Hey everyone, I started a GoFundMe to help raise some funds to get my kid students competing. Just figured it could help some of the parents out that have worked so hard keeping their young grapplers consistent. Link is in bio 🤙🏽 donations are appreciated but so are shares.
Competition is something I’ve had a love/hate relationship with for a long time. I loved winning. I hated the anxiety. I loved doing jiujitsu. Hated cutting weight. Loved choking people. Hated getting stuck under some boulder weight that learned a kimura and forgot everything else.
But looking back I KNOW competition is something I NEEDED. I needed to push myself. I needed the challenge. I needed to see I could achieve. And being honest, sometimes I just needed my butt kicked.
As an instructor, I want my students to experience all that and more, for themselves. Unfortunately, tournaments are expensive and as someone who is eternally grateful for the financial sacrifices my parents made to keep me on the podium, I don’t want the parents at my gym to have to make the same monetary commitment. One day when my gym is stronger in numbers, making all the monies, I’ll fund this myself. But for now I need your assistance. These kids work hard. I believe a large percentage of them can be great at this thing we love. Help me show them what they are capable of. Thank you -Wonderbread
Happy Birthday!
I don’t know what to say other than I’m grateful to be a part of your life. Every moment I get to spend with you is cherished, even (especially) the ones we waste. Waking up next to you is a blessing, and sleeping next to you is the only way I can. Nicole, you’re so special to me. You’re my best friend, my partner in crime and the reason I try to be better each day. You inspire me through your resilience and your talent, your actions, your words and your presence. Thank you for putting up with me 🤣 I hope your birthday is a good one, if anyone deserves it, you do. I love you babe.
Two of our students KILLING one of our favorite drills:
SWEEP > RECOVERY
I like this drill for a number of reasons. Not only does it allow you to practice your sweeps and escapes, it also encourages a high pace and realistic timing.
When you’re on bottom in a fight, your number one priority, outside of staying safe, should be to get on top. The guard and sweeps like the Hip Bump help us to do that most efficiently 🤙🏽
Let me know what your favorite jiujitsu/grappling drill is in the comments!
#LiveWideOpen #WideOpen #WOJiuJitsu #WOJJ #WunderBread #Sparkles4Jerry #noonclass #Tryon #Shelby #Spartanburg #MountainLiving #BJJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #JiuJitsu #Grappling #MurderYoga #SelfDefense #Training #Fitness #Health #MentalHealth
1 o’clock class leveled up today! These kids have been working hard and having a blast. It’s awesome to see such close bonds being formed between family and friends on the mats, and I’m so happy to facilitate that while teaching them grappling. I know wherever they end up in life, they’ll be successful not only because they’ve got jiujitsu but because they’ve got each other. Give it up for the little ninjas! They’ve earned it 🤙🏽
#kidsclassvstheworld #homeschool#FitnessWideOpen #WideOpen #WOJJ #WOJiuJitsu #Tryon #TIEC #JiuJitsu #BJJ
Great time up in #rutherfordton with the @redpawbjjclub ! Stop by Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays FREE of charge at 6:00. All @smokiesmountain wants is some people to hug 🤣🤙🏽 #checkmat #bjjclub #bjj #jiujitsu
First and foremost, thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, students and supporters without whom I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. This past weekend I joined my teammates for competition at NewBreed Greenville. I got 1st in NoGi in the weight class above me and in absolute. Got 2nd in gi two weight classes up. Good performance and happy with the success I had but at the end of the day it paled in comparison to the joy I felt as an instructor. Getting to see the people I put so much time and effort into on the podium brought me such immense happiness and having two gyms that I work with @checkmat_charlotte and @tntcolumbia place in the top 3 damn near brought me to tears. It was an honor to compete against and with such amazing people. Also, picture credits to @johnmartinsen . All the badass photos of me were taken by him and I can’t thank him enough. I usually hate every picture of me but these were honestly the first that I looked at and thought “damn... look at that guy.” 🤣🤣🤣 In all seriousness though, if you too want to look like your carved out of Egyptian cinnamon, first hit up @next_levelpt then get John to photograph the results 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽 #champions #wunderbread #jiujitsu #newbreed #first #competition #porrada #checkmat #checkmatcharlotte #bjj #blackbelt #protectyaneck
I gotta get better at this social media thing. I’ve written and rewritten this post over 4 times 🤣 Long story short, I went down to Orlando and placed third in my division after a hard fought 10 minutes against one of the best in the world. Although I didn’t win my match, I saw significant improvement over my showing in Atlanta and was overall happy with my performance. Happy but not content. Ready to get back in the room and prepare for next year 🤙🏽 thank you to all my coaches and teammates at @checkmat_charlotte and special thanks to @thalyspontesbjj and @hiagobjj14 for the private sessions! Also congratulations to all my teammates and friends who competed and medaled at Masters Worlds and the Orlando Open! Watching #BigGravy win the Masters 5 Purple Belt Absolute was one of the highlights of my time in the sport.
#Checkmat #Charlotte #checkmatcharlotte #jiujitsu #bjj #blackbelt #orlando #grind #family #justshowup #goodtobehome
3 wins and a new puppy for @checkmat_charlotte at the @tapcancerout competition today. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling all day. Congratulations to all the champs! Me and Forrest will be seeing you all soon!!!
So many words... none of them enough to explain how life changing this past week has been. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you @nicole_eastcoast_ I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have standing beside me as a partner on and off the mats. Thank you @checkmat_charlotte and @leovieirabjj for making yesterday so special for her and for us. And for the record I didn’t cry yesterday but only because I spent the night before and every second I spent driving, getting choked up like an ol’ biatch 🤣🤣🤣 I love you babe and I can’t wait for us to grow; both as a couple, and a team. Congratulations, you EARNED it. #couplegoals #blackbeltcouple #thebestdamnlookingblackbeltcouple #faixapreta #provisionalfaixapreta #checkmat #charlotte #bjj
@nicole_eastcoast_ spent an hour editing this photo and my eyeshadow still looks better than hers 🤣 in all seriousness, we made it home safely after a looooong trip. Can’t ask for much more. Love you all 🤙🏽- wunderbread
