As a father, I’ve always assumed that I am the leader, and my child is my follower. That is mostly correct, of course.  However, the inverse helped me get through some personal struggles in the last year.

My son and I train together.  He is currently 14 going on 15, and has been consistently training Jiu Jitsu since he was about five years old.  As he has grown significantly in the last year or two, both physically and mentally, his skill and prowess on the mats have skyrocketed. 

During that same time period, I was struggling with some health issues as well as some setbacks in Jiu Jitsu.  (Some for legitimate health reasons, some due to me being stuck in a rut and just not wanting to train.  Watching my own son do so well in Jiu Jitsu and wrestling lit a fire in me.  He inspired me. 

Most of all, I started to sense that my son could clearly see my own weaknesses at play.  He might not fully understand what’s driving those weaknesses, but neither do I, to be honest.  Excuses.  Procrastination.  Delays in taking action.  All of these were sliding into my life while my son was doing the exact opposite  — there was never an excuse to miss training or even some exercise in between.  Procrastination? Nada.

He took action on his own to improve his strength and diet.  He listens to his coaches (in BJJ and wrestling).  It became very clear to me that, although I wasn’t actively being a source of inspiration and leadership for him, he was taking matters into his own hands.  I started to realize that he was going to work towards greatness, with or without me. 

We’ve heard that it takes a tribe to raise a warrior. I believe there’s no such thing as too many positive role models in a child’s life.  I know that my son will be fine without me, with all of the positive role models surrounding him. His work ethic is there. He’ll someday likely pass me in rank in Jiu Jitsu.

Is this fear of missing out on my part? Maybe. But, what kind of father would I be if I don’t do everything in my power to be one of the leaders within that tribe?

When I sensed all of this, a decision had to be made.  Do I want to be a part of this, or do I want to passively let others do my job for me?  The answer was clear.  Action had to be taken.  I must be part of my son’s “tribe.”

[Improve at Any Age with Better Sleep, Diet and Stretching]

Role of the Shoshin mindset

What’s the point of this?  Having a shoshin mindset can break our traditional thinking habits, such as only listening to those senior to us.  We can learn from our juniors too.  We can listen. 

At work, using shoshin, we can truly listen to the younger workforce and make changes when necessary. On the mats, we can take inspiration from younger or less experienced martial artists.  A beginner’s mind lets us leave our egos behind and allows us to learn from unconventional sources. Those with less experience also have unique thoughts and perspectives.  If we don’t pay attention, we could be missing out on many things.

We all know that good leaders take action and lead by example.  I might not be able to keep up with my son in Jiu Jitsu as he grows and capitalizes on almost a decade of consistent mat time.  I might not even be as quick at learning and adapting.  My own fitness and health are more of an uphill battle as I approach 50 years on this wonderful planet. 

Yet, those don’t have to be excuses, either.  I can show up.  I can remain humble.  I can choose health over comfort and fun.  I can work hard to reclaim my place in the tribe as a leader, one based on actions rather default hierarchy. 

Hopefully, this will become contagious to those around me.  If I can take that mindset and help even one new white belt not get discouraged at how hard our martial art is, it’s worth it. Or remind that older blue belt that we don’t need to compare ourselves to the younger, athletic men and women. 

After all, it’s the journey up the mountain that we should be in love with, not the summit itself.  Is there a summit in martial arts?  I don’t know if I want there to be.  I don’t know if I want a finish line in martial arts.  We can always learn and grow, and we can always find leadership and inspiration in places where we might not be looking.  

And, to my son: thank you for reminding me of this and helping me through some tough times.  You didn’t plan it, and you might not have even noticed, but your hard work and wisdom beyond your years has inspired me to take more action.

It’s inspired me to look in the mirror and make adjustment, and to realize that my role as your father and leader should never be taken for granted — yet continuously earned.  You are a champion in my mind, and I’m thankful every day for your existence.

Is BJJ For Me? Am I Too Small Or Too Big?

The post Find Guidance Anywhere With Shoshin Mindset appeared first on Easton Training Center.

Our most recent Open, the 4th one since we started holding these joint events in 2022, was a blast. We held the Spring 2024 Easton Open this March at the Blue Sports Stable in Superior, Colorado. We had 460 BJJ competitors, 100 Muay Thai competitors and 135 volunteers!

Here are some highlights from our adults competing, captured by photographer Matthew Barton.

Easton Open Spring 2024: Competition That Elevates Community

The post Easton Open Spring 2024 Photo Blog appeared first on Easton Training Center.

Can you call yourself an artist if you stopped making art? Are you a martial artist if you haven’t stepped onto the training mat in months?

While these identities can show us a way of viewing life through their practices’ lens – i.e, artistically, or through the lens of resilience – can calling oneself by a name simply stand as personal preference, or does it demand an ongoing commitment to honing the associated skills?

The answer goes back to what you want out of it in the first place. When you start to really see the benefits of a practice like Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai or even running and language-learning, it’s because you’ve shifted your focus to somewhere deep within the practice. 

The driving force becomes about how the practice itself can impact you – not simply wearing the badge. Everyone wants to identify with something, but they don’t always want to do the work to back it up. That’s why it’s so important that you show up.

Like we learned as early as grade school, identifying with something can give you both a sense of self and that of belonging to the whole. However, in most groups (particularly those which center their focus on a level of expertise), usually one of the requirements for participation includes an active relationship with the thing at hand. To be in a ski club, you have to ski, to be in band, you have to play a musical instrument.

Identity, in many cases, serves more than just to label; it reflects one’s commitment to a practice and a dedication to the craft. Usually, your identity around a certain sport, profession, craft or position is tied inextricably to your practice. 

The act of consistently showing up, practicing, and investing time and effort in the pursuit of mastery distinguishes the genuine practitioner from one who just wants to hop on the bandwagon. This always creates an interesting caveat with the intersection of participation and identity, but you can also always feel when someone’s just there for the cred – not for the craft. 

