Look, we all know how hard it is to keep showing up to train. Life gets crazy, you get beat up, motivation tanks - and suddenly you're making excuses instead of making it to class.
That's exactly why we started this show. We're talking to competitors, coaches, and everyday grapplers from all over who've figured out how to keep coming back, even when everything's working against them.
You'll get real stories, practical tips, and those "holy crap, I needed to hear that" moments that remind you why you fell in love with this stuff in the first place.
The name says it all - "Mat Return" isn't just about putting your opponent back down on the mat (though we love that too). It's about you returning to the mat, again and again, even when it's the last thing you want to do.
Because here's the thing: showing up is the hardest part. Once you're there, you remember why you started.
Look, we all know how hard it is to keep showing up to train. Life gets crazy, you get beat up, motivation tanks - and suddenly you're making excuses instead of making it to class.
That's exactly why we started this show. We're talking to competitors, coaches, and everyday grapplers from all over who've figured out how to keep coming back, even when everything's working against them.
You'll get real stories, practical tips, and those "holy crap, I needed to hear that" moments that remind you why you fell in love with this stuff in the first place.
The name says it all - "Mat Return" isn't just about putting your opponent back down on the mat (though we love that too). It's about you returning to the mat, again and again, even when it's the last thing you want to do.
Because here's the thing: showing up is the hardest part. Once you're there, you remember why you started.
Sometimes the hardest part of Jiu-Jitsu isn’t walking in for the first time, it’s coming back for the second.
This episode of The Mat Return is a story about what happens when one parent takes that step.
Normally, this is the kind of thing we’d schedule an interview for, but I owed our listeners an episode, and the nice thing about being the tech guy is that I can schedule myself anytime I need to.
It’s about fear, patience, family, and what Jiu-Jitsu quietly builds when you keep showing up.
Inside this episode:
00:00 Intro — No interview, just a story
00:38 The first class and the long driveway
05:10 The Sunday ritual and the “gi burn”
07:00 Why slow learners thrive here
09:00 The white gi rule and first camp
10:30 Austria family camp & the quiet prediction
13:20 My wife’s month-six shift
15:00 How Jiu-Jitsu unlocked languages
17:40 When life punched, I stayed standing
18:30 Teaching, parenting, and the next generation
If you’ve ever started because of your kids, come back after a break, or found new confidence through Jiu-Jitsu, this one’s for you.
Filmed at White Mountain Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Hosted by Tony (and usually Frank)
More stories & behind-the-scenes: https://thematreturn.com