I very selfishly have a plan every time I step on the mat.

This morning I did 12 solid rounds, and my objective was simple: no one gets underhooks on me. And when I was on top, I was fighting for every possible underhook. 

Having a specific goal each session keeps me focused. It prevents me from chasing “shiny objects” or rolling just to survive the round. Instead, I’m training with intention.

That clarity allows me to make small, tangible improvements, the kind that compound over time. One detail. One battle. One focus.

You don’t have to win every round.

But if you win your objective for the day, you’re getting better.

Pretty cool week ahead. John Kats is back on Monday nights at 7pm 

In my personal opinion Jiu-Jitsu should be viewed through three lenses: art, street, and sport.

Art is about mastery. It’s timing, leverage, creativity, and expression. It’s the quiet refinement of technique and the philosophy behind training, patience, humility, and lifelong growth.

Street focuses on survival. Distance management, awareness, standing control, and finishing or escaping quickly. No points. No rounds. The goal is safety, not submission chains.

Sport operates within rulesets like those of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. It rewards strategy, conditioning, and precision. Here, guard pulling, advantages, and time management matter.

All three share the same roots, control and leverage but the objective changes.

Art seeks mastery. Street seeks safety. Sport seeks victory.

This week in Intermediate Class we’re diving into a powerful combination that can completely change your guard game, collar drags and butterfly sweeps from half guard.

If you’ve ever felt stuck underneath or struggled to off-balance strong training partners, this is your week.

💡We’re going to break down:

How to create angles instead of fighting strength

How to use collar control to expose posture

How to transition seamlessly from Half Guard to Butterfly elevation

How to connect sweeps directly into dominant top position

This isn’t just about learning techniques, it’s about developing timing, sensitivity, and the ability to move someone who doesn’t want to move.

Half Guard can be a survival position… or it can be a launch pad.

Let’s sharpen the details, build confidence underneath, and turn defense into offense.

See you on the mat. 👊

It was a great class with lots of mobility and Spider principles. 

I like where you are going with this Daniel Bianchi

Unstoppable guard.

The logic is simple in my mind: if you can’t pass my legs, how are you going to do anything else?

The guard isn’t just a defensive position, it’s a control system. My legs are the first line of defense, but also the engine for offense. They manage distance, disrupt posture, off-balance the opponent, and dictate where the exchange happens. When my guard is intact, I control the tempo. I decide when we engage, when we disengage, and when the fight shifts.

Passing the guard isn’t just about getting around the legs, it’s about solving a series of problems: frames, hooks, angles, timing, and constant movement. If those problems never get solved, progress stops. No pressure, no pins, no submissions.

That’s why guard work matters. Because everything starts (and often ends) at the legs.

This week we’ll take a deeper dive into kettlebell movement while continuing to put in solid, intentional work. The key focus will be building a strong connection between the kettlebell and the body by actively engaging the elbow and maintaining a powerful, stable frame. This connection is what allows for efficient movement, better control, and safer, stronger lifts.

This week in Intermediate class, the focus is on S-Mount as an attacking hub. We’ll break down how to connect Gi chokes with joint manipulation in No-Gi, emphasizing control, transitions, and decision-making rather than isolated submissions.

There was a time when I traveled with my gi everywhere I went. I made it a point to visit new academies, train, and build friendships wherever I landed.

These days, I’m a bit more strategic, choosing to visit friends and people I already know rather than random locations.

If you find yourself in a position to visit another academy, always call ahead, introduce yourself, and remember that you are a guest. Treating people and their space with respect is essential.