🔥 She started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at 48 years old. Most people would say she’s too old to begin.

They’d be wrong.

In this inspiring episode of Small Man’s Podcast, we sit down with Cindy Cortez, whose life has been transformed by Jiu Jitsu in ways she never imagined. Despite having titanium rods in her back, recovering from shoulder surgery, and facing the challenges that come with aging, Cindy chose to step onto the mats—and never looked back.

What started as a new challenge in February 2024 quickly became a life-changing journey filled with growth, confidence, resilience, and community.

Training 3–5 times a week while balancing work in IT, volunteering, hiking, and everyday life, Cindy proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, pursue a new passion, and become stronger than you thought possible.

In this episode, we discuss:

🥋 Starting Jiu Jitsu at 48 and overcoming self-doubt
💪 Training with titanium rods and recovering from injuries
🏆 The emotional roller coaster of competing for the first time
🧠 How Jiu Jitsu builds confidence, discipline, and mental toughness
👩 Why more women over 40 and 50 should consider training
❤️ The powerful community that makes people keep coming back
🔥 Lessons from the mats that carry into everyday life and career success

Cindy shares the victories, setbacks, fears, and breakthroughs that have shaped her journey so far. Her story is a reminder that growth doesn’t stop with age—and that some of life’s greatest adventures begin when you’re willing to start.

Whether you’re a grappler, athlete, parent, professional, or someone wondering if it’s too late to chase a new goal, this conversation will challenge what you think is possible.

If you’ve ever said:
“I’m too old.”
“I’m not athletic enough.”
“It’s too late for me.”

This episode is for you.

Wes shares his incredible journey from training under Jay Penn in Hilo to becoming a Grappling Industries Tournament Director. Along the way, he discusses mentorship, coaching, building gyms, earning his black belt, running tournaments across the United States, and why great instructors shape lives far beyond jiu-jitsu.

he Untold Story of Hawaii Jiu Jitsu | Wyman Toki on 30+ Years of BJJ, UFC, & Earning His Black Belt

What was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like before YouTube... before social media... before anyone knew what BJJ was?

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, longtime martial artist Wyman Toki shares an incredible journey spanning more than 30 years in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. From training during the early UFC era with nothing but VHS tapes to building one of Hawaii's respected academies, Wyman reveals the lessons, sacrifices, and life-changing moments that shaped him on and off the mats.

Whether you're a white belt, black belt, MMA fan, coach, or parent thinking about getting your child into martial arts, this conversation is packed with wisdom that every grappler should hear.

Most people slow down as they get older. Tony got better.

After nearly 13 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tony has discovered that longevity isn't about training harder—it's about training smarter.

In this episode of the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast, Tony shares his journey from a nervous white belt to a respected brown belt, while balancing life as a husband, father, barber, and dedicated student of the art.

We discuss what it takes to stay healthy, motivated, and continually improving as the years go by. Tony shares practical insights on injury prevention, training with intention, effective top control, chain passing, overcoming larger opponents, and developing the mindset needed for lifelong growth on and off the mats.

More importantly, this conversation explores why so many people stay in jiu-jitsu long after competition stops being the goal. It's about community, purpose, discipline, and becoming a better version of yourself through consistent practice.

Whether you're just beginning your jiu-jitsu journey or have been training for decades, Tony's story is a reminder that your greatest progress may still be ahead of you.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Training smarter for long-term longevity
• Staying consistent while balancing family, work, and life
• Injury prevention and sustainable training habits
• Top control, chain passing, and technical growth
• The mindset that keeps people training for life
• Why community is one of jiu-jitsu's greatest rewards

If you enjoy authentic conversations about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, personal growth, and the people who make our community special, be sure to follow the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast for more stories from practitioners across Hawaii and beyond.

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, Karen shares how starting Jiu-Jitsu later in life transformed her confidence, introduced her to lifelong friendships, and gave her a place where the stress of everyday life simply disappears. She discusses training as one of the few women in her academy, overcoming self-doubt, learning as a smaller grappler, and why community—not competition—became the greatest reward of her journey.

Whether you're a beginner, coach, parent, or longtime practitioner, Karen's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest lesson in Jiu-Jitsu has nothing to do with winning—it has everything to do with finding your people.

What separates people who improve quickly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from those who stay stuck for years?

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, Alika shares how supporting his son in jiu-jitsu unexpectedly became a lifelong pursuit of mastery, mentorship, and community. From military service and MMA in Hong Kong to becoming a respected black belt in Hawaii, he explains why intentional training—not simply spending more time on the mats—is the key to long-term success.

Along the way, Alika discusses the importance of finding the right mentor, building a focused training plan, balancing family with jiu-jitsu, and creating a lasting impact through coaching. Whether you're a white belt, coach, competitor, or lifelong martial artist, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom that extends far beyond grappling.

Dustin shares how faith, family, and community shaped his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey. From discovering grappling through church to balancing fatherhood, competition, counseling, music, and ministry, this episode explores what it truly means to build a life around purpose instead of medals.

Bilal Ahmed shares his journey from a 17-year-old discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to becoming the owner of Gracie Barra Kapolei. This conversation explores leadership, mentorship, perseverance, community, coaching, and how one unexpected decision changed the course of his life. Whether you're a competitor, coach, parent, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with lessons that extend far beyond the mats.

Kaulana shares how rediscovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while studying abroad in Japan transformed his mindset both on and off the mats. From childhood training in Hawaii to competing internationally and learning the value of intentional practice, this conversation explores discipline, coaching, recovery, competition, and why long-term growth matters more than winning.

What does it really mean to build a successful Jiu-Jitsu academy?

Jason Aquino believes it's about much more than producing champions. In this inspiring conversation, the Vessel Union founder shares his journey through nearly two decades of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, opening his academy in Hawaii, integrating yoga into training, mentoring future athletes, and creating a community where everyone belongs.

From faith and leadership to longevity and coaching, this episode explores why the greatest legacy isn't the belts you earn—it's the lives you help change.