I am still the only person in Australia to win an MMA fight and a championship title via a gogoplata submission set up from rubber guard. Eddie Bravo gave me a shoutout, the sequence was featured on his “Mastering the System” series, and for a while, it...
I’ve spent years arguing that padwork is overrated. So naturally, I found myself in Tokyo, paying top dollar for a private session with the most expensive padman I could find. It’s December 2025, and I was trying to fit in as much training as possible...
The following article, The 20 Myths of Mitsuyo Maeda, was originally published on Roberto Pedreira’s Global Training Report, a vital resource for anyone interested in the true history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As that website is no longer active, I’ve chosen to host a...
From strict dress codes to freedom of choice, uniforms touch on issues of tradition, control, accessibility, and identity. Some see uniform policies as essential for preserving tradition and creating community. In contrast, others view them as financial barriers,...
Flow rolling is an important training method for grapplers that involves moving smoothly between techniques and positions in a cooperative manner. The goal is to be playful and experiment, not to dominate your partner. Flow rolling improves movement, reactions,...
The Martial Artist’s Journey provides a path to self-improvement by challenging the mind and body. Their origins lie in philosophies of honour, self-mastery, and service to others. Though combat stands at the core, martial arts refine character, foster wisdom,...
After over 15 years of training, I have found that Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) can positively and negatively influence mental health. The positive side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mental health I will discuss is how training BJJ can help get you out of isolation, build...
Motivated students are required in every martial arts academy as it will drive them to want to improve. While multiple theories of motivation exist, one that has been extensively studied in education settings is Self-Determination Theory. Self-Determination Theory In...
Master jazz musician Clark Terry had a unique approach to musical improvisation, specifically jazz improvisation and many other topics. His style of learning musical improvisation is one we can explicitly apply to our martial arts training and practices. It involves...
