On this episode of The GRYND we sit down with Matt, Cory, and Justin for a pure gym talk session as we recap the Chewjitsu Branson Open.

We go through the matches, the highs and lows of the tournament day, and the overall vibe of competing together as a crew. The highlight of the day? Cory taking the absolute division for white belts — a hard-earned win that gets a full breakdown.

This is just BJJ talk between training partners: what went right, what could have been better, the lessons from the mats, and the brotherhood that comes with showing up and competing as a team.

Drop a comment: What’s your favorite part about competing with your gym crew?

On this fun, heavy, and rabbit-hole-filled episode of The GRYND we welcome Matt Jackson — National Guard veteran, regional manager for a security company (with heavy cannabis industry clients), husband, father, and dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.

Matt shares his full journey:

• Growing up between Mississippi and Texas, joining the National Guard in high school, and deploying to Iraq in 2005

• Starting Jiu-Jitsu in 2019 and becoming addicted to the grind (including the injuries, quitting blue belt for 6-9 months, and now pushing to improve open guard, sweeps, and subs)

• Life as a regional security manager in the cannabis world

• His many hobbies over the years — from owning a rashguard business to being a hypnotist, camping, and fishing

• Defining life moments: marriage, starting a family, war, career, and the mats

• What keeps him showing up every day and wanting to be remembered as “a real one”

This episode is packed with laughs, wild stories, military perspective, fatherhood, and plenty of BJJ talk. Matt brings serious life experience with a great attitude and tons of personality.

If you love real-talk episodes with military background, career pivots, family life, and unfiltered Jiu-Jitsu grind — this one delivers.

Drop a comment: What’s one wild life chapter that shaped who you are today?

On this episode of The GRYND we sit down with Erik Theis — Court Administrator for Jasper County, Missouri, with over 32 years in the criminal justice system, fitness coach, and owner of Anvil Strength and Wellness.

Erik shares:

• What it’s really like running court operations — overseeing juvenile services, treatment courts, pretrial programs, budgets, personnel, and programs that actually help people change their lives

• The deep dive into the criminal justice system — holding people accountable while still showing compassion and giving second chances

• His powerful personal transformation in his mid-50s: quitting drinking, committing to 3:30 AM workouts, whole foods, tracking everything, and rebuilding his body and mindset through pure discipline

• How self-leadership in fitness carries over into being a better husband, father, grandpa, leader, and coach

• The philosophy of “choosing your hard” — because staying the same is hard, but growth is hard too… and worth it

This is a motivating conversation about legacy, personal responsibility, discipline when no one is watching, and refusing to coast in your 50s (or any age).

If you’re in law enforcement, leadership, trying to get back in shape later in life, or just need a reminder that it’s never too late to level up — this episode is for you.

Reach out to Erik for coaching or training:

Anvil Strength and Wellness – [email protected]

Drop a comment: What “hard” are you choosing right now?

On this episode of The GRYND we welcome Drew Williams — the golden retriever of AForce BJJ, freshly promoted purple belt, scary competitor, and one of the most helpful people you’ll ever meet on or off the mats.

Drew shares:

• His journey through Jiu-Jitsu and what it felt like earning that purple belt

• The mindset of a scary competitor who still shows up with a big smile and golden retriever energy

• How his unapologetic faith in Christ shapes the way he trains, competes, and lives

• His heart for helping others — teaching jiu-jitsu on the mats and helping kids learn about God

• What it looks like to be the ultimate helper while still grinding hard in competition and life

This is a fun, uplifting, and inspiring conversation about bringing your full self to the mats — faith, competitiveness, kindness, and all. Drew shows what it looks like to compete hard while lifting others up.

If you train BJJ, wrestle with faith and competition, or just love seeing someone live out their “why” with joy and purpose — this episode is for you.

Drop a comment: Who’s the “golden retriever” in your gym or crew?

On this raw and redemptive episode of The GRYND we sit down with Eric Rickey — a man who has lived many lives.

Eric opens up about:

• Growing up in the “gypsy life” in Joplin and the chaotic, painful events that marked his childhood

• Spiraling deep into addiction, crime, and multiple stints in jail — becoming a wanted man across several states by his early 20s

• The major turning point at age 25 when he decided to choose his family and start making different decisions

• His incredible climb from rock bottom (night shift at a wastewater plant) to Operations Manager, restaurant owner, and eventually finding real peace

• His current passion: Writing and publishing five books while opening a bookstore.

The most powerful moment came when we asked what he would tell his younger self. Eric’s answer:

“It will all be OK.”

This episode is a testament to the power of choosing change, building a new life through relentless work ethic, and finding purpose after rock bottom. Eric’s story is proof that no matter how far gone you feel, redemption and peace are possible.

If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, made mistakes you thought defined you, or needed hope that things can get better — this one will stay with you.

Drop a comment: What would you tell your younger self?

Go see Eric Rickey at Somewhere In Time Bookshop - 29 S Main, Webb City, MO

This is one of the heaviest and most powerful episodes we’ve ever recorded on The GRYND.

We sit down with Casey Lee — 28-year-old cancer survivor, dog mom, traveling Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, and certified personal trainer.

