In this episode, I’m joined by my youngest guest yet — a 25-year-old jiu-jitsu practitioner whose journey began after a real-life confrontation inspired him to learn self-defense. What started as a way to feel safer quickly grew into a passion that led him all the way to the podium, earning gold at a recent JJWL competition.

We dive into his biggest aha moments on the mats, his evolving takedown strategy, and how cross-training in Muay Thai has reshaped the way he approaches grappling. But it hasn’t all been smooth rolling — he also opens up about hitting burnout, taking a two-month break, and what ultimately pulled him back to training with renewed focus.

This is a story about growth, discipline, and rediscovering your drive — both on and off the mats. Whether you’re brand new to BJJ or years into your journey, this episode will remind you why we keep showing up.