Coaching & Culture -

andré galvão's allegations and reckoning

The André Galvão Allegations and the Cultural Reckoning Jiu-Jitsu Can’t Avoid

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 […]

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Coaching & Culture

Coach vs. Instructor: Why the Difference Changes Lives

Coaching & Culture

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

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Coaching & Culture

Talent Gets You In The Game; But Pride, Character, And Accountability Keep You There

Coaching & Culture

By Coach Kevin A local promoter contacted me about a BJJ superfight on his MMA card a couple of months ago. I’ve been active on the regional jiu-jitsu scene for years and built a bit of a following here in Florida, so I get these offers often. There was a time—really not that long ago—when

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Coaching & Culture

Ricardo De La Riva’s Legacy of Misogyny

Coaching & Culture

By Coach Kevin Written in 2022 Ricardo De La Riva is a pillar of the jiu-jitsu community — a living link to the foundations of our art. To many, he represents honor, mastery, and the Bushido code. But for decades, the same patriarchal values promoted by the old guard have been handcuffed to an outdated,

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Coaching & Culture

Coaching Jim: The Real Reason I Love Jiu-Jitsu

Coaching & Culture

Everyone knows I love competitive jiu-jitsu. Spend five minutes with me and you’ll hear about my matches, my medals, and my obsession with the game. But now that I own an academy, my focus has shifted. My passion isn’t fueled by my own competition schedule anymore—it’s by my students. Watching them succeed fires me up

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Coaching & Culture

Tapping Into Healing: Dr. Gino Collura on Jiu-Jitsu and PTSD

Coaching & Culture

Sometimes the toughest injuries to cope with leave no visible wounds. I suffer from long-term concussion issues that can sideline my training for weeks at a time and leave me crippled with anxiety and depression. The most challenging part is that I appear to be fine. I don’t have a cast or brace on my

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Coaching & Culture