Groundwork Grappling Jiu Jitsu

10/04/2026

Hey team..I am out next week on work travel but Professor Jared Raths will be teaching Tuesday -Thursday.
~Chris

10/02/2026

📣 Hey, Team! Just a quick heads up, there will be no classes Saturday, October 3rd. If you'd rather learn diabolical jiu jitsu moves than look at leaves, Professor Ellefson is leading a seminar at Rising Son in Wausau at 11am. Have a great weekend!

09/29/2026

09/21/2026

🥋 Same belt. Completely different worlds.

On paper, they’re both blue belts.

But that doesn’t mean they’ve had the same journey to get there.

One might be 35 years old and have only been training for two years.

He wakes up early, goes to work, deals with bills, takes care of his family, sits in traffic, handles all the responsibilities that come with adult life… and somehow finds enough energy at the end of the day to put on a gi and train. 😅

Maybe he gets three or four sessions in during a good week.

Maybe sometimes life gets busy and he barely trains at all.

Then across the mat is a 17-year-old who started Jiu-Jitsu when he was four.

That “blue belt” might already have 13 years on the mats. 🤯

For some serious young competitors, Jiu-Jitsu has been part of their lives for as long as they can remember. Their families drive them to practice and tournaments. They may have coaches building their development around competition, opportunities to train multiple times a day, and in some cases even sponsors helping support the journey.

School. Train. Eat. Recover. Train again. 🔁

Now imagine being the 35-year-old hobbyist looking across the mat at that kid. 😂

Same belt color.

But one person might have accumulated several times the mat experience of the other.

And that’s why I don’t think the comparison needs to be about who is “better.”

They’re doing two completely different difficult things.

The young competitor is sacrificing a huge part of his childhood and teenage years to become exceptional at something. That takes discipline, consistency, family support, and thousands of hours of work. 👏

The 35-year-old is doing something difficult too.

He’s choosing to become a beginner again at an age when life already gives him plenty of reasons to stay home.

He gets smashed by people younger than him.

He wakes up sore.

Then he goes to work the next morning… and eventually comes back to train again. 😂

That’s what I love about Jiu-Jitsu.

Two people can wear the same belt while living completely different lives and walking completely different paths.

Neither journey needs to diminish the other.

They’re both warriors in their own way. 🥋❤️

Which journey looks more like yours?

09/09/2026

I am back from Japan and will be teaching our normal Wednesday class. Look forward to seeing you all there. ~Chris

09/06/2026

Hey, Gang! Just a heads up that we will not be having Monday night classes on Labor Day. Hope you enjoy the long weekend!

08/28/2026

See you at open mat! I will be out from the 1st to the 8th in Tokyo for Saoirse's competition, and we are still figuring out class coverage. Check the page next Tuesday and Wednesday for updates.

08/19/2026

I will open the mats up at 6:00 this Friday for an open mat. Come prepared for whatever you want to work on (Gi/NoGi/Both). I will have the timer set up for 5 min rounds. If you are coming from another gym, we take drop-ins!