In this episode of The Gi Spot, Rach and Kaz tackle a truth every grappler eventually meets — whether you’re white belt enthusiastic or black belt battle-worn.

Injury isn’t a possibility in jiu-jitsu. It’s a certainty.

This isn’t fear-mongering — it’s reality. If you train long enough, hard enough, or even just consistently enough, something will tweak, tear, strain or snap. The question isn’t if. It’s when — and how you respond.

Rach brings the perspective of a full-time instructor watching bodies cycle through setbacks and comebacks. Kaz brings the athlete lens — ego bruises, actual bruises, and the mental spiral that follows time off the mat.

Together they unpack the psychology of injury, the culture around “toughing it out,” the difference between resilience and recklessness, and how to train for longevity in a sport that rewards intensity.

Because surviving jiu-jitsu isn’t about avoiding injury forever.
It’s about building a game — and a mindset — that survives it.

In this world-first roundtable episode of The Gi Spot, Rach and Kaz bring together three academy leaders — not to debate territory, but to redefine it.

In studio:
Grant & Rachel Bradshaw from Iconic Jiu Jitsu Academy,
Brian Lewis & John MacAleer from House of Water Jiu Jitsu and Other Musings,
and Peter Jackson from Nura Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.

This isn’t an episode about who has the biggest competition team or the loudest Instagram presence. It’s a deep dive into what leadership in jiu-jitsu looks like in 2026.

The team explores a growing shift in academy ownership — one built on confidence without ego, curiosity without insecurity, and collaboration without territorial nonsense.

Cross-training is encouraged. Doors are open. The mindset is simple: we can’t help everyone — but we’ll help you find someone who can.

No peacocking. No mat politics. No bar-storming bravado.
Just grappling — and building awesome people into even more awesome people.

This isn’t just a conversation about running academies.
It’s a marker of a new era in jiu-jitsu.

In this episode of The Gi Spot, Rach and Kaz sit down with Cerys Finch, creator of the Artemis Grappling Challenge, for a conversation that goes beyond brackets and medals.

While unpacking the origin and vision behind Artemis, the team also address some of the harder conversations shaping the sport right now — including the recent increase in members of the grappling community coming forward with allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Rather than sensationalising headlines, this episode explores what accountability, leadership, and athlete safety should look like in 2026. How do we build competitions — and communities — that prioritise integrity as much as performance? What responsibility do event organisers, coaches, and teammates carry? And how can grassroots initiatives like Artemis contribute to safer, more transparent environments?

Cerys speaks candidly about creating intentional spaces in jiu-jitsu, the cultural shifts required for real change, and why representation in leadership matters now more than ever.

This is a conversation about sport — but it’s also about culture, courage, and the kind of future we’re willing to fight for.