Some people, like music groupies or the skater-adjacent kids that hung around watching skaters roll by popping ollies, join a community because they enjoy something about its players or environment. While they don’t add to the activity themselves, they feel akin to the vibe.

[Professor Lietz: Art, Martial Arts, and the Pursuit of Mastery]

The fluid, gray parts of identity

We all identify with something. We are athletes, artists, musicians, wanderers, dreamers, reliable individuals, adventurers and fighters.

Can we still call ourselves wanderers if we haven’t let ourselves travel since getting that new job four years ago? Are we still reliable if we lose our direction and start flaking on friends and partners? Perhaps the answer is ‘no’ right now, but it doesn’t have to be forever.

Some labels depend on the identity to wear them: you’re a liar only if you lie, or a bank teller if you work at a bank. So, are we an artist only if we create? Philosophically, you can argue that everything is an art; simply the way you view the world is an expression of art. Still, for some things in life, that just doesn’t work. 

Martial arts, in particular, embodies this dilemma vividly. For example, when faced with a situation in the wild where you have to defend a choke, you have to actually do it. Almost doesn’t count. Only hours of drilling and practice will give you the split-second response you need to shift gears and execute the technique effectively.

Calling oneself a martial artist isn’t merely a claim; it’s an acknowledgment of a lifestyle. The essence of martial arts lies not only in the physical techniques but also in the mental fortitude, discipline, and resilience developed through consistent practice.

Could you sculpt a face, write, public-speak or throw a punch if your life depended on it? If not, that’s fine, but if you’re going to make it part of your core identity, you probably should.

We don’t suggest this level of scrutiny to beat you down or make you feel bad about yourself. All of us have areas for improvement, and we might just get to the top level if we continue to hold each other accountable.

Martial arts reminds us that we must show up every day for our skills to improve and our confidence to grow. Martial arts lets you come as you are, then reshapes you into everything that you can be. 

As long as you’re showing up, that’s over half the battle. You can come tired, angry, sad, relieved; let the mat work its magic, just come. When you start showing up regardless of how you feel or what’s going on in your life, you know the practice has seeped into the fibers of your identity.

Carving out intentional space in your schedule for the priorities in your life will not only make you feel better, it will actually give you the time you need with those practices to get some real growth done.

Who do you want to be? What practices do you want to define you? Do you meditate every morning or go on daily runs? Maybe you want to be someone who caps each day by reading a chapter of a book. 

Sometimes, we become the person we want to be in our heads without ever making it in practice. Then we feel a sense of disconnect and disappointment, ruminating on what we wish we could’ve done. Don’t let that be you. You can become exactly who you want to be by making small adjustments to the non-negotiable things you do every day.

Letting it seep into every other aspect of your life

The beauty of martial arts lies in its transformative power. When you root your identity in martial arts, its impact will extend far beyond the training space, influencing how you approach challenges at work, relationships and personal development.

As you begin to shape your days more and more to include your martial arts practice, you’ll begin to notice the same energy appear in other aspects of your life as well. You’ll start to take on tasks you’ve been avoiding which suddenly don’t seem as scary. 

You’ll start seeing doorways where before you saw walls. Call it a snowball effect or a full-body wake up, but the courage you’ll gain from simply showing up to something hard every day will begin to precede you. Things that felt just out of reach begin to seem tangible. The longer you sustain your commitment and daily discipline, the more doorways you’ll see, the deeper you’ll dig and more fluidly you’ll connect to yourself on a higher level. 

Whether you’re an accountant, a farmer, a videographer or a fashion designer, the more you ground one aspect of your life in a physical, tangible practice, the more you will begin to see those other aspects of your life materialize. Apprehension to challenge begins to fade, and the added endorphins to your day will have you excited and ready to tackle your work after training. 

Like a stone sharpening a blade, you are the blade and martial arts the stone. If you commit to the practice of bettering yourself through martial arts, anything you do with your body, soul and mind will be that much more battle-tested and refined.  

The post Between Identity And Practice: What You Put In Is What You Get Out appeared first on Easton Training Center.

The event, developed in partnership with Denver’s DiningOut Events and Ben Higgins of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” called The Wedding Party, brought 2,000 guests in for a collaborative ceremony and massive reception featuring food from 25 of Denver’s top local restaurants, cocktails mixed by the city’s best bartenders and more.

Publisher, event producer, and Amal Easton’s 6th Black Belt, Jeff Suskin, who married his wife that day, could’ve never imagined the scale of success that the company he co-founded with a fellow Black Belt would one day reach – yet there gathered an entire community to celebrate.

Jeff credits his resilience, tenacity and determination to stay the course in the publishing world largely to his nearly simultaneous journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Jeff started BJJ in the summer of 1999, shortly after Easton’s 1998 opening.

Around that same time, he and now-fellow Black Belt Josh Dinar launched local publication DiningOut Magazine, which debuted in 1998, with insights, reviews and articles about restaurants, food trends and culinary experiences across Colorado.

Jeff had always been enamored by the magazine world. In the early 90s, he and a friend from college, Jeff Smith, moved to Boulder from Massachusetts to start their own DIY college publication. Connecting campuses across Colorado, the irreverent, local rag wrote about things like movie openings, music, and pop culture for students before the internet.

At the time, the two were living in a house with 12 other people up Boulder Canyon. Jeff, grinding at a career in the pre-internet magazine world, was making barely enough money to eat while his friends in hospitality were rolling in dough as bartenders and servers.

The publication miraculously survived its first season, and as they launched the second, its popularity skyrocketed. Revenue more than tripled overnight, going from just under $5K for $15K. With more resilience than actual plan, they learned about publishing, advertising and distribution as they went.

No sooner had they established themselves in the industry than a few factors brought them to a gradual decline, followed by a halt. The rise of the internet was pulling the rug out from under the print media world, and paired with The Onion moving (literally) next door, Jeff found himself struggling with the motivation to push on.

