I can’t wait to look back years from now and see what we’ve built.
The confidence I have comes from something I’ve believed since my very first day on the mat. Jiu jitsu doesn’t cheat anyone. There is no man, woman, or child who doesn’t need to be stronger, more resilient, more prepared. Jiu jitsu will serve anyone willing to try, and it doesn’t stop giving back.
And my husband is proof of that.
He has accomplished everything a person could want to accomplish in this sport. And still he shows up. He shows up for someone’s first day. For the member who’s been with him for years. For the guy passing through town who just wants to see what it’s like to train at Practice. And he shows up when it’s his turn to prepare.
That’s what makes jiu jitsu different from anything else I’ve ever seen. It serves the man who has spent hundreds of thousands of hours proving it at the highest levels on the planet. And it equally serves the man, the woman, the child who spends just one hour doing it for the very first time.
— Rebecca
📸 @armandomustacchio
Coach Brannan and Coach Justin put in the work.
We chose these two not just for their skill on the mat, but because they represent exactly what we look for in everyone who joins our team.
Patrick Lencioni's The Ideal Team Player identifies three indispensable virtues of a true team player:
Humble -- They lack excessive ego. They share credit, emphasize team over self, and define success collectively rather than individually.
Hungry -- They are self-motivated and diligent. They are always looking for more -- more to do, more to learn, more responsibility.
Smart -- They have common sense about people. They ask good questions, listen, and understand the impact their words and actions have on others.
Brannan and Justin bring all three to this mat every single day. That combination is rare, and we don't take it for granted.
If you lead a team, coach, or simply want to understand what it means to truly show up for the people around you -- this book is worth your time.
The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
We are steadily growing our community and can’t wait for the facility to start taking shape. In the months ahead, our square footage will double, and we’ll have a full-blown facility with change rooms, showers, lobby and co-working space included. We’re excited to make these improvements and look forward to the growth ahead!
Jiu jitsu is a transformational sport for all who are willing to step on the tatami. Regardless of age or experience level, there is a lesson in every practice for each of us.
Jason is one of our oldest and self-proclaimed smallest members, but don’t let him fool you—he gives all the young guns a run for their money.
Nearly 18 years on the mat.
I’ve never measured progress by belts or titles, only by how deeply I can understand and refine the craft.
Jiu-jitsu was the first discipline that showed me what controlled chaos really looks like. Movement under resistance. Problem solving under pressure. Efficiency over effort. Over time, it became more than a sport to me. It became a way to understand what I want my body to be capable of now and decades from now. It also played a huge role in shaping my respect and admiration for biomechanics as a whole.
In many ways, it’s the opposite of what I do professionally.
In jiu-jitsu, you’re taught to make another human as unathletic as possible. You remove leverage, limit options, and guide movement toward a controlled outcome. In my work, I do the inverse. I teach people how to reclaim leverage, how to place themselves in the most mechanically favorable positions, and how to become harder to break down.
Both worlds are governed by the same principles. Structure precedes power. Position dictates outcome. Efficiency beats force.
What makes this promotion especially meaningful is who it came from. I started this sport alongside my brother, @giancarlobodoni . For a good bit, we were each others primary training partners. I’ve watched him master this art up close and from afar. It’s a path I’ve always deeply respected. To receive recognition and guidance from someone who understands the process at that level carries a different weight.
It’s also been almost three years since moving to Austin and training under the watchful eyes of @danaherjohn , @garrytonon , and @gordonlovesjiujitsu . Being surrounded by that level of precision, discipline, and accountability has reshaped how I see the art. They, as well as all my great training partners @kingsway_hq are a huge reason I feel even somewhat deserving of this promotion.
The rank changes, the standard doesn’t. The work continues.
Our team leveled up! I had the honor of promoting my wife, Rebecca, to black belt. She has dedicated over a decade to her growth in jiu-jitsu. Her story is amazing and will soon be told. She’s made countless sacrifices for this martial art, my successes, and the betterment of her students.
My brother, Silvio, has been training as long as me. We took our first class together. He never chased a belt or a title, just the pursuit of mastery with meticulous attention to detail.
Justin and Brannan came under my wing a few years ago as fresh white belts. They trusted in my guidance. They have dedicated themselves like no one else. They took a leap of faith on Practice Jiu Jitsu and we are so grateful to have such talented and good people like them on the mats with us every day.
We are more than just a gym. We are a community of like-minded people from all walks of life. We each have a story and we are each a part of each other’s stories. We have a common goal: to never stop improving and learning. We lift each other up and help each other grow. At Practice, a black belt is never the goal—the goal is skill. A belt is merely a byproduct of your effort and development. The belt won’t go away, but your skills will if you allow them to. The belt is a milestone but not the finish line.
There is no finish line.
Find comfort in the journey with no end.
Learn with intention.
Practice with Purpose.
Practice for Life.
