A Few Crazy Weeks: Brown Belts, Baby Bottles, and 6AM Rounds

The last few weeks have been a blur—in the best way possible. I was promoted to brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and just days later, on Cinco de Mayo, I became a father to a baby boy. If the universe was trying to test my ability to handle two of life’s biggest milestones at once, well... I hope I’m passing.

Let’s start with the belt.

I’ve been promoted before—white to blue, blue to purple—but this one hit different. Getting promoted by Kevin Dantzler, a coach who’s arguably one of the best jiu jitsu practitioners in the world, was surreal. Kevin doesn’t just hand out belts. If he’s putting that brown around your waist, it’s because you earned it. And the fact that it came from Webb, a gym with a reputation for producing absolute killers, made me feel like maybe I really am that good.

Then, boom—fatherhood.

On May 5th, our baby boy entered the world and flipped everything upside down. Sleepless nights, diaper blowouts that test the structural integrity of wipes, bottle prep at 3am like I’m defusing a bomb—it’s all part of the ride. And yet, as chaotic as it is, every second feels filled with purpose.

But come 5am, I switch gears. That’s when I trade the dad hat for the gi. Jiu jitsu clears my head. It’s my space to stay grounded, to push myself, and to be the best version of me—for my wife, my son, and, let’s be honest, me. The discipline, the release, the grind—it’s non-negotiable. Because the stronger and more focused I am, the more present and patient I can be as a father and partner.

And let’s be real… One day, my son’s gonna be on the playground throwing out that classic line—"My dad can beat up your dad." And I want that other dad to pause for a second and think, "...He might be right."

It’s been a wild few weeks—equal parts joy, chaos, and armbars—but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Here’s to new belts, new beginnings, and building a life that’s strong on and off the mats.