Casey shares the raw, emotional story of:

• Receiving her Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis on June 29, 2022

• Losing her boyfriend and soon-to-be fiancé just 7 days later in a tragic shooting

• The darkest days of chemo, overwhelming grief, and the decision to fight for the life she wanted

• Starting her Jiu-Jitsu journey just weeks after her chemo port was removed

• What “Journey to Purple” really means — both chasing her purple belt and her 5-year cancer-free milestone

She also talks about the light she’s created from the darkness — competing at a high level (100+ matches and a pro win), rebuilding her body and life from the ground up, and pouring her energy into giving back through Tap Cancer Out, women’s BJJ initiatives, and volunteering.

This episode is heavy. There were a lot of tears. But it’s also full of hope, resilience, purpose, and proof that even after your world falls apart, you can rebuild something powerful.

If you’ve ever faced loss, fought through a health battle, or needed a reminder of how strong the human spirit can be — this one is for you.

On this powerful episode of The GRYND we welcome Ian — a humble kid from beautiful Idaho who has faced and overcome some of life’s heaviest battles.

Ian shares

• His roots in Idaho, playing college sports at the University of Idaho, and his early career as a strength & conditioning coach

• His transition into the energy and energy efficiency world

• The raw journey of being a two-time cancer survivor — the fight to get the all-clear, the devastating day he learned the cancer was back, and how he kept pushing forward

• His Jiu-Jitsu journey, recently earning his brown belt, stepping into a teaching role at AForce BJJ, and becoming the fun, lovable, yet scary-good and scary-big mat enforcer everyone respects

This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, showing up when life hits hardest, finding joy and purpose on the mats, and turning pain into power. Ian’s story is proof that the grind never stops — even when your body tries to make you quit.

If you’re fighting through health challenges, starting over, or pushing for the next level in life or on the mats — this episode will hit you deep.

Drop a comment: What’s one battle you’ve had to grind through that made you stronger?

On this episode of The GRYND we welcome Randy — a man who climbed from the shop floor all the way to C-suite leadership at a large local company through pure hard work and grit.

Randy shares:

• His journey growing up, finding work, and steadily rising through the ranks to executive leadership

• Real leadership lessons learned in the corporate world and how they apply on and off the mats

• His Jiu-Jitsu journey — starting later in life, pushing through injuries, and what it’s taken to keep showing up

• How he’s deeply involved in the AForce BJJ culture, especially now in retirement, and what keeps him coming back to the mats

This is a powerful conversation about grinding through every stage of life, leading by example, overcoming setbacks, and staying connected to something bigger than yourself. Randy lives the powerful idea:

“Where joy is a habit, love is a reflex.” — Bob Goff

If you’re climbing the ladder at work, starting something new later in life, dealing with injuries, or trying to stay sharp in retirement — this episode is full of honest wisdom and motivation.

Drop a comment: What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned that carries over to your personal grind?

On this powerful episode of The GRYND we welcome Matt Hay (@heyitsmatthay)— U.S. Marine Corps Combat Engineer (2003-2007), Fallujah veteran, former blackjack dealer, powerlifter/strongman, and now a white belt competitor at AForce BJJ (@afmobjj) in his 40s.

Matt opens up about:

• Growing up and his intense combat tour in Fallujah, Iraq (2004-2005)

• Transitioning from the Marine Corps to civilian life, years of powerlifting and strongman, tactical training, and teaching military leadership

• The current grind of his second half of life — getting back into elite shape, becoming a competitive athlete again, and transforming his body and mind in his 40s

• How the whole family trains BJJ together, his rapid progress since October 2024, and what it’s like competing as a brand-new white belt

• The real motivation behind it all: Being strong and capable for his wife, daughter, and bonus son

This is a raw, inspiring conversation about resilience, fatherhood, brotherhood, second acts, and refusing to accept “getting old.” Matt lives the Aristotle quote he loves: “It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” #staycapable

If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or beyond and feel like you’re fighting for a comeback — or you just respect people who refuse to quit — this episode will hit you hard.

Drop a comment: What’s your “second half” grind right now?

#thegryndpod #afmobjj #secondhalfgrind #40+

On this episode of The GRYND we sit down with Mike Pranker — co-owner of AForce BJJ in Webb City, Missouri.

Pranker takes us through: His love for baseball growing up and his transition to playing college basketball. His personal journey into Jiu-Jitsu and what pulled him deep into the art. The real story behind building AForce BJJ into what it is today alongside Coach Mike. His big vision and dreams of making AForce the go-to BJJ academy in the entire Four-State area.How he balances a full-time job, single dad life, running the academy, and still competing at a high level.

This is a raw, inspiring conversation about transitions, leadership, fatherhood, and the relentless grind it takes to build something meaningful while still showing up as a dad, athlete, and business owner.

If you’re a parent trying to balance life, someone chasing big goals in your 30s/40s, or part of the AForce family — this episode is packed with perspective and motivation.

Drop a comment: What’s the biggest transition you’ve had to grind through in life?

#AFMO #thegryndpod #GRYND #BBJ