My Jiu-Jitsu Journey and the Reign MMA Story
From a small start in 2019 to building a culture of hard work, this is the story of how we brought the Ecological Approach to Jiu-Jitsu in Bengaluru.
I finally had the chance to meet Priit Mihkelson, a coach whose system I have been learning from and teaching for years. This experience reinforced my belief that the Constraints Led Approach is the future of coaching.
A reflection on my journey to brown belt. I wouldn't be where I am without my team. My goal is to create a new standard of Jiu Jitsu in Asia.
Part of my brown belt journey. My professors traveled from Idaho, USA, for one purpose: Jiu Jitsu. I am proud to be the first Brown Belt under Joker Jiu Jitsu.
My brown belt exam was a grueling 12 days of constant rolling and Q&A. It gave me the creative freedom to explore the limits of our sport through an ecological lens.
We believe that knowledge not shared is worthless. That's why Reign MMA has been a BJJ Globetrotters friendly academy since 2019, welcoming practitioners from all over the world.
A throwback to when we started in April 2019. This image was part of our feature on the BJJ Globetrotters blog.
My thoughts on the future of BJJ in India, as featured by BJJ Globetrotters. The demand is growing, but the lack of quality, high level instructors is still an issue we aim to solve.
A screenshot of our feature as an affiliated academy on bjjglobetrotters.com. We are proud to be part of this global community.
Being in fighting shape is a state of mind. It's about being mindful of what you eat and the training days you don't skip.
A positive mindset can do amazing things. I feel I am the best version of myself as a coach and athlete right now, but I know there is always another level to reach.
About In the Spotlight & On the Mats
The journey to my brown belt involved a 12-day practical exam, which completely changed how I teach. I realized that meaningful progress does not come from static drills, but from live, pressure-tested problem-solving. This is the exact philosophy we apply to every student who walks into our facility in HBR Layout.
Building Reign MMA was never about creating just another gym. It started in 2019 with a simple requirement: a place in Bengaluru to train without the ego and the endless, repetitive drilling that leads nowhere. I wanted to apply the Ecological Approach, the same principles I used to earn my rank under Joker Jiu Jitsu.
Those 12 days of testing in the US, with mentors flying in from Idaho, taught me that Jiu-Jitsu is not a collection of moves you memorize, but a set of problems you solve. We brought that specific philosophy to our mats. Whether you see us featured on Zee News or find us through the BJJ Globetrotters network, you will see the same thing: a space where we value hard, functional work over shiny equipment.
We train with natural ventilation and no AC because heat acclimatization builds mental grit. We do not care if you are a complete beginner or a pro; we care if you are ready to put in the work and leave your ego at the door. You will find no gimmicks here, just an honest environment where we figure out the 'why' behind every position, every frame, and every escape.
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