What’s the best piece of advice a higher belt gave you that you only appreciated years later?

A lot pop into mind, but one that sticks out is "You should look into bottom half guard and look up Lucas Leite Coyote Guard."  That moved me initially to giving into half guard.  

What has changed in Jiu Jitsu game in last few years? 

What’s is a favorite match that you love to watch? it could be a strictly BJJ match or an mma fight that had high level Jiu Jitsu. 

One of my favorites is Amanda Leve beating Gabi Garcia. The lead up to that match was tense and it was a shocker when Amanda won! 

What’s your preferred method of learning jiu jitsu? For some people it seems to be drilling and others flow rolling. Watching matches on YouTube seems to work the best for me. If you watch jiu jitsu, who influenced your game the most?

If you weren’t doing jiu jitsu is there another non-grappling based martial art you’d like to do? So no Judo, wrestling, sambo, or catch wrestling. 

I think muy Thai would be interesting to explore.

Why do you think pulling guard is so frowned upon when people like Adele Fornarino make it a bedrock of their game? Since it is clear that specializing is a great way to win competitions, why push someone to be a generalist and have a "well-rounded" game?

Her accomplishments by pulling guard:

• 1st Place ADCC (2024**)

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2023)

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2025)

• 1st Place IBJJF European Championship NOGI (2023)

• 1st Place ADCC Oceania & Asia Trials (2022 / 2023 / 2024)

• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2023)

• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2023)

• GrappleFest U60KG Title Superfight (2023)

What technique do you avoid because you’re not confident in it—and what would happen if you focused on it for the next month?

For me it’s. Half guard bottom. The hope is that I get a handle on a system I can refine to my abilities. 

What escape has saved or helped you the most? 

When I started BJJ I watched a video and they said white belts should be masters at escaping and it really stuck with me.  (It was a Gracie, I don’t remember who. Extra points if you know) 

My tip for escaping is; most people will concentrate so hard on pinning the upper body that they forget about your hips and legs. If you can swing these, you can frame with your legs and elongate your body (something else I think people forget about) 

Soooo….whats your tip for escaping? 

Which concept took you the longest to understand, and what finally made it click?