The team, which included Josh Dinar by then, had initiated a loan for $30K to completely revamp the magazine – which would become DiningOut – and upscale it. Faced with the mounting pressure and ready to give up, Jeff, however, had decided against signing the loan documents and planned to quit instead.

The same time, in Jiu Jitsu, Amal was teaching a technique that had Jeff trapped and ready to tap to his opponent’s pressure. Little did he know, tapping was just the easy – and not entirely necessary – way out. Right before he did, Amal saw and rushed over.

“No, no, no,” said Amal, who’d never taken much notice of Jeff before. “Just turn your body. Take his arm.” As he guided Jeff out of the masapone and to an armbar on his opponent, Jeff completed his first submission in Jiu Jitsu!

“Jesus,” said Amal to him, “you just give up, huh?”

Right at that moment, Eliot Marshall, who was 19, walked over and cracked a wise comment that one day he’d beat Amal.

“Maybe,” Amal replied to Eliot, “but I’m in here everyday training my ass off, so if you’re going to beat me, you’re going to have to be training really hard. And you’re going to have to kill me because I’m not just gonna give up like him.” He pointed at Jeff.

Jeff went home and signed the loan documents the next day.

In 2014, the business would expand to add DiningOut Events, producing some of the biggest culinary events in Colorado and Texas, along with an agency that handles experiential activations for a variety of spirit brands. Moral of the story: never give up.

[Jiu Jitsu’s American Roots: The Evolution and Growth of the Art, ft. Amal Easton]

Rebranding a post-graduate identity

Up until Jiu Jitsu, Jeff’s athletic experience had oriented largely around team sports, starting lacrosse in 4th grade and playing in college at UMass on a Division 1 team. He wrestled in junior high and high school to bolster his resume for college, but grappling didn’t hook him at the time like Jiu Jitsu later would.

“In a weird way,” says Jeff, “maybe the time frame, but I put a lot of worth on my identity as an athlete. At points I probably put too much emphasis on it.”

Like many post-graduate athletes, Jeff had to learn to separate himself from his sport. Those who don’t go on to professional sports industries often undergo a significant shift to develop a post-sport identity, going from spending 20-30 hours a week in a given activity to no structure to stand on.

Jeff tried mountain biking, rock climbing and golf, but none of those really resonated with him the way lacrosse had. Then he found Easton from an ad in The Onion.

“I went to the first BJJ practice with Amal,” says Jeff, “and it was so different – it was like, martial arts meets the beach. Traditional martial arts had all these strange traditions and hierarchy, and BJJ didn’t have any of that.”

From that first day at Easton, he was addicted. He had found an outlet that fit his needs and didn’t require him to spend an entire day looking for a route to go climb or wrangle others. Jiu Jitsu became both a rock and a mirror which reflected the most honest depths of himself, forcing him to look at everything in his life with the same clear eye of discernment.

“Jiu Jitsu is very honest,” says Jeff. “You get found out really quickly. If there’s somebody working harder than me and better than me, it makes sense. Wanting something doesn’t do anything – either you put in the time and effort or you don’t. There’s never any surprises.”

The benefits of Jiu Jitsu reach much farther than the accolades earned on the mat. It’s not a replacement identity, either; it’s a roadmap for how to navigate life. Just as the mats don’t lie, this same principle applies to everything: if you do everything, you win; if you don’t, you don’t.

The accountability and integrity from the mats began to show up in every aspect of Jeff’s life. Jeff recalls even going back to return a pen he accidentally took from the bank when he first started training.

What we gain from a martial arts practice beyond athletic success (or even self-defense skills) encompasses a way of life – a means to a happier, healthier, more honest life, a thriving community and a bigger support system than you could have ever imagined.

[How I Came to Martial Arts: Tale of a Disgruntled Athlete]

Finding drive beyond ego

Knowing our “why” is extremely important for keeping our egos in check. At the end of the day, any sport, including Jiu Jitsu, is a kids’ game. Nobody cares other than us if we win or lose.

If our only reason for doing something rests in the physical accomplishments, we’re in for a rough decline. Those physical attributes will fade, some new studs will take the lead with ten, fifteen or twenty years on us, and we’ll be stuck reliving the glory days.

Not the ideal way to experience Jiu Jitsu – or anything. It also doesn’t have to be.

If you have a good coach who sets you on the right path for self-development, or you develop in a way that involves being a part of the community, Jeff observes, then there’s a lot to gain from sports and from activities.

On the converse, Jeff tells us that he had some really terrible coaches growing up in the 80s, the era of posted cuts and make-or-break favoritism. He finally got a coach sophomore year of high school who cared and began to excel, but prior to that it was either you were good enough to be a starter and given attention, or you weren’t.

[CrossFit Coach and BJJ Purple Belt Jason Ackerman: Aligning with Growth]

Kids now typically receive a more nurturing approach from their coaches and teachers aimed at bolstering their confidence rather than breaking it down. An effective coach knows not only how to create a winning strategy but also how to play to the strengths of each player.

For this reason, Jeff has made it a priority to involve himself in mentorship through Colorado Youth At Risk, and nurtures his children in the same way. He’s there to help them grow in whichever direction they want, but he also wants them to figure it out for themselves.

Jeff and his wife have a three-and-a-half-year-old and a baby, born this March. No matter how packed his schedule or production demands get, he makes it a priority to invest as much time and attention into them as he can.

Having a full career, family, social life and training in a sport, you have to prioritize and stay realistic about your expectations. Even if you won’t become a competitive Jiu Jitsu person, you can still get good, train well and stay fit.

By maintaining a balance between work, family, friends and his Jiu Jitsu practice, Jeff avoids the anxiety that comes along with neglecting any aspect of his life.

“I’m not a college kid training nonstop and watching YouTube 24 hours a day,” Jeff says, “but I can still really enjoy Jiu Jitsu. Even then – If I’m being a bad husband, what does being good at Jiu Jitsu mean?”

