Keweenaw Jiu-Jitsu Academy

06/18/2026

Escaping Mount on a larger opponent via GTA mode.

06/13/2026

Whether it’s your first day, your second month, or your third year, there’s a place for everyone on our mats.

We tell all of our students that we only expect three things:

1. Show up.
2. Bring a positive attitude.
3. Bring your work ethic.

We don’t expect perfection. We don’t expect everyone to compete. We don’t expect you to get everything right the first time.

All we ask is that you give your best effort and help make everyone feel like a valued part of the team.

When we work together and support one another, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.

A big thank you to our newest beginners today who joined the kickboxing practice. It was a killer day on the mats, and we’re excited to be part of your journey. 🔥 🥋

06/12/2026

06/09/2026

Single Leg X has been a major focus over the last two weeks. Entries can happen from almost anywhere.

Positions we’ve been working from include:

* DLR Guard
* Butterfly Guard
* Shin-on-Shin
* Mount Escapes
* Inside Leg Pummels

Our goal is to demystify the leg game and teach it through a system that anyone can understand and navigate, regardless of experience level.

All of this is done in a safe training environment where you can learn without the injuries, overtraining, poor attitudes, or unchecked egos. We’re a community-focused academy, and we’re here to support your goals both on and off the mats.

06/02/2026

It’s a great day to train Jiu Jitsu and hit the sauna after!

Beginner class 6-7pm
All Level 7-8pm

06/01/2026

🔥 Big shoutout to for competing in Minneapolis this weekend!

He brought home double silver medals and, more importantly, gained a ton of valuable mat time and experience. Every match is an opportunity to learn, grow, and sharpen our skills.

Proud of him for stepping up, testing himself, and giving us plenty to work on as we continue improving. The medals are nice, but the lessons learned are even better. 🥈🥈🥋🔥

06/01/2026

Coach’s Corner: The Monster in the Dark

This weekend, Myles stepped onto the competition mats, and we’re incredibly proud of the effort he gave.

One of the most important jobs a coach has isn’t just teaching armbars, guard passes, or takedowns. It’s helping students navigate the anxiety that comes with competition, while also developing the confidence, mindset, and trust in their training to pull the trigger when the moment comes. Technique is only useful if you can bring yourself to use it when the pressure is on.

When athletes are waiting for their match, their minds often create monsters. Every opponent becomes a state champion. Every match feels like the most important moment of their life. Every “what if” starts to snowball.

As coaches, our job is to bring them back to reality.

The opponent may be skilled. They may be tough. But they’re still just another person who showed up to compete. They get tired. They make mistakes. They get nervous too.

And something else that’s easy to forget: while you’re busy building them into a monster in your head, there’s a good chance they’re doing the exact same thing to you. You are the monster in someone else’s story. You are the intimidating opponent they don’t want to draw in their bracket.

Competition anxiety lives in the unknown. Once the match starts, the lights come on, and the unknown disappears. What seemed terrifying a few minutes ago becomes just another round of grappling.

This weekend, Myles faced a tough opponent with 8 years of Judo, 2 years of wrestling, and consistent Jiu Jitsu training. He fought hard, stayed in the fight, and created multiple strong submission opportunities.

The result isn’t what matters most here. The lesson is.

Every competition teaches us that the thing we feared was never quite as scary as we imagined. Every time we step onto the mat, we chip away at that fear a little more.

Now it’s back to the academy, back to learning, and back to improving.

05/28/2026

Competition this Weekend! We’ve been working 4 basic takedowns to tighten up our entries.

1. Duck Under

2. Slide By

3. Single Leg to Knee Tap

4. Old School Armbar

Come learn and start your journey today!

05/27/2026

Minnesota Friends!

This SUNDAY at Roots MMA in Rogers, MN, I’ll be teaching the exact concepts and details I use to consistently finish the head-and-arm choke in live training and competition.

At brown and black belt, the arm triangle has become one of my top two strangles, and over the years it’s also become one of the highest percentage chokes across our academy as well. Once people understand the proper finishing mechanics, everything changes.

📍 Roots MMA – Rogers, MN
🗓️ SUNDAY the 31st
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM (Open Mat After)
🥋 No-Gi | All Skill Levels Welcome
💲 $60 ($50 for Roots members)

If you’ve ever felt stuck finishing this choke, or want to sharpen one of the highest percentage submissions in grappling, come train with us!

See you on the mats.

05/25/2026

Thanks again to for hosting a U.P. Community open mat with us this last weekend!

Can’t wait to check out in July, and to host both teams in September right here at .

Bringing together leaders, winning mindsets, and sharing technical knowledge is truly what Jiu Jitsu is about, and we are very thankful to be part of that growth of martial arts in the Upper Peninsula.