Many of you already know how my journey into Jiu Jitsu began. It wasn’t my idea. I wasn’t looking to learn a martial art, and I certainly wasn’t trying to lose weight.

My best friend, who was also my boss at the time, kept encouraging me to give it a try. I finally agreed, almost against my own will, and from the very first class, I was completely hooked.

Twenty six years later, I wouldn’t change a single thing. That one decision shaped my life in ways I could have never imagined, and I’m grateful every day that I stepped onto the mats.

For me, it depends on what I’m working on at the time. I always try to go into sparring with a purpose instead of just trying to win. Usually, I’ll focus on one area for a week or two, whether it’s guard retention, passing, escapes, or controlling a position, so I get enough reps to really improve. I might make small adjustments depending on who I’m training with, but my main focus usually stays the same. Having a clear goal has always helped me get more out of every round than just chasing control.

Teaching is one of the fastest ways to improve your Jiu Jitsu because it forces you to truly understand what you know. Explaining techniques requires you to organize your thoughts, identify the underlying concepts, and answer questions that expose gaps in your own understanding. Demonstrating techniques repeatedly also refines your mechanics and attention to detail. Teaching students of different sizes, skill levels, and learning styles broadens your perspective and deepens your ability to adapt.

Should teaching be required for promotion to black belt? Not every black belt needs to become a full-time instructor, but every black belt should be capable of teaching the fundamentals. A black belt represents more than technical ability, it represents leadership, knowledge, and stewardship of the art. Even occasional coaching or assisting classes develops a deeper level of mastery and helps ensure the next generation of practitioners continues to grow.

This is really good question John K.

Over the years, my approach to Jiu Jitsu has shifted from trying to train as much as possible to training as consistently as possible. Early on, Jiu Jitsu often came first, but now I focus on balancing training with work, family, and recovery. Some weeks I train more, some less, but I make sure to stay connected to the mats. I’ve learned that quality, consistency, and longevity matter far more than volume. Taking care of recovery and mobility allows me to enjoy Jiu Jitsu for the long run rather than burning out trying to do everything at once.

Butterfly Guard system next 2 weeks in the Interm class. Great opportunity to control and reverse your partner. 

Mario Lopez is solid 

Tom Hardy is a monster, that would be cool 👊🏻