[Improve at Any Age with Better Sleep, Diet and Stretching]

Finding meaning in the collective

At 54, Jeff had a massive heart attack in March – the week before his son was born. An artery ruptured and he got really sick. During the time he was sick, his entire Easton community took care of him.

“They literally were cooking dinners,” Jeff says, “dropping off diapers; everybody was visiting in the hospital, dropping off food each night for the family to eat. It was a procession of food and diapers! I didn’t ask for it, I didn’t know it was happening.”

It’s these moments that remind us what truly matters: each relationship, exchange and resonant connection, as we give and receive in ways that may not even register until later, when we see that support returned tenfold.

What are we adding to the collective? What can we contribute to make it a better place? For years, Jeff tells us that he just taught Sunday classes, taught yoga and helped people out. Then, when he went down this Spring, there they were.

“If you pour yourself into your community,” Jeff says, “it gives back.”

[The People You Train With Become the People You Show Up For]

The post Easton Black Belt and Publisher Jeff Suskin: Sink the Finish + Give Back appeared first on Easton Training Center.

Whether you’re a blue belt, green shirt, or brown belt, competition offers a way to test yourself under pressure in the safety of an organized event. Some competitions, such as the IBJJF Denver Open, which brings international champs right to our backyard, offer the opportunity to test yourself against some of the best of your time at your level.

This week on the Easton Community Podcast, we welcome Muay Thai Coach Allie Readmond, who is currently in Patras, Greece, representing the United States at the 2024 IFMA Senior World Championship. 

To hear the full hour –  including Allie’s experience going through fight camp, coming up as a woman in Muay Thai, and how competition has shaped her confidence (and vice versa) – listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

For Allie, who holds a Brown Shirt in Muay Thai, Easton’s inclusive culture for beginners played a key role in her own journey to the mats. 

It wasn’t until her training diverted to competition that she found herself needing to carve her own path. Up till then, Allie’s primary goals had centered on finding confidence, community and security in knowing how to defend herself.

Entering the world of competition, while exciting and challenging, also created a new set of challenges for Allie to navigate physically and mentally – one being the inherent, underlying discrepancy between the male and female fighting experience.

Whereas she has always felt welcome, respected and valued regardless of her gender at Easton, that’s not always the case in combat sports where women are under-represented. 

In some places, men may see the women in their communities as opportunities rather than equals, and treat them as such – whether this means a rest round, an easy target or a way to bolster their egos off the mats.

“In general, with combat sports,” says Allie, “I have a little frustration because women are kind of expected to be really, really nice…and that doesn’t necessarily serve us for wanting to go after each other [in the ring]. Being super nice, smiling in weigh-in pictures – that’s an aspect that’s really unequal. Men are not expected to do that.”

While making friends from all over is often a result of the competition experience, Allie describes that it’s almost expected of women. This supportive archetype may be a comfort to some, but for those who want to keep focused on their goal and the fight ahead, it can feel like an imposed patriarchal pressure geared towards making others feel better.

This isn’t anything new for women, who frequently navigate the balancing act of their needs with the feelings of others – often at the expense of feeling out of alignment with themselves.

Even in many female friendships, hard conversations may subside in favor of harmony, or truths get held back to spare feelings. The result can feel isolating, repressive and sometimes explosive.

In competition, you’re not there to play to anybody’s feelings. You’re there to do your job: be ruthless, respectful and focused. 

“I resent the fact that I need to be everyone’s friend,” says Allie, “that I may have to swallow any opinion I may have or beat down my own expertise around something to play nice and make nice with the people around me. I’m not trying to be a bitch to people, but I’m not here to be everyone’s friend and make you feel better.”

Afterwards, you can connect over something real – a match you both just fought, an experience shared by none other than the two of you. The intimacy is real, not superficial, projected or expected.

Confidence versus arrogance

In contrast to expected, traditional archetypes, when Allie is in fight mode, she wants to keep her head in the game. 

As important as dropping our ego is in the practice room to embrace humility and learn all we can, it’s equally important to reel it back in when it counts. Some aspects of the ego can be beneficial in a fight.

Just as we need our egos at the most fundamental level to help stay out of harm’s way, we also need to find a way to lean into its inherent confidence that we do know best and do have what it takes. For that, we need to learn how to work with the ego.

While the “feminine” experience teaches women we need to meld to what’s expected (yes, still) and just “be nice” or “easy” in a way men don’t face, this can often directly contradict the warrior spirit a female competitor works to summon before a big fight.

Certainly, some people go into martial arts all ego and require a long road of transformation and letting go, the opposite can be equally helpful if someone struggles with self-esteem. For these individuals, even of extremely high skill sets, it’s not uncommon to find their coaches and training partners believing in their abilities far more than they do themselves.

In these cases, it can help to separate yourself from your fears and insecurities (or perfectionism) by embracing a persona that allows for those usually hidden aspects to surface. There, a layer removed from the apologetic, agreeable and self-doubting player you may present in the practice room, you can let your fierce competitor drive.

The best fighters are not naturally aggressive brutalists; they’re nuanced and humble yet confident in their skills to speak for them. The layers of self and evolution that Allie, and many who train martial arts, experience on the mats – from training and nerding out with her friends to fight camp to competition, demonstrate that above all else, there’s not “one shade” of winner.

For the full episode, join us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

[Alle Readmond: Easton’s Homegrown Student Takes on Thailand with Team USA]

The post Easton’s Allie Readmond: Competing Globally + Representing Women in Muay Thai appeared first on Easton Training Center.

At Easton, we want to facilitate growth in whichever direction you need it — whether that’s competition-oriented, coaching, self-defense, or simply finding your voice and connecting with others.

We take great pride in the quality of our martial arts, but it’s all of you who add that final element that’s built our academy into what it is today: the human element that throws chance into the equation, allowing us to work our tools in an ever-changing testing ground.

