Renagado Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Technique Has to Survive Resistance.

At Renagado, we use a variety of ways to learn jiu-jitsu.

We drill techniques.
We use positional training and constraints.
We incorporate ecological-style games and problem solving.
And we roll. A lot.

Each method has value, but eventually every technique has to answer the same question:

Can you make it work against someone who is actively trying to stop you?

That is where live rolling becomes such an important part of learning jiu-jitsu.

Timing, pressure, balance, reactions, decision-making and adaptability are difficult to develop against a completely cooperative partner. Those skills are built by applying what you know against real resistance.

But live training only works when the culture supports it.

Our goal isn’t to “win” every round or prove something to our training partners. Upper belts are expected to help newer students learn, control the intensity of the round, and give them opportunities to solve problems. White belts get to regularly train with people who have years of experience—not just other beginners.

One of the compliments we hear regularly from visiting black belts is how capable our white belts are.

I don’t think that happens by accident.

They’re learning technique, but they’re also getting countless opportunities to test it, fail with it, adjust it, and try again against experienced, resisting partners.

That’s how technique becomes skill.

No Masters. Only Mentors.

Congratulations to Todd on earning his first stripe tonight! 🥋

The first stripe is a small piece of tape, but it represents something much bigger—showing up, learning, putting in the rounds, and becoming a little better every week.

Todd has been putting in the work and making steady progress, and tonight we got to recognize it.

First stripe down. Plenty more jiu-jitsu ahead.

Congratulations, Todd! 👊

Our regular Open Mat, open to all affiliations, is Saturday mornings at 10:00 A.M. Come check us out this Saturday 😃

Yes, We’re Trying to Choke Each Other. We’re Also Having Fun.

Jiu-jitsu is hard.

You’re learning complicated skills, solving problems under pressure, getting tired, getting stuck, escaping, tapping, and starting all over again.

But somewhere along the way, something funny happens:

The people trying to strangle you become some of your favorite people to spend time with.

A good training room can be competitive without being hostile. Intense without being intimidating. Serious about improvement without taking itself too seriously.

That’s the kind of culture we want at Renagado.

Train hard. Help your partners improve. Laugh a little. Come back tomorrow.

No Masters. Only Mentors.

Jiu-Jitsu has to work against someone who doesn’t want it to work.

We can demonstrate techniques. We can explain the details. We can drill the movements.

But eventually, your training partner gets a vote.

That’s where the real learning happens.

At Renagado, live training is an important part of learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—not because every round needs to be a battle, but because working with resistance teaches timing, pressure, problem solving and adaptation in a way that drilling alone cannot.

Sometimes you succeed. Sometimes you get caught. Sometimes you discover that the brilliant idea you had five seconds ago was not quite as brilliant as you thought. 😂

Then you reset, learn something, and try again.

Test it. Learn from it. Make it better.

That’s Jiu-Jitsu.

Renagado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
📍 Valparaiso, Indiana
No Masters. Only Mentors.

We are open! Renagado BJJ is one of the lucky few businesses in Valpo that got its power back on today.

Kids class is at 5pm
Competition and strategy lab 7:15pm

Tuesday evening classes are cancelled due to power outage

You don’t get in shape for Jiu-Jitsu. You get in shape by doing Jiu-Jitsu.

One of the most common reasons people put off trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that they think they need to prepare first.

Get stronger.
Lose some weight.
Improve their cardio.
Become more flexible.

You don’t.

Everyone you see training here started somewhere. The conditioning, movement, confidence and skills come from showing up and training.

At Renagado, our goal isn’t to see what you can do on your first day. It’s to help you discover what you’ll be able to do six months from now.

Come as you are. We’ll teach you the rest.

Beginner friendly. Adult focused. Gi & No-Gi.
No Masters. Only Mentors.

📍 Renagado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — Valparaiso, Indiana

Train hard. Laugh often. Keep coming back.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be challenging, technical, competitive, and sometimes downright exhausting.

But it should also be something you enjoy doing.

We take our training seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. Good rounds, good people, plenty of laughs—and an environment where you can work hard, learn, and actually look forward to coming back tomorrow.

That’s the kind of culture we’re building at Renagado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Serious Jiu-Jitsu. Friendly room. No Masters. Only Mentors.

📍 Valparaiso, Indiana

🥇 GOLD IN CHICAGO! 🥇

Congratulations to Kara Marie Wayne on an outstanding performance today at the IBJJF Chicago Summer No-Gi Open!

Kara went 2–0 with two submissions, finishing both of her opponents on her way to gold in her division.

Kara is a purple belt under me and, along with her husband, owns and operates Hybrid Athletics. Although she has her own academy and students, Kara continues to represent our team when competing at IBJJF events, and I’m always proud to have the opportunity to coach her from the corner.

Two matches. Two submissions. Gold medal. 🥇

Congratulations, Kara — great performance and a well-earned trip to the top of the podium! 👏