Ervin Quintin

“Mastery is rarely obvious. But it always notices when you don’t quit.”

When you’re chasing mastery, progress doesn’t always look like progress.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the breakthrough often comes disguised as failure.

Worse & Better follows the struggle of a student who loosens control only to find the movement slipping away — and learns that the hardest part of growth is trusting the fog before clarity.

“Worse Before Better” — Becoming the Martial Artist — Ep 15

“Mastery isn’t in the grip. It’s in the give.”

Force isn’t flow.
Tension isn’t connection.

The harder you grip,
the further it slips.

But loosen—
just enough—
and suddenly the movement breathes again.

This is Episode 14 of Becoming the Martial Artist — a cinematic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu story told through internal dialogue.

“Too Tight To Flow” — Becoming the Martial Artist — Ep 14

“Discipline isn’t what you force. It’s what you protect”

Life doesn’t care about your schedule.
Deadlines stack. Bills pile.
Training starts to feel selfish.

You miss one class.
Then another.
And the thread that held you steady
begins to slip.

But sometimes one class—
just one—
is enough to keep you from unraveling.

“The Hour That’s Mine” — Becoming the Martial Artist — Ep 13

               
         
     

Can You Do This 23-Hit Muay Thai Combo?

I first learned this 23-hit combo from Kru back in 2010. At the time, I was much younger and faster, but the flow of this combo stuck with me. Now I want to pass it on to you.

Combo sequence:
1. Cross
2. Sneaky up jab
3. Cross
4. Hook
5. Cross
6. Cross (again)
7. Right kick
8. Cross
9. Switch step left kick
10. Cross
11. Hook
12. Right kick
13. Cross
14. Right Elbow
15. Left elbow
16. Spinning back elbow
17. Back fist
18. Left kick
19. Cross
20. Hook
21. Right kick
22. Cross
23. Flying right elbow

“What Power Leaves Behind” — Becoming the Martial Artist — Ep 12

The mat doesn’t care if your name gets called.
Or if the coach looks your way.
The claps fade.
The praise moves on.

You’re still here.
Drilling. Rolling. Fixing small mistakes no one else notices.

That silence cuts sharp—
until you realize the work unseen
is the work that shapes you most.

A Different Kind of Kimura. Have you tried it? Works pretty good in no gi too

In Muay Thai, that “block” might be giving your opponent points.

💊 Scoring rules in Muay Thai are different than kickboxing.

“You’ve Been Holding Back” — Becoming the Martial Artist — Ep 11

The mat doesn’t care that you kept showing up.
Or that you’re doing everything right.
It just leaves you here—
caught between effort and silence.

Everyone else looks sharper.
wonder if you’re the only one standing still.

But standing still isn’t the end.
It’s part of moving forward.

This is Episode 11 of Becoming the Martial Artist — a cinematic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu story told through internal dialogue.