It’s you who have put in the work, showed up day after day (sometimes twice a day) and experienced the real changes trickle down into your life.  It’s you who’s gained more mobility, lost the baby weight, built the confidence to do that 10K — and so much more.

The work you do on the mats translates into every corner of your lives, and for that reason, these belt promotions mean so much more than just a color on your waist. We see you, we honor you, and we thank you for bringing your spirit and resilience to the room.

Please help us commemorate and congratulate our students’ milestones by attending the Easton Summer 2024 BJJ Belt Promotion Ceremony at Easton Denver on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

• 10:30 AM Training
• 11:30 AM Promotions

Black Belt Promotions will be announced privately to those being promoted and publicly at the promotion ceremony. Let’s all come out and show our support for our teammates!

[The Path to Promotion]

Below is the list of promotions:

BLUE BELT

Arvada

Kartik Raghaven

Angelina Lewis

Lorenzo Carmona

Chris Wagner

Trevor Kirking

Boulder

Alec Schrum

Andrew Highfill

Sean Carey

Justin Visher

Mason Whitehurst

Lukas Gardner

Dana Vachharajani

Darice Guitett

Michael Yavuz

Aaron Wilson

Omer Peleg

RJ Rahner

David Moore

Austin (Tyler) Russell

Michael Bruner

Centennial

Andrew Clair

Ari Gibula

Mitchell Noble

Darby Kim

Elyse Palmer

Jake Palmer

Holley Brown

Jared Tuinei

Livia Walters

Michael Myers

Sean Bogertey

Nathan Hastert

Chris Gruneich

Christopher Cernohous

Marissa Knight

Joe Clark

Cory Underwood

Jake Spratt

Denver

Kameron Schulthesis

Taylor Holman

Kyle Smart

Luke Clifford

Daniel Sanchez

Lee Orman

Mason Buck

Alex Littleton

Yves Lafontant

Anthony Medina

Colton Grantham

Dylan Arambulo

Adyn Noorlun

Reuben Loveszy

Rosa Loveszy

Tristan Balfour

Ethan Berman

Jake Cox

Richard Vogt

Littleton

Steve Hash

Ericson Etienne

Austin Dang

Brent Berger

Andrew Wiggins

Ben Miller

Longmont

Tucker Creed

Lara Helena

Dean Krekos

Ryan Sanchez

Dan Vermeer

Lowry

Brandon Borja

Jordan Parker

Marcos Santos

Richard Avalos

PURPLE BELT

Boulder

Daniel DiCamillo

Juan Ayala

Suzanne Weir

Eric Finnigan

Michael SanClements

Castle Rock

Mike Hernandez

Centennial

David Bubis

Jakob Haun

Nick Bourne

Sean MacKirdy

Robert (RK) Smith

Derek Rundell

Scott Yarbrough

Michael Gray

David Chau

Aaron Keep

Denver

Evan Barre

Pedro Meyer

Bennett Roukema

Peter McCarthy

Littleton

Tyler Capaluongo

Longmont

Josh Drodzowski

Lowry

Marcos Tremillo

Levi Reveles

Rolando Gonzalez

Tadd Harding

BROWN BELT

Arvada

Sean Post

Aaron Luttman

Jason Pendleton

Shayne Kintzel

Boulder

Eric Douglas

Bobby Stomski

Toly Gins

Greg Smith

Centennial

Phillip Gibson

Chris Lawhead

Reid Ebersole

Denver

Larry Champine

Jimmy Vannhop

Kye Dixon

Dustin Schmitt (ST)

Matt Sepulveda

Rob Givens

Dave Jackson

Littleton

Theresa Stitzel

Lowry

Alex Meggitt

BLACK BELT

Black belts will be notified of their promotion privately before the event. Come to the promotion to congratulate the newest Easton Black Belts!

The post EASTON BJJ BELT PROMOTION LIST SUMMER 2024 appeared first on Easton Training Center.

Crucial to executing techniques, preventing injuries and maintaining overall health on the mats, flexibility can make all the difference. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting, improving your range of flexibility can enhance your performance. To help increase your flexibility and mobility we put together a comprehensive guide so you can reach your goals.

Understanding the Importance of Flexibility in BJJ

Flexibility plays a significant role in BJJ for several reasons:

Technique Execution

Many BJJ techniques require a wide range of motion. Improved flexibility allows you to perform techniques more effectively.

Injury Prevention

Increased flexibility can help prevent common BJJ injuries, such as muscle strains and joint sprains, by allowing your body to move more freely and absorb impact better.

Recovery

Better flexibility aids in post-training recovery, reducing muscle soreness and stiffness.

Balance and Control

Greater flexibility enhances your balance and control, essential for executing and countering techniques.

[Why You Want Active Recovery In Your Life]

Tips for Increasing Flexibility

Consistent Stretching: Regular stretching is key. Focus on both dynamic stretches (moving stretches) and static stretches (holding stretches) to improve flexibility and range of motion. Check out our post on 4 stretches to try on your next rest day if you need some inspiration.

Targeted Stretches for BJJ: Concentrate on stretches that specifically benefit BJJ movements, such as hip stretches (for guard work), shoulder stretches (for mobility and defense), and back stretches (for bridging and escaping).

Utilize Yoga: Yoga can significantly improve flexibility, balance, and core strength, all of which are beneficial for BJJ. Consider adding a yoga routine to your training regimen.

Foam Rolling + Mobility Work: Foam rolling and mobility drills can help release tight muscles and improve joint mobility, aiding in overall flexibility.

Listen to Your Body: Avoid pushing yourself too hard, especially when starting. Respect your body’s limits and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your stretching routine.

Stay Hydrated and Eat Well: Proper hydration and nutrition support muscle health and flexibility. Ensure you’re adequately hydrated and consuming a balanced diet to aid in your flexibility journey.

Rest and Recovery: Allow your muscles to recover adequately after stretching sessions and BJJ training. Rest is crucial for muscle repair and growth, which can contribute to improved flexibility over time.

