"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 ot

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), yo

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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 s

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 teac