#299 Jay Valko

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Thomas’ guest reflects on his 26-year journey in Jiu-Jitsu, discussing the evolution of the sport, the complexities of instructor-student relationships, and the impact he has had on his students. He shares insights on the balance between teaching and competing, the role of competition in personal growth, and the future of Jiu-Jitsu as it continues to evolve. He also reflects on the changing dynamics of starting a Jiu-Jitsu academy, the personal journey that led to a career in martial arts, and his philosophy behind training and competition. Here is The RŌL Radio with a 4th degree black belt who has been training since 1999, and the owner/head instructor at Valko BJJ in Chicago Illinois, Jay Valko. www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1600 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey. FREE Access to ROL TV - https://rolacademy.tv/yt/269-the-rol-radio http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://valkobjj.com/ https://valkobjj.com/valko-studio-1 https://www.instagram.com/valkobjj/ Episode Highlights: 3:00 A Chicago BJJ Pioneer 6:00 Instructor and Student Relationships 13:56 Ups and Downs of Academy Growth 22:57 The Role of Competition in Jiu-Jitsu 31:28 How Long Can We Go On 34:14 Jay’s Journey 38:48 How Jiu-Jitsu Changed the Martial Arts Landscape 45:55 Drama In Jiu-Jitsu 52:38 What Motivates Jay 1:05:40 Training with Carlson Senior Support the show