Our job and our passion are to convey the fundamentals and techniques of the arts that we provide here at Nexus Jiu Jitsu. As a matter of course this means that we will have to push you into uncomfortable areas a lot of the time. We are always looking to get the best out of all of my students. We expect integrity from my students. We expect a learning mind and a desire to work hard from my students. We won't accept the word can't. We won't accept the concept of giving up. Failing/losing is fine as long as you do your best and try again.

We will never chastise losses if my students give their all. We will praise the hard work and give advice for the next opportunity. So, understand that when you walk onto the mats and partake in my classes we expect all of these things from you. Also understand that we demand of myself integrity in our teaching, a belief in all of you, a desire to give you the best teaching we can possibly provide and we will never give up on any of you. Come in, train hard, accept failure as learning, have integrity, be respectful of yourself and others, embrace the journey and let's grow together.

We all need three kinds of training partners to grow in the art of Jiu-Jitsu. We need partners that are better than us because we learn that there are faster, more efficient and more energy-conserving ways to reach the ultimate goal of control and submission. We need partners that are at our same level to build endurance, have someone to grind with, to learn mental fortitude, to grow in the game with, to have someone to be accountable to and to see one's progress. Lastly, we need partners that are at a lower level so we can work our techniques, work on our setups, build our foundations of control that lead to the submission and to realize that we are actually learning this beautiful art. Just understand that at some point with different training partners in the gym you fall into one of these three categories. Be there, work hard, enjoy the journey and be a good partner.

We are either the hammer or the nail in this art. We have to know how to be both. It's always harder to be the nail than the hammer. But being the nail builds character. Nothing is more important in this game than mental fortitude, toughness and a desire to learn. Stay focused and soon the nail becomes the hammer.