[Recovery Techniques for Athletes: Rest, Sleep and Injury Rehab]

Incorporating Flexibility Training into Your BJJ Routine

To maximize the benefits of flexibility training for BJJ, incorporate it into your regular routine. Here’s a sample weekly plan:

• Daily Dynamic Warm-up: Perform a dynamic warm-up before each BJJ session to prepare your muscles for training and improve flexibility gradually.
• Post-training Static Stretching: Dedicate 10-15 minutes after each BJJ session to static stretching, focusing on areas specific to BJJ movements.
• Yoga or Mobility Sessions: Include 1-2 yoga or mobility sessions per week to improve overall flexibility, balance, and core strength.
• Rest and Recovery Days: Allow for 1-2 days of complete rest or light activity to promote muscle recovery and prevent overtraining.

By incorporating regular stretching, yoga, and mobility work into your training routine, you can enhance your flexibility, improve your BJJ skills, and enjoy a healthier, more fulfilling martial arts journey. Remember, flexibility is a journey, so be patient and consistent in your efforts, and you will see improvements over time.

Elevate Your Recovery: Essential Stretches for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes

The post Unlock Greater Flexibility for Training Jiu Jitsu appeared first on Easton Training Center.

Not many sports exist that both parents and kids can simultaneously enjoy and bond over, but martial arts is one of them and Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu are not only impactful on a personal level, but they also impact the way you show up in your community.

We’re so proud of all the kids that have gotten their parents on the mats, and all the parents that commit to bringing their kids into class day after day.

This month, we spotlight the Chepelevich family from Littleton and the Hickman family from Denver!

The Chepelevich family

Gennadiy Chepelevich and his three sons, Matthew, 14, Stephen, 9, and Phillip, 7, joined Easton in early 2020. They’d never done anything like this before, especially together, and when the Covid restrictions eased up a bit, they began training in June of that year. 

Today, Matthew, Stephen and Phillip have Gray-and-Black Belts with 4 stripes, and Gennadiy holds a Blue Belt in Jiu Jitsu. The benefits of training are felt by everyone in the family!

“Our favorite part of training together,” Gennadiy says, “is that we can practice the moves on each other at home.”

They can watch Jiu Jitsu matches and nerd out over videos of Jiu Jitsu moves together, and everyone understands what’s going on. 

“It’s like we all speak the same language that not many people understand,” says Gennadiy.

Stephen loves that everybody knows what’s going on and can connect about a shared passion, and Phillip likes getting promotions with his brothers. Matthew, who hovers around the age when he can begin to take adult classes, says his favorite part is the support he gets from his brothers.

Gennadiy tells us that the kids have become tougher, and everyone has become more fit and disciplined. Inspired by time together training, and a sense of goal-setting, the four also began working out at home together! 

[How Competing in Martial Arts Benefits Your Kids]

We love seeing a healthy mind body connection start on the mats and make its way off. And of course, the impact of martial arts runs deeper than just the physical aspects it touches.

It bleeds into every other aspect of your life, and the Chepelevich family can attest to this, Gennadiy telling us the kids often respond now with “yes, ma’am” or “yes, sir” even at home! 

It’s been a transformative experience, living by the respect and examples set on the mats.

[A Family That Trains Together Slays Together]

The Hickman family

Jon and Krystal Hickman first joined Easton in 2018 because they knew they wanted their children to train, and they wanted to check it out first.

In 2020, the couple’s two sons, Jack, 8, and Hank, 7, began training. At the time, they were both under five, so they started in Little Tigers. Today, both Jack and Hank rock Gray Belts in Kids BJJ! Jon holds a Purple Shirt in Muay Thai, and Krystal has a Blue Shirt in Muay Thai and a Blue Belt in Jiu Jitsu. 

Easton isn’t the only place the family learns together. With the boys enrolled in a hybrid program where they do school from home three days a week, the Hickmans get to spend a lot of time together as a family learning and working on skill-building activities. 

Training at Easton, however, Krystal tells us, is probably the thing they’ve done the longest and most consistently.

“We enjoy having a common activity that pushes us mentally and physically,” says Krystal. “It’s great that we can show up to Easton on a Saturday morning and all four of us can be on the mats taking class at the same time. 

On the way home we’ll talk about what each of us learned, which I think helps us to feel even more accomplished.

The family tells us that some of their favorite times are those leading up to a competition – setting individual goals and helping each other drill. 

They also take advantage of mat time outside of class to get uninterrupted rounds working on refining techniques, improving endurance, and strategizing for upcoming competitions.

“We’ll come in during open mat times to really focus on what we want to work on,” says Jon. “It’s meaningful to the boys, and they see the benefit of us all training together.” 

It’s definitely a team effort that benefits the entire family!

“I like when we go to the gym as a family,” says Jack, “because we roll together. I like training with Hank, we can do that whenever we want and get better faster.”

“We’re doing a hard thing together,” says Hank, “so it makes me more confident that I can do it.”

For Krystal, training and competing has shifted her perspective towards watching the kids train and compete.

[What To Say If Your Kids Lose Their Match]

“There’s a shared camaraderie and understanding,” says Krystal, “that has been added to our relationship. I love getting to encourage and support them through these events, and seeing their excitement and support of me in my practice has been incredible.”

Throughout their journey with Easton, the Hickmans have gained an incredible community through training, both on and off the mats, sharing meals, birthday parties, holidays and movie nights. 

“As a parent,” Krystal tells us, “it’s meant so much to have people in our lives who support, teach, and inspire our boys.”

Training in martial arts has given them opportunities to develop and discuss not only skills but also character along the way. 

“Traits like perseverance, humility, and respect are just a few that we aspire to as a family,” says Jon. “Training gives us an opportunity to discuss and practice all of these and more.” 

And most importantly…

“We can all protect each other,” says Hank. 

