The MATS Academy

06/22/2026

No fireworks. Just rounds - because it’s at 9:30 am 🙂

Join us on July 4th for our We Defy Foundation Open Mat Fundraiser.

Kids Open Mat: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Adults Open Mat: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

We’ll have raffle prizes, good training, and a chance to support an organization that helps combat veterans through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Whether you’re a regular at The MATS or visiting from another academy, we’d love to have you celebrating 250 years with us!

Good people. Good rounds. GREAT cause!

06/21/2026

Yes, it’s Father’s Day. Yes, you can still come train. No, the BBQ doesn’t start til 6:30 so you’ll have plenty of time to prep for guests.

06/14/2026

Join us today for some great rounds, questionable music & positive vibes.

05/28/2026

One of the wildest things about parenthood is realizing your kids are absorbing your lifestyle long before they understand your words.

Whelan sees us vacuum the mats. So now he vacuums the mats. 😂

He watches us train, clean, move, help each other, take care of the space... and just naturally wants in on it.

That’s what culture actually is. Not rules. Not lectures. Repetition. Rhythm. Shared habits.

Kids want real responsibility. They want to feel capable. Included. Needed.

That’s a big reason I love jiu-jitsu for families. It’s a place where movement, discipline, respect, resilience, and community get practiced together every single week without anyone making a big deal out of it.

No screens. No entertainment. Just real life, side by side.

Also if anyone needs their academy mopped by a 2-year-old with zero OSHA certifications, we know a guy.

05/25/2026

One of the strangest things about getting better at something is realizing there’s no real finish line.

When I got my black belt, I didn’t give some long speech about the struggle or the sacrifices or how impossible the journey was.

I said thank you to
I said I was grateful.
Then I said let’s get to training… we took pictures first.

Because that’s the point.

Tomorrow was still coming.
There was still another round.
Another class.
Another opportunity to improve.

Belts matter. Promotions matter. Milestones matter.
But they’re moments — not destinations.

And honestly, hearing my two year old walk off the mat after class and say “Yep” when I asked if he had fun…
that’s about as pure as it gets.

That’s the whole thing right there.

Have fun.
Get a little better.
Love your training partners.
Come back tomorrow.

05/25/2026

Kids Summer Camp: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Yoga & Chess�The Mats Academy
Looking for a summer camp near Keller, Colleyville, Southlake, or North Richland Hills that builds both strong bodies and strong minds?

Welcome to the Kids BJJ, Yoga & Chess Summer Camp at The Mats Academy, a one-of-a-kind week where kids develop confidence, focus, resilience, and strategic thinking through movement and play.

This camp blends:
🥋 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – physical confidence, coordination, and real-world self-defense skills�🧘 Yoga – breath awareness, flexibility, balance, and nervous system regulation�♟ Chess – strategic thinking, patience, and mental focus
Together, these practices help kids build strength, emotional regulation, discipline, and problem-solving skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Together, these practices help kids build strength, emotional regulation, discipline, and problem-solving skills in a fun and supportive environment. Why the MATS Kids Summer Camp Is the Best Summer Camp for Kids? A Summer Camp Designed to Strengthen Body + Mind We believe the best learning happens....

05/24/2026

Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸
No Sunday Open Mat this weekend.
Go spend some time with family, eat something off the grill, touch grass, and try not to berimbolo your uncle at the cookout.
We’ll see everybody back on the mats soon. Enjoy the holiday ❤️🤍💙

05/23/2026

"Tough kid" is earned on the mat, but it starts with how you treat the person across from you.

We teach etiquette not as a rule, but as a standard. How you listen to your coach, how you handle a hard round, and how you shake hands after. That's where character shows up. The techniques are just the vehicle.

05/21/2026

Most martial arts programs teach a system. We teach what happens after the system clicks.

When kids walk into The MATS Academy, they start with fundamentals, not because we drill rules into them, but because structure is the foundation from which freedom grows. What you're watching isn't repetition. It's the early stages of something that lasts a lifetime.

05/18/2026

A technique that works under pressure looks different from a technique that only works in drills.

This is what it looks like when the sharpness is real, fast, heavy, and honest. The thud matters as much as the tap. Both tell you something true. If you're chasing that level, you already know where to find it.