I remind students at EDH Jiu Jitsu that this is not my gym. The gym belongs to us.

I say this with a few reasons in mind. First, they are the reason the gym is in existence. They keep the doors open, the instructors present, and the training happen. Without them the gym just simply wouldn’t exist. Their tuition allows for all these things to take place.

As a coach, I get to make decisions about some things, but we, the students of the gym get to decide how we train. We get to pick partners, roll with varying intensities, and train for a competition.

Students can propose to have classes at different times during they day, get together to drill outside of class, host seminars and events from different schools, and schedule community service activities for everyone to join in.

In this way our gym belongs to the direction people want to take it. As a coach, I see myself more as an advisor and facilitator for things to take place in a positive and organized direction more than anything else.

I don’t mean to dismiss myself from the responsibilities of a coach. I’m very thankful for the trust and responsibility people have placed in what we do at the Hills. So with this, I’m looking forward to contributing in my way to what we have created and continue to create on and off the mat.