[3 Tips to Help Your Youth BJJ Athlete Overcome Competition Anxiety]

Part 1: A Family That Trains Together Slays Together

The post Part 3: A Family That Trains Together Slays Together appeared first on Easton Training Center.

This week, we highlight the story of Richard Seals, an Easton Muay Thai Purple Shirt, retired pilot and an avid biker – the Harley Davidson kind – who launched a brand new chapter of his life at 80 years old with Easton, and has been going strong for seven years. 

Richard first experienced Easton Training Center in 2017, when he took his grandson Jake to a Tigers class in Centennial. Watching how much fun he had, and seeing all the Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai students on their respective sides of the mats, Richard decided that this had to be more fun than lifting weights.

He found out there was an Easton in Boulder, and the very next day he went, greeted by Mike Tousignant (when Easton’s President was still Boulder’s GM) and Sachi Ainge. 

“I told them, I thought I’d like to try the Muay Thai stuff,” Richard said, “and they acted like some 80 year old guy was ok! Come on in!”

He took his first Kickboxing class and fell in love. Richard began to go three to four times a week, and the further into it he got, the better he got. 

Seven years later, the many benefits martial arts has

added to his life include a loss of 35 pounds and the fact that Richard no longer has to take blood pressure medicine!

Along with the welcoming and supportive environment at Easton, he says in particular, the participation of women in martial arts is astounding to him. Back in the Golden Gloves days, there was nothing for women, who were barely allowed to play tennis.

Today, nobody thinks a thing about how many girls are in a class, and a lot of them are better than him, Richard laughs.

Life off the ground

Richard never liked being tied to the ground. Ever since he was a little boy growing up in Tulsa, he dreamed of being up in the sky – of flying. 

“When I was just a little kid,” says Richard, “there was a place they called a bomber plant nearby where they built B-17s for the war. I used to sit in the car and they’d be flying over, eight or 10 planes – taking off to deliver to some base somewhere.”

“I’d lay in the grass and watch them fly over. That’s when I first fell in love with flying. I loved the idea of flying those airplanes. You’d listen to them go over, the sounds of the engines, way different than jet engines.” (B-17s typically used piston engines.)

After high school, Richard joined the army and got sent to Fort Marmoth, New Jersey, to go to electronics school. His roommate there had a pilot’s license. 

“Let’s go flying,” he said to Richard one day, and the two went for a ride in a J3 Cub – a very light and basic aircraft, flying up and down the New Jersey coast.

That’s how, amid learning how to fix radios and run a jackhammer for the US Army, Richard learned how to fly. After he got out of the army, he moved to Denver and got a job with Martin Marietta, a major American aerospace and defense corporation which also happened to have a flying club. 

Richard started taking lessons through the club, and shortly got married and moved back to Tulsa, where he decided he wanted to become an airline pilot. He got his license, spending time teaching in the air, doing charter work, teaching the ground school, even flying copilot to transport the Tulsa hockey team to rack up his flying hours. 

When Richard began sending out resumes, Delta hired him and shipped him out to Atlanta for school, followed by a launch in Dallas. Over the course of his 30 year career with Delta, Richard flew out of Dallas, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles for the last six years before moving back to Colorado, bringing his wife and kids along with him.

New beginnings

Throughout his life, Richard has tried every spot under the sun, he tells us, from basketball and tennis to golf. However, up until Easton, he had never before done martial arts – largely because it wasn’t really available.

“When I was a kid, back in the 50s and early 60s,” says Richard, “there were no martial arts. There was Golden Gloves Boxing. And the rest of the time, it was football or baseball.”

At Golden Gloves, children could learn boxing and once a year take part in a tournament. Richard would go with his family to watch the tournament, but his dad wouldn’t let him participate. 

A roommate at one point claimed to have a black belt in Karate and offered to give Richard a lesson. However, he was also prone to erratic outbursts which included punching walls, so Richard politely declined.

Aside from him, Richard didn’t know of anyone else who did martial arts. Even in the army, he says, they learned how to wash trucks and shoot machine guns, but there was no physical hand-to-hand combat. 

After his 1996 retirement, he continued to lift weights, but gradually he found himself getting stiffer and more sedentary. Many of the typical physical activities in a typical weight gym setting – weight training, treadmills, stationary bikes – bored him. 

When he discovered Easton, and Muay Thai, it both piqued his curiosity (and his penchant for adrenaline, we’re guessing) and gave him a way to reawaken parts of himself he didn’t know he could still access.

“I am so much better off now than when I was in my 70s,” says Richard. “And I can’t tell you how much better I feel than my friends and cohorts. All the stuff I do at Easton helps me in daily operation, and it keeps my body going.”

As Richard continued to train, he noticed that so many of the little things – all of those tiny muscles that make you move daily – began coming back! 

Unlike repetitive activities like running, biking or lifting, in Muay Thai we use our entire bodies, working muscles and mobility we rarely think about in everyday life. Even if you never plan on fighting or competing, it’s about maintaining coordination and keeping all your joints healthy.

“I don’t think I’m the deadliest guy on the planet,” Richard says, “but if I ran into another 80 year-old guy with a fight to pick, I’ve some moves that’ll definitely make them think, ‘I wish I’d picked on someone else.’” 

[Am I Too Old For Martial Arts?]

Resilience subheadings

On the mat, Richard keeps his primary focus honed on the kicks and the coordination, trying to emulate what he sees and achieve the movements. 

In Muay Thai, the timing and physical mechanics of the sport alone demand concentration, like “delivering a couple of punches and a kick, then recovering from the kick while you’re loading up to deliver a cross.’ The endurance of maintaining his cardio while keeping good form, his strikes long and kicks high, was one of the biggest challenges Richard has had to overcome.

Easton’s Muay Thai program puts a strong emphasis on cardio, with lots of conditioning to enhance your endurance. This means often doing burn-out rounds on the bag or with a partner – calling for sequences such as 10 round kicks, followed by 10 speed punches followed by more fast-paced striking techniques. Currently, Richard trains three days a week at Easton, with a day to rest in between each, and takes the weekend off.

