Grapplers Graveyard is one of the fastest growing Brazilian jiu-jitsu media brands. As a brand dedicated to creating a better world through martial arts, we just had to get to know the founder better and learn how his BJJ story led him to create this outlet. Without further ado, let's get to know the man behind this inspiring brand.

Interview With Cameron (Founder of Grapplers Graveyard)

Submission Shark Community | Instagram: @grapplersgraveyard

 

Full Name: Cameron

Age: 26

Belt Colour: White Belt (4 Stripe)

Short Term Goals: Blue Belt (Hopefully within the next 6 months)

How long have you been doing jiu-jitsu for?

I have been training jiu-jitsu for about 2 years now. While I am still new to this sport, I have been an athlete my entire life. I played Football for a large Division 1 team in high school, ran track, played basketball, and spent a little bit of my time wrestling.

Where do you train out of?

I train out of Arizona.

Do you prefer gi or no-gi?

Personally, I prefer Gi over no-gi. I train both but my preference lies with the Gi.

Have your instructors helped you in other aspects of life other than jiu-jitsu?

No but the lessons I have learned on the mats have. The mats have taught me how to think a couple of moves ahead, how to handle failure, and helped me see real progress in the things I put time in to. When you spend more time on the mats you get better, Jiu-jitsu has helped me get a better grasp of things like patience.

What are some lessons you learned from jiu-jitsu that apply to everyday life?

Too many to name to be honest. But to name of few that have been really impactful:

● Patience

● Discipline

I have never been as disciplined as I have since I started training jiu-jitsu and that says a lot because I have always been known as a very disciplined person. I started building an online business as a testament to how much jiu-jitsu has impacted my life and I give everything that I have accomplished to date to have bene learned on the mats.

Quitting is easy, especially when the thing that you are doing is hard. The art of showing up and just getting 1% better each day is a powerful thing not only in BJJ but in life and business.

How often do you train?

Right now, I am training roughly about 5 times a week. Some days I get two training sessions in a day (6am and 7pm) but that depends on the lifting schedule, my day job, and how much I need to get done with my website: grapplersgraveyard.com

What made you want to start training?

Joe Rogan had put up a clip somewhere saying how impactful BJJ was to his life and other people around him. I searched the term “BJJ near me shortly after”, got overwhelmed with the results and clicked away. Two days later a local gym was running an Instagram ad and the rest was history. I signed up and haven’t looked back since.

Do you plan on training your whole life?

Yes. Without a doubt. I was missing this element in my life after sports ended for me when I went off to University. I needed a team. I needed to feel like an athlete again. I needed competition. And most importantly I needed to learn new things.

What’s it about jiu-jitsu that makes it so addicting?

• How much you learn in a short period of time
• Finding out what you are capable of
• Seeing progress
• Seeing results
• Your Teammates and training partners
• Everything about it

What has jiu-jitsu done for your physical health?

I lost 20 lbs and 10% body fat

Has jiu-jitsu benefited your mental health?

I have never been in better shape in my life. Mental, physically, and emotionally I am a better human.

If you could restart your jiu-jitsu journey, would you do anything differently?

Nope

What’s your advice for someone that’s never tried jiu-jitsu before but is interested in trying it?

Give it 6 months with at least 3 times of training a week. Then decide if you want to stay or not. Give it a real chance.

Do you have any aspirations in jiu-jitsu?

I want to build the world’s best jiu-jitsu media company and maybe open a couple of gyms

What’s your favorite move?

I like to wrestle with people. Single legs and double legs are my go-tos. I love going for guillotines and cross collar chokes.

If you didn’t discover jiu-jitsu, where do you think you’d be now?

Pftttttt I have no idea. I am happy to not know the answer for that.

Would you like to see the sport become more mainstream?

I would but I am not sure how likely that will be. If more and more people start to join because people talk about it I think it will see a huge spike in organic growth. My biggest thing is I am not sure how likely the masses are to accept doing a form of exercise that is challenging. Most people want fast results but getting good at BJJ takes at least a decade.

Have any of your training partners pushed you to reach your full potential?

Yes, everyday we push each other to our limits.

When you were first starting, what was the most difficult concept of jiu-jitsu that you had trouble getting?

Shrimping

If you could roll with any practitioner, dead or alive, who would it be?

I don’t think I have someone in mind, to be honest

If you had to describe Jiu-Jitsu to someone that's never heard of it before in under 5 words, what would those words be?

Not really sure to be honest

What is Grappler’s Graveyard and what inspired you to create it?

What is Grapplers Graveyard: Grapplers Graveyard is a combat sports media company helping martial artists become better athletes. Our mission is to change 1 million people’s lives through the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Grapplers Graveyard Story: At the time I was overweight, depressed, and felt no greater purpose in life… I remember Googling "Jiu-Jitsu Near me" seeing all the options and closing out the tab because I was just unsure. I had heard how great it was from podcasters like Joe Rogan but jumping into the dark was not something I was prepared for

Two days later I got an Ad on Instagram that changed my life...

"6 Weeks free jiu-jitsu in [Redacted] get an accountability coach and nutrition guide when you sign up today"

Exactly what I needed and knew I had to at least try. Now, the 6 weeks were not exactly "free" it cost me $400 because I had to put some skin in the game to incentivize me to show up at least 3 times per week

The deal was, if I made it through the 6 weeks and hated jiu-jitsu I could get my $400 back no questions asked

My coach was so confident in his ability to get me to like BJJ that it made the decision easy... I signed the agreement and started the next day

I played sports my whole life but after High school and college the camaraderie I was once so ingrained with vanished... within that first week of training I knew I had found something that was going to change my life for the better.

I showed up every day for 6 weeks and signed a year-long agreement without hesitation. At about 6 months into training, I had this come-to-Jesus moment with myself that birthed Grapplers Graveyard

I looked back at the first 6 months of training and saw the transformation I made and KNEW this was something EVERYONE needed. I had lost 20lbs, I was lean, I was learning, and I was hungry to build a business.

What are your long term goals for Grappler’s Graveyard?

• Household BJJ Industry Brand Name
• Sponsor 5 high-level athletes
• Sponsor an ADCC World Championship
• Become the trusted go-top source for things related to combat sports, recovery, and overall fitness

Do you have any advice for someone that is looking to create online BJJ content but is unsure how to start?

Play the long game from day one

What has been the most memorable moment you've had on the mats so far?

Getting my first stripe

Was there a difficult moment in your life where jiu-jitsu helped you get through it? If so, please explain.

I haven’t been training long enough to have one that truly stands out but recently my dog passed away. BJJ helped me clear my mind and let go of a lot of those feelings of grief that I was feeling.

What would you like to say to everyone that has supported you on your journey?

THANK YOU!!!! I am so grateful for all my coaches and all my teammates. I truly want to see this industry grow and have an impact on people’s lives through it. I know how much it changed me and I would love to be apart of that change in the world.