Category: MS
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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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System Crash in Seattle
September 8, 2025 I took a great trip to Seattle this week. I walked Pike Place Market. Ate incredible food. Stood outside the spheres. Spent time in the pop culture museum. On the surface, it was exactly the kind of trip I love: movement, noise, life. Underneath, things were unraveling. The trip came after five…
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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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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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“Gift” what Richard Pryor taught me.
I’ve always loved comedy, especially the kind that pushes boundaries. As a kid, I didn’t fully understand Richard Pryor’s perspective, but his raw energy and sharp wit captivated me. Later in life, his story took on a deeper meaning because the same disease that stole his gift is the one trying to take mine. Saturday…
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Grappling With Multiple Sclerosis
My name is Joe, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003. I was 27 years old, just two months away from my wedding. My body betrayed me, and I had no idea that years later, I’d be stepping onto a BJJ mat, learning to fight in a whole new way. Multiple sclerosis is…