“I firmly believe I’m still here because I’m doing this,” he says. “It keeps all my muscles and tendons lubricated and stretched. You can’t do that sitting at home doing the daily ten exercises. But getting down here, punching the heavy bag, doing that keeps you active and keeps all your joints and stuff loose.”

Along with having a positive impact on Richard’s physical health, Easton has also provided a rich community where he’s made new friends, including post-class lunch buddies. Even the BJJ guys at Boulder know him and all say hi. 

The positive attitudes and friendliness of his Easton family never fails to brighten his day – like walking into a family reunion. Having a community outside of your immediate family expands your world and gives you something to think about – like how many people are going to be in the class, or how your coach’s kid is doing. 

To anyone that may be hesitating about starting martial arts, Richard says just come on in! From the health benefits you’ll get to the friends you’ll make – it’s 50 times better than getting on a treadmill. 

“You’re doing your body so much more good,” says Richard, “because the movements are all different. It’s not just walking on a treadmill or riding a stupid stationary bike – it’s all the different ways your body’s moving.”

“Come on in, welcome!” Richard says. “Nobody ever acts like you’re a stranger, like you can’t talk to him. Everyone makes you feel like I’ve known them for 15 years. That’s one of the things that struck me.”

[The People You Train With Become the People You Show Up For]

The community we meet at Easton is special because we’re all on a mission to better ourselves. We’ve made the choice to make a change, and we’re ready to go down whichever road those changes lead us down. Usually this means shifting habits, flushing out what no longer serves us and making room for more skills, friends and confidence. 

Life is long; take ownership and co-create the life you imagine. Even 20 years after retirement, you can fall in love with a whole new side of yourself you never dreamed you’d meet.

(Though in many ways, these new levels seem like natural iterations of our core selves.) 

In Richard’s case, the technical focus and attention to detail necessary to make something appear light and effortless are evident in both the cockpit of an airplane and his Muay Thai practice –  as he plays with gravity to deliver speed, momentum, form and grace. 

[From Concept Art to Martial Arts: Meet Easton’s Newest GM Phil Lietz]

The post Easton Muay Thai Purple Shirt + Former Pilot, Richard Seals: from Flight to Fight appeared first on Easton Training Center.

From boardrooms to battlefields, we continue to make our mark on the world with unwavering determination, resilience, and a whole lot of badassery. 

As a woman, I’ve learned that life’s paths are often challenging; however, you can find strength in community. 

Raised by a single mother, I witnessed firsthand the power of resilience and determination. Her relentless hustle instilled qualities in me like perseverance, grit, and commitment, which have been crucial in pushing boundaries in male-dominated spaces such as martial arts.

Even so, the idea of trying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, while intriguing, was still incredibly intimidating. I’ve never been particularly coordinated. I’m an introvert. The thought of grappling with a bunch of strangers, most of whom are men, was downright scary.

When I met Erin, I learned she trained at Matrix. I was curious about her experience and she quickly encouraged me to try a Fundamentals class. She was supportive and completely empathetic toward all my fears. Her warmth helped give me the confidence to take those first baby steps into trying something new. 

It became apparent very quickly that there’s a strong group of women that train BJJ. From Facebook groups that are focused on sharing experiences and advice, to meeting all the strong women at the academy, I have been continuously inspired by women who train BJJ.

True, Jiu Jitsu often has more men than women training. It’s not an easy art to master. Trying new things can cause anxiety. But the payoff is worth those fleeting whispers of insecurity. I have gained confidence, community, and knowledge of practical self-defense applications.

But beyond all that, what does it mean to be a Jiujitera? 

Being a woman in BJJ is not confined to expectations of delicacy and nurturing; it’s a harmony between grace and grit, where softness meets strength. There is a tenacity. As women step onto the mat, they defy stereotypes, embodying a unique blend of agility and power. 

[Easton Open Spring 2024: Competition that Elevates Community]

When it comes to BJJ, femininity transcends boundaries, redefining what it means to be both fierce and feminine. I’ve found a community where fear dissipates, replaced by a shared determination to grow, learn, and thrive. It’s here that femininity takes on a new definition, blending softness with strength.

In BJJ, the real magic happens when finesse meets raw determination. 

Picture this: on the mat, size and strength take a backseat to technique. It’s not about overpowering your opponent, but having a solid game plan. Every move and every submission is a chess match where practitioners tap into their opponent’s energy and momentum, reflecting it back against them with precise, calculated maneuvers. 

It’s this strategic finesse that gives BJJ its nickname, the “gentle art.” But don’t let the word “gentle” fool you. Beneath the surface, there’s a fierce determination that drives practitioners to push their limits and sit with the lessons of failure. 

It’s this resilience and delicate balance of smoothness and ferocity that mirrors the complexities of femininity itself. On the mat, women harness their opponent’s energy with precision and skill, showcasing the softness of their technique. But there’s also an undeniable fierceness—a determination that transcends boundaries. 

Each training session showcases the resilience and strength inherent in every woman. It’s a reminder that being feminine doesn’t equate to weakness; it’s a fusion of soft grace and tenacity that empowers women to conquer any challenge, on and off the mat. 

In this arena, BJJ becomes more than just a martial art; it’s a celebration of the strength, courage, and unwavering spirit that defines womanhood.

As I navigate the twists and turns of this journey, I’m reminded that being a woman is not about conforming to stereotypes or limitations, perceived or real. It’s about embracing our power and our inherent badassery. 

So, to all the women out there forging their path, breaking barriers, and redefining what it means to be fierce and feminine—I salute you. Keep fighting, keep pushing boundaries, and never forget the unstoppable force that resides within each one of us.

Women of Easton: Luma

The post My Experience: What it Means to be a Woman in Jiu Jitsu appeared first on Easton Training Center.