His crystal blue eyes stare into your soul, but it’s the pristine smile—somehow untouched by a lifetime of smoking off-brand cigarettes—that captures your imagination. For 33 years, Texas Tim has been drinking Busch in the can on a bar stool in downtown Tampa’s Hub Bar. Born in Arlington, Texas, in a year unknown—because this vain
Texas Tim and The Church of The Hub Bar Read More »
Personal Writting, Stories & Lessons
Written in 2018 The IBJJF has never been short on controversy. A confusing, often inconsistent scoring system and a limited rule set banning many popular submissions have fueled debates over whether this almost antiquated format still serves the sport. Many younger grapplers now boycott IBJJF events altogether—some publicly calling the organization a money-grabbing machine holding
Gordon Ryan Dominates No-Gi Worlds: Why the IBJJF Needs Its King of Sub-Only Grappling Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life, Stories & Lessons
By Kevin Certain moments in life remind us there is still magic left in our often predictable world. Rarely, we get to witness greatness in real time. In 2017, Roger Gracie faced Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida in Rio de Janeiro to determine who was the greatest grappler of the 21st century. The result didn’t just shake
The Day Roger Gracie Shocked The World Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life, Stories & Lessons
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
Talent Gets You In The Game; But Pride, Character, And Accountability Keep You There Read More »
Coaching & Culture, Stories & Lessons
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 But for decades, the same patriarchal values promoted by the old guard have been handcuffed to an outdated,
Ricardo De La Riva’s Legacy of Misogyny Read More »
Coaching & Culture, Stories & Lessons
By Kevin The phrase “timing” gets thrown around a lot in jiu-jitsu—but it’s one of the most misunderstood concepts in the art. Technically, timing means “the choice, judgment, or control of when something should be done.” But that definition doesn’t capture the intuition required to implement it on the mats. In truth, timing is what
What Does Timing Mean in Jiu-Jitsu? Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life, Mindset & Motivation, Stories & Lessons
By Coach Kevin The first day of any Jiu-Jitsu practitioner’s journey is always the most important. The moment a grappler decides to step on the mat signifies the beginning of a new lifestyle. Many people start training for different reasons, and the allure of a Jiu-Jitsu academy takes many shapes. Some are interested in losing
White Belts: Jiu-Jitsu Will Give You What You’re Missing Read More »
Mindset & Motivation, Stories & Lessons
By Coach Kevin Written in 2020 The IBJJF has a long history shaping the sport of Jiu-Jitsu, taking over in 1994 from the Guanabara Federation, founded in 1967. The often-criticized organization has acted as both a venue for competition and a governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which was chaotic in its early stages. But bias
The Real Story of Heel Hooks and the IBJJF The Real Story of Heel Hooks and the IBJJF Read More »
Jiu-Jitsu Life, Stories & Lessons
Throughout anyone’s grappling career, there are moments where you level up. These upgrades don’t always happen under the lights of a competition mat. Sometimes, they happen in your own academy—when you finally have a breakthrough roll with that purple belt who’s always one step ahead of you. When these moments arrive, your toughest opponent is
Go to Win or Don’t Go at All: Lessons from My Match with Boogeyman Martinez Read More »
Mindset & Motivation, Stories & Lessons
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
Coaching Jim: The Real Reason I Love Jiu-Jitsu Read More »
Coaching & Culture, Stories & Lessons