Jiu-Jitsu is an art, make no mistake about it. Which means a lot of its practitioners carry an artistic mindset — passionate, creative, and obsessed with the craft. But like any artist, that passion can consume your focus, leaving little room for other survival skills… like running a profitable academy.
Having the same drive to succeed at the bank as you do on the mats is tough. Passion burns bright, but it burns even hotter when it’s serving two masters. Still, one can’t survive without the other. For Jiu-Jitsu to keep growing, there have to be academies — and those academies have to be financially healthy enough to keep their doors open.
Cristina “Midget” Rodriguez is a BJJ black belt who’s figured out how to walk that tightrope. She’s built a career that blends her love of the art with her entrepreneurial mindset — and now she’s helping other school owners do the same.
From New Jersey Roots to Martial Arts Obsession
Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Cristina’s first introduction to martial arts came from her mother, a former judo player. When she was 8, her family moved to Tampa, Florida, where Cristina discovered Taekwondo.
“My mother was taking an aerobics class, and I’d sit and watch her. In the room next door, I could see a karate class starting. I begged her to enroll me, and she did. I’ve been training in martial arts ever since.”
Her skill and dedication quickly stood out. At just 15, she became the first female instructor at her academy and took on various administrative tasks — an early education in what it takes to run a school.
Finding Jiu-Jitsu
Like many early American martial artists, Cristina was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through a Royce Gracie seminar in 1996. Not long after, she began training under Eduardo De Lima at his small Tampa school. The contrast between her structured Taekwondo background and Jiu-Jitsu’s more fluid, adaptive approach was immediate.
“In the Taekwondo school, we were always told exactly what was expected of us. With Eduardo, it was more like, ‘What do you want to go over today?’ That made Jiu-Jitsu more challenging for me — I was used to knowing the test and just crushing it.”
She also noticed the lack of structure on the business side.
“All the billing was on a dry-erase board — no agreements, no contracts. If you paid, your name was in black. If you owed, your name was in red.”
From Competitor to Industry Connector
Cristina’s path took a pivotal turn at a New Jersey team grappling event. When the organizers needed an announcer, she stepped in, thanks to her DJ experience. The coordinator loved her work and invited her to announce at other events.
That led to a role as the voice of Grappler’s Quest, the premier grappling event of its era. Through that role, Cristina met countless school owners across the country. When she eventually opened her own academy, her network noticed — and many were impressed by her thriving kids’ program, a notoriously challenging but profitable niche.
Sharing the Systems for Success
Those conversations inspired Cristina’s first online course, Perfect Kids Jiu-Jitsu Class, designed to help school owners grow and improve their children’s programs. Its success made her realize she could share her systems for every aspect of academy management.
This led to Jitz University 2.0, her comprehensive guide to running a school — covering marketing, sales, class structure, and operations. It was a blueprint built from her years of trial and error.
“I’ve made a ton of mistakes, but I’ve learned from every one of them. My goal was to help school owners avoid those mistakes — and push through them if they happen.”
From Jitz University to Grow Pro Agency
Cristina eventually transitioned from running Jitz University to launching Grow Pro Agency, now the largest digital marketing agency in the martial arts industry focused on student acquisition. Her work helps hundreds of school owners nationwide grow their enrollments, refine their systems, and scale sustainably.
Her philosophy is simple: you’ve already put in the work.
“You’ve spent over a decade honing your craft. You could’ve been a doctor making six figures in that time. Why would you think you don’t deserve to succeed?”
Cristina’s story is proof that balancing art and business isn’t just possible — it’s essential. Because no matter how much you love the art, it needs a stage, and that stage has to be built on a solid foundation.
Want to Grow Your Academy Like Cristina?
If you’re a school owner who’s serious about growing your student base and running a professional business, visit Grow Pro Agency and learn how Cristina’s systems can help you scale without losing the heart of your art.
💥 Also from Uncle Coach Kevin:
- Leglocks for Dummies – Master modern lower body submissions with a proven, beginner-friendly system.
- Gracie Trinity Online Academy – Access my free intro curriculum and exclusive training community.
