Category: Mindset
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Dark Humor
June 11, 2021 When you suffer long enough, your sense of humor changes. It doesn’t get louder. It gets darker. People say humor is a coping mechanism. They say it like it’s a trick. Like you’re dodging pain. Like you’re avoiding reality. But when suffering doesn’t leave, humor isn’t avoidance. It’s adaptation. At first, you…
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My new 100%
Sept 23, 2023 “I’ve reached a point in life where I must confront my age, my health condition, and my lingering injuries. These realities are not going away; in fact, they are only becoming more pronounced with time. Recently, I took a much-needed three-week break from my usual routine of 7-9 classes a week .…
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Shedding Your Shell:
How BJJ Helps us Grow Through MS March 2020 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can bring a lot of obstacles in your life, and it can be quite a tough shell to crack. But just like a lobster, who must shed its old shell in order to grow and thrive, people with MS…
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Why It Took Me So Long to Release This Blog
Feb 3, 2026 This blog has existed for years without really existing. The posts were written. Some polished. Some raw. Most finished enough to stand on their own. What never happened was the release. Not because I didn’t have anything to say, and not because I was afraid of writing it. I didn’t release it…
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Should We Be Embarrassed About Jiu Jitsu’s Attrition Rate?
Dec 10, 2025 Jiu Jitsu changes lives. I know that because it changed mine. I showed up with a body that does not always listen to me and a condition that most people forget I have because the symptoms are invisible. Jiu Jitsu gave me structure, purpose, and a place where I could be competitive…
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The Insanity of Greatness: Finding Sanity in the Jiu-Jitsu Gym”?
“Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.” – George Carlin Oct 7, 2021 In the world of Jiu-Jitsu, amidst the sweat and struggle on the mats, lies a community unlike any other. While some may perceive it as a gathering of “insane” individuals, those within its embrace recognize it…
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Chosen Suffering
“I did not choose pain. I chose where it lives.” – Viktor Frankl Passion comes from the Latin passio. It means suffering. Enduring. What you are willing to undergo.”I did not choose pain. I chose where it lives.” Somewhere along the way, we softened it. Today, following your passion usually means following what feels good.…
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Crabs in the Bucket
If you are unfamiliar with the idea, the crab bucket metaphor is simple. Crabs placed in a bucket could easily escape if they acted independently. But when one crab starts to climb out, the others pull it back down. The result is predictable. No one gets out. This behavior shows up everywhere. In the workplace.…
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Coach Joe
“No one ever steps into the same river twice.” – Heraclitus I have taken on a new role recently. Coach. I have always been the guy people ask before, during, and after class. It felt natural. People saw me as someone who understands the game and can explain it in a way that helps. My…
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Why me?
I’ve seen no scientific data to prove this, but I’m positive that everyone diagnosed with MS has the same first thought: Why me? I remember thinking it wasn’t fair. Fair is such a bizarre concept. We’re taught early on that if we work hard and do the right things, life will reward us. But life…