What Our Coaches Teach Without Saying a Word

This past week gave us something pretty special to celebrate at Otomi Martial Arts.

Two of our coaches, Coach Eric Hayes and Coach Larry Choi, traveled to Las Vegas to compete at the 2026 IBJJF World Master Championship. Coach Eric put together an incredible run, winning his way into the semifinals before his tournament came to an end, while Coach Larry had an outstanding performance of his own, making it all the way to the finals and bringing home second place at the World Master Championship.

Of course, we are incredibly proud of their competitive success. Anyone who has ever stepped onto a competition mat knows how difficult it is to put yourself out there, and doing it on a stage like the World Master Championship takes a tremendous amount of preparation, discipline, courage, and commitment.

But as proud as I am of what they accomplished in Las Vegas, there is something else about Eric and Larry that I think is even more important—especially for the parents who trust us with their children each week.

These guys show up.

Both Coach Eric and Coach Larry are accomplished professionals with careers, families, responsibilities, and all of the same demands on their time that the rest of us have. They aren’t professional athletes who get to spend every waking hour training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They are regular people who have decided that continuing to learn, challenge themselves, and improve is important enough to make room for it in their lives.

And then, after all of that, they volunteer their time every week to help teach our youth.

Think about the example that gives our kids.

Our young students get to stand next to adults who aren’t simply telling them to work hard. They’re watching people who actually do it. They see coaches who still get nervous, still have difficult days, still win, still lose, still have techniques they need to improve, and still come back to the academy ready to learn some more.

That’s one of the things I love about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

You never really graduate from being a student.

Whether you’re a three-year-old walking into your first kids BJJ class, a teenager beginning to find your confidence, an adult trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the first time, or an experienced competitor stepping onto the mats at the World Master Championship, the process is remarkably similar. You show up. You listen. You work. You struggle. You learn. And then you come back and try again.

For our kids especially, those lessons extend far beyond learning how to perform a sweep, escape a position, or apply a submission.

At Otomi Martial Arts in Parker, Colorado, we want Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to help children develop confidence, focus, discipline, resilience, and the ability to work through difficult situations. Those qualities aren’t learned from a poster hanging on a wall. They’re developed through experience—and reinforced when children are surrounded by adults who model them.

That’s why having coaches like Eric and Larry on our mats matters so much.

The medals are awesome. Making the semifinals at Worlds is awesome. Standing on the podium as a World Master silver medalist is awesome.

But coming home afterward and getting back on the mat to help a child become a little better version of themselves?

That’s what we’re most proud of.

Congratulations, Coach Eric and Coach Larry. Thank you for representing our academy, our team, and the values we want our students to carry with them long after they leave the mats.

And to our students: remember that the people coaching you aren’t asking you to do anything they aren’t willing to do themselves.

Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep challenging yourself.

That’s how improvement happens.

This Week’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Curriculum

Now it’s our turn to get back to work.

This week at Otomi Martial Arts, our students will continue working through the Caio Terra Association Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu curriculum, building skills one class, one repetition, and one lesson at a time.

Whether you’re one of our current families or you’re a Parker-area parent who found us while looking for kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, martial arts, self-defense, or a positive activity for your child, you’re always welcome to come see what we’re building here.

No previous martial arts experience is necessary, and every student starts somewhere.

Come meet our coaches, watch a class, or try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for yourself with our free 2-day trial.

Now, let’s get to this week’s curriculum.

Monday – September 07, 2026

11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Labor Day Holiday

12:00 pm (CT-B Advanced Fundamentals): Labor Day Holiday

4:45 pm (Kids II Bobcats): Labor Day Holiday

4:45 pm (Pre-Teen Cougars): Labor Day Holiday

5:45 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Labor Day Holiday

Tuesday – September 08, 2026

11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice

12:00 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Sweeping from closed guard