"Take the first step in faith, even if you don't see the whole staircase, just take the step." - MLK JNR Sometimes taking initiative and ensuring that you're pushing yourself outside your comfort zone can be the most important decision in your life. Each step of the way, you will be presented with a new path, from there it's up to you which one you follow. In October, myself and 16 other young competitors took one of their many steps along their journey. All but me and one other competitor had never entered a Muay Thai ring before, let alone the few that had never been outside of Victoria. From the early months being told that I was competing in the Queensland Junior National Muay Competi

I cannot think of a sport besides Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that brings so many different people together for the same reason. I’ve seen lawyers, doctors, teachers, men, and women all training on the mats. Look around at the faces you see at your gym. Do you understand why your teammates or students are there? If you understand why they started and what they want accomplish, it will help you become a better teammate. The Importance of Team Chemistry In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), you compete as an individual, but train as a team. Building a team starts with getting to know your students and understanding their motives. In team sports, coaches strive to build chemistry – a term used to describe the

Everyone remembers the rollercoaster ride that was their 20’s. Full of ups and downs, one can only imagine the great calm and serenity to come in their 30’s. If that’s what you’re expecting, you’re in for a rude awakening. Your 30’s are possibly one of the best times of your life to start anew. You’ve experienced enough in your 20’s to know what to avoid and what to search for, making you even more ready to accept new challenges in your life. Your 20’s were all about dreaming and wishing while your 30’s should be about making them happen. There’s no better time to set your life on the right track than your 30’s and the best way to do it is by starting martial arts. You might be thinking: Wha

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may have suffered the first defeat of her career on Saturday night, but that doesn’t appear to be the end of the story. Holly Holm not only defeated Rousey, she dominated the formerly undefeated champion, knocking her out in the second round. Despite suffering such a crushing defeat, Rousey on Sunday said that she’s not done yet, and that there shouldn’t be any concern for her health. She’s doing fine. Rousey was taken to the hospital following the loss, according to UFC president Dana White. “Yeah, she went to the hospital,” White said on the FOX Sports UFC 193 post-show. “Her lip is split, and they’re going to have to sew her lip and pu

There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. Destiny Rescue is committed to liberating those enslaved and restoring those that have been abused. Already serving in five nations, Destiny Rescue will keep expanding to reach even more children. Destiny Rescue is a grassroots, internationally recognised, Christian based, non-profit organisation dedicated to rescuing children from human trafficking and sexual exploitation. We help rescue the sexually exploited and enslaved, restore the abused, protect the vulnerable, empower the poor and are a voice for those that can’t speak up for themselves. Destiny Rescue currently operate various programs in five nations: Thailand, Cambodia,

Finding the martial arts gym that is right for you is never an easy task, and it can be a daunting one. This article will arm you with the tools for making sure the place you choose suits your training needs. We’ll start from walking in the front door, through class, and all the other details you need to look for before committing to a gym. 1. Friendly and Helpful Staff A good gym should have a personable and intelligent staff. An easy way to find out if the staff is good is to go to the gym and ask to observe a class. When you walk in, does the front desk person greet you and show you around the gym? Does he introduce you to some of the instructors? And are they friendly? The manner in whic

When was the last time you tried something new? If you can’t remember, then it’s probably been way too long. Being a newbie could feel especially intimidating in a world where everyone is driven by accomplishment and reward. Not knowing the outcome and breaking out of our comfort zones may seem disconcerting, forcing us to retreat back to the familiar and comfortable. But in martial arts, being a newbie is an amazing experience. Nothing gives you a bigger endorphin rush than being a complete beginner. There are no pressures on you to perform; giving you the courage you need to attend the next session and the next. Still not convinced? Today, Evolve Daily shares 5 Unexpected Benefits Of Being

“Why study a martial art?” is a question that has many answers. The benefits of the training are widely touted and the popularity of mixed martial arts has brought new insight and perspective to the arts. In my years of participating and coaching in boxing and the martial arts, I’ve heard about every reason a student might have. Some want to learn to defend themselves, while others hope to compete, and some just want a great workout. All are valid and common reasons to study a martial art. These reasons also conjure up familiar images - flowery kicks, fierce punches, and nasty elbows. Such images are part of the appeal and mystique that surrounds the martial arts. Indeed, the workout is amon

Although we may not know it, our childhood can greatly affect how we turn out later on in life. Of course, it’s not completely guaranteed, but studies show that certain childhood experiences could certainly impact our adult lives later on. Children who have grown up training martial arts in particular, are known to greatly benefit from the lessons they’ve learned on the mats. Confidence, mental strength, discipline, hard work, integrity, courage, humility and focus are just some of the life-skills that children inherit from practicing martial arts. There’s no doubt that these values transfer well into adulthood, developing strong personalities destined for success. Here are 6 scientific reas

Super Seminars in Sydney AND Melbourne - 16 Hours Total! Rener is heading to Australia for UFC 193 to coach Ronda Rousey in her title defense against Holly Holm. While down under, Rener has confirmed that he will be teaching four Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Mastery Seminars at KMA Academy in Sydney on Sunday, November 8th, and four more mastery seminars at Dominance MMA in Melbourne on Saturday, November 14th! The unique combination of Rener's easy-to-follow yet highly systematic teaching methods, along with his unparalleled enthusiasm, have made him one of the most sought after jiu-jitsu instructors in the world. Whether you are new to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or you are a black belt looking to take your sk

This weekend Mafi Ahokava, just one of our sponsored fighters along with Westside MMA teammates Dom Macri, Jeremy Joiner and Junior Milo head up the Western Freeway to Ballarat to compete on Steve Moxon's Gold Rush MMA Fight Night. Mafi and Jeremy will be looking to follow up there impressive debuts on Valor in Tasmania while Dom and Junior are both making their MMA debuts. All 4 boys have been training hard in preparation for this event with Coach Rodolfo Marques ensuring they're working on the necessary components to hold them in good stead agaisnt the skills of their opponents. Mafi has had a change in opponent and will now face Andrew McIntosh from Bendigo MMA. Jermey, Junior and Dom wil

If I ask 100 students, “How long would you like to train jiu-jitsu?” The majority will answer, “Forever.” If we ask 100 black belts, “What percentage of white and blue belt students on any given mat, will be training jiu-jitsu in 10 years?” They usually answer 2-5%. My experience tells me 10 % of people quit because of the following reasons: 1. Distance – Life moves people around and sometimes away from the mat. 2. Money – Nothing in this world is free so when money is tight, jiu-jitsu classes sometimes take a hit. 3. Family – Family deserves more of your free time than anything else in the world. 4. Work – Sometimes work may get hectic which interferes with your training schedule. 5. In