After earning my first stripe, my passion kicked in and jujitsu became something I wanted to become great at.

Not long after, I entered my first competition, a small local tournament alongside a few of my teammates.

Those early competitions taught me lessons I couldn’t learn in training alone: how to manage nerves, stay calm under pressure, adapt when things didn’t go as planned, and keep going.

As I earned my grey belt, I started training every chance I could, from junior beginner classes all the way through adult advanced. Eventually, local tournaments became international competitions, and each new level showed me where I could grow next.

The more I competed, the more I understood that progress in jiu-jitsu isn’t about one big breakthrough. It’s built through consistency. Showing up. Paying attention. Learning from losses. Coming back better.

I was also lucky to have coaches who taught me far more than technique.

I learned discipline, humility, focus, and how to carry myself both on and off the mats.

Those lessons are a big part of why I started coaching.

Winning and improving as an athlete is rewarding, but watching a kid become more confident, capable, and sure of themselves over a few months has become one of my favourite parts of jiu-jitsu.