The Secret to Getting Ahead in Training is… Well… Training. #281

We all want to get ahead, whether in life or in our respective craft. As a kid, how good did it feel to be first a race, win a board game or get the most answers right on a test? This is the benefit of friendly competition or just competition in general. It does wondersContinueContinue reading “The Secret to Getting Ahead in Training is… Well… Training. #281”

Setbacks and the grandiosity of ego #280

Me getting my elbow dislocated after dealing with an ACL/meniscus and shoulder surgery the past two years… When you play with fire, sometimes you get burned. Recently I was set to compete in ADCC’s Open tournament just days before the highly anticipated and prestigious Pro Event for trials winners and returning champions or medalists. ADCCContinueContinue reading “Setbacks and the grandiosity of ego #280”

Relationships in BJJ #279

My mom, my brother and my three nieces. My family is pretty awesome, wouldn’t you say? A man is not measured by age but by his achievements. -Robert Bradley Not too long ago, a friend and BJJ student of mine, suggested that I write a blog about “relationships within the BJJ or Jiu Jitsu community”.ContinueContinue reading “Relationships in BJJ #279”

Get over yourself… #276

The awesome part about being a white belt is the sole expectation of trying hard to get better. Me with Olympian Judoka Jimmy Pedro trying to become more dangerous on the feet. When I started Jiu Jitsu as a teen, I had the privilege of seeing my brother Steve experience success in the cage asContinueContinue reading “Get over yourself… #276”

If I had a million dollars… #275

If you won the lottery today how much in your life would change? Would you buy a new house, mistreat people or become dangerously overweight? Would you control your money or would it control you? My good friend and mentor has always said to me “money has it’s cachet”, and this is true when itContinueContinue reading “If I had a million dollars… #275”

Still don’t give a f*** #272

In 2019 I made a commitment to get myself to the gym at 5am Monday through Saturday.. This was a huge catalyst for much of the discipline I have today. In the spring of 2018, my life had met an all time low. I had just undergone reconstructive surgery after sustaining a fully torn ACLContinueContinue reading “Still don’t give a f*** #272”

Acceptance #271

In Jiu Jitsu, one of the most challenging aspects that we face is learning to accept force or energy from your adversary. This valuable tenet stems from the understanding that in order to manipulate your opponent’s energy, you must first absorb it rather than meeting it head on with your own strength and energy. ThisContinueContinue reading “Acceptance #271”

#270 What is legacy?

My brother Steve (right) and I (left) after winning the 2022 IBJJF National Championships in July – An incredible moment to share. It was in 2016 when I started to hear the term “legacy” used in great frequency around me, just shortly after I had began training under Sensei Saulo and Xande Ribeiro at theContinueContinue reading “#270 What is legacy?”

Transform #266

Ludwig Von Wittgenstein “Just improve yourself; that is the only thing you can do to better the world.” The only constant in our lives is change, for better or worse. Every day we are faced with the choice to evolve or accept the fate of stagnation. While seemingly straightforward in nature, especially prior to theContinueContinue reading “Transform #266”