Santa Ana Roots, Guillotine Sparks, and a First Competition: Fernando’s Story

In this episode, I’m joined by my training partner Fernando Morales — a three-stripe white belt who started his BJJ journey in late 2022, but whose love of combat sports goes all the way back to childhood boxing at just four years old. Fernando shares what it was like growing up in Santa Ana, how boxing shaped his youth, and the night a guillotine choke from a friend first planted the idea of trying jiu-jitsu. We also talk about his biggest surprise since stepping onto the mats: the lack of ego in BJJ compared to boxing, where “a light spar can just turn into a full-on fight.” Fernando reflects on his first competition, the lessons he took from it, and his excitement for many more to come. This is a conversation about growth, humility, and rediscovering the joy of martial arts through jiu-jitsu.There is something for people of all levels to enjoy in this episode of Rolling Over 40!There is something for people of all levels to enjoy in this episode of Rolling Over 40!