough money competing to move off their
CJI 2: Craig Jones’ Bold Gamble and Grappling’s Never-Ending Struggle for Prestige Read More »
Editorial/Opinion
Written By Kevin Bradley Welcome to the UCK Roundup, where we cover some of the biggest stories in grappling this week. My name’s Kevin—no, not that one. Despite UFC BJJ’s arrival, the grappling scene is still being driven by independent promotions. Offering massive prize pools for men’s and women’s tournaments alongside carnival-style superfights, Craig Jones’
CJI2 Preview, Jay Rodriguez Breaks Silence & Khamzat Earns BJJ Black Belt Read More »
Jiu-JItu News & Updates
By Jamie VarnerInspired by a Ryan Hall interview I am a coach. But what, exactly, is an instructor—and how is that role different from mine? Most of us have had instructors. Fewer of us have had a true coach. Instructors teach skills; coaches shape people. Both are valuable. Both can be excellent. But they do
Coach vs. Instructor: Why the Difference Changes Lives Read More »
Coaching & Culture
I’ve been lying on my couch for two days, fighting off Influenza A, and I’m miserable. But most of all, I’m bored. There is a limit to how much “Declassified: Untold Stories Of American Spies” you can watch in a weekend before you lose your lust for life and pray for the Reaper to guide
The Hard Truth: Sub-Only Jiu-Jitsu Isn’t Built for Spectators Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life
Tattoo culture has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. There was a time when a tattoo signified that its wearer earned the right to brandish that colorful scar. They were badges of honor meant to display misadventures abroad or loyalty to a cause more personal and permanent than a legal document. Fast forward to
Tattooing the Spirit: A Journey with Phil Holt Read More »
Personal Writting
Written in 2021 Professional jiu-jitsu has become a business now—complete with high-dollar matchmakers and star athletes exhibiting all the traits expected from their newfound fame and fortune. As the sport grows to new, previously unthinkable heights, many purists are torn between celebrating the increased interest in their passion and lamenting the necessary changes that have
My Love/Hate Relationship With Professional Jiu-Jitsu Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life