🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu
Started in 2023. Brown belt. Competed at regional tournaments. The technical journey of leveraging technique over raw strength, with a focus on safety and longevity.
Notable Moments
The Journey
BJJ Progression
Started BJJ Journey
Began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as part of a 242→188 lb transformation. Used BJJ as both a physical outlet and mental anchor during the weight loss journey.
White Belt
Learned fundamentals, positional hierarchy, and basic submissions. Focused on survival and getting comfortable guard.
Blue Belt
Promoted to blue belt. Started developing more sophisticated guard game and began regular competition.
Purple Belt
Intermediate belt phase. Continued refining techniques while balancing with strength training.
Promoted to Brown Belt
Earned the brown belt at a regional tournament with a third-place finish and a reverse triangle submission.
Brown Belt - Current
Training 2-3x per week at a dedicated BJJ gym. Focus on guard retention, submissions, and maintaining conditioning while building strength.
Training
BJJ Training Schedule
I train BJJ 2-3 times per week at a dedicated BJJ gym. Each session includes technique work, positional drilling, and live sparring (rolling). My training is prioritized third in my fitness hierarchy: Running > Lifting > BJJ
Philosophy
Approach to Jiu-Jitsu
Safety First
I prioritize injury prevention over winning rolls. BJJ is a lifelong practice—protecting yourself and training partners comes before any submission.
Process Over Results
Focusing on improvement rather than winning rolls leads to faster progress. The belt comes as a byproduct of dedication to the craft.
Longevity Mindset
Training smart today means training for decades to come. I modify intensity based on recovery and listen to my WHOOP data.
Technical Over Athletic
BJJ rewards technique over brute strength. Even as a larger practitioner, proper leverage and positioning beat power every time.
Read More
Featured BJJ Posts
Thoughts on BJJ training, technique, safety, and the martial arts journey.
The Submission That Could Have Ended Everything
A near-miss with a neck submission in BJJ revealed a terrifying reality: sometimes the risk isn't the technique itself, but what happens when your opponent's weight comes down on the wrong part of your body at the wrong moment.
My Top 3 Fitness Priorities for 2026
Running, lifting, and jiu-jitsu - but not in that order. Here's how I prioritize my training based on my current goals and why the hierarchy shifts throughout the year.
Whoop vs Garmin for Jiu-Jitsu & Strength Training: Honest Review
Toby compares Whoop and Garmin wearables for BJJ and strength training, covering comfort, features, battery life, and why he switched from Apple Watch.
Building an AI Assistant That Manages Everything
How I built a custom AI on OpenClaw that tracks BJJ, analyzes recovery data, and generates training reports.
When WHOOP Says 18%: What I Do (And Don't Do) On a Red Day
February 11, 2026: WHOOP recovery 18%, HRV 18.7ms, 3.5 hours of sleep, 8Sleep score 61. Here's the exact decision tree I run through — and what my AI assistant recommended with 77.8% confidence.
I Saw Mike Israetel Compete as a Brown Belt. Here's My Actual Take.
The internet has decided Mike Israetel isn't a real BJJ black belt. Greg Doucette and Ariel Helwani have weighed in. As a brown belt who actually watched Israetel compete three years ago, I have some things to say about all of this.
Continue Exploring
Related Pages
Explore the full training dashboard, timeline, and other fitness content.