Enjoy Jiu-Jitsu. Everything Else Will Follow.
from Small Man Jiu Jitsu Hosted by Robin Fujimura
Brendan Jackson's path into jiu-jitsu didn't start with the UFC or a dream of becoming a competitor. It started in a grocery store parking lot in Texas after he noticed a group of kids wearing white gis running out of a building with one word on the front: Jiu-Jitsu. That simple moment changed the direction of his life. In this episode, Brendan talks openly about the depression he was dealing with before finding jiu-jitsu, how training became an outlet during one of the hardest periods of his life, and the mentors who helped him see himself differently. We also talk about moving from Texas to Hawaii, training through COVID, earning his black belt under Mike Fowler, coaching kids, balancing family life with graduate school, and why his goal isn't to create athletes who rely on speed or athleticism—but to teach jiu-jitsu that anyone can use, whether they're five years old or seventy-five. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Brendan's reminder that we sometimes spend so much time chasing belts, medals, or improvement that we forget the reason most of us started in the first place. Have fun. If you enjoy jiu-jitsu, you'll keep showing up. And sometimes that's where the biggest changes happen. Mahalo to Brendan for taking the time to share his story.
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