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May 2026
Letters to the Legion XXIII
Training Partner Selection • Referral Program • Match of the Month • ADCC Results
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Dear Legion,
The main column this month has to do with training partner selection — something that impacts practically every member and open mat goer, and has people wondering what the etiquette really is.
This edition covers our golden rule for partner selection, which helps prevent many common issues — like lower belts being afraid to ask higher belts for a round, or you feeling bad for declining a roll with someone 700 lbs heavier than you. We also look at our new referral program (totally not a pyramid scheme), match of the month, some exceptional results from the past month, and more. Let’s dig in.
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Main Column
The Golden Rule of Sparring Partner Selection
A principle tested across tens of thousands of rounds
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The Rule
“Feel free to ask anyone to roll, feel free to decline any roll.”
Simple, but powerful. This single rule solves a host of awkward social situations on the mats. Lower belts no longer feel intimidated to ask a higher belt for a round. And you never have to feel bad for declining a roll with someone who outweighs you by 700 lbs.
When should you NOT sit out rounds? If you are a higher belt, completely uninjured, and preparing for a competition, you should probably not be sitting out. Chances are that your toughest opponent is doing extra rounds and will make you cry over an acai bowl as you watch him bite into his gold medal from the bleachers. If you have competitive aspirations or just an intense desire to get better at jiu-jitsu, and your body feels good, why not push your conditioning? Similarly, if you’re looking to get in better shape or lose a couple of pounds — that’s not going to happen during drilling technique.
When is it OK to sit out? If you’re working around an injury, feeling beaten down, or just very tired, taking a round or two off is a wise choice. If you’re trying to begin sparring consistently, or returning after a hiatus, ease back in — a heroic day that leaves you in shambles and off the mats for a week is a net negative. It’s also totally OK to sit out if you’re purely feeling lazy. Just make sure to never complain about your lack of progress, and enjoy the soft feeling of wall mats on your back.
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The Hard Roll
Don’t avoid rolling with you know who
There are some rounds most people want to avoid. No one wants to roll with ‘that guy.’ Every gym has one — could be the super spazzy guy, the one who talks incessantly during rounds, the guy who doesn’t believe in laundry detergent, or maybe he’s just 350 pounds. Avoiding those rolls is understandable, probably even advisable.
But we’re not talking about that guy. We’re talking about the guy who always takes you to the limits. Not the coach or the gym’s competition prodigy — the one who is not that far ahead of you. Maybe he even started around the same time. He has your number, but not so far ahead that your ego could justify it. Every time you roll, it’s challenging. When he gets the better of you, it stings.
Just like in weight lifting you always had to add a little weight to grow and get stronger — this person is always improving enough to keep you honest. Do not avoid this roll. Don’t let your ego deprive you of your most impactful round.
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The Nemesis
Using deception against people who know your game
One of the great joys of jiu-jitsu is finding your gym nemesis — the person with whom you are so evenly matched that you never know who is going to win in a given round. You just know it’s going to be a hard-fought battle and that you hate to lose it. I know gym rivals who have been going at it like this for decades.
The more experienced you are, the better you will likely know your rival’s game. Deception becomes the key to victory. That’s why you lay traps — for example, a deliberate mistake in setting up a frequently used move, where the reaction leads somewhere else entirely. In military history, many great battles between familiar commanders were won by feigning weakness or retreat.
With the nemesis, you’re not just playing a game at face value — you also have to factor in the historical context formed from dozens or hundreds of rounds together. Your biggest nemesis will often also be your best friend.
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Watch & Learn
Match of the Month
The biggest no-gi tournament this past month were the ADCC West Coast Trials — more on the results from those below. The craziest match there was for sure this one.
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No-Gi — ADCC West Coast Trials
Nathan Haddad vs. Jayden Groner
We don’t want to do more of a description than that, to not spoil anything. Enjoy (to the last second).
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New Program
Referral Reward System
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For some of us, jiu-jitsu is the best thing to ever happen to us. To others, it’s at least a super fun hobby. Thus, sharing is caring. The thing that stops most people is the randomness of the typical first experience in jiu-jitsu and not knowing what you’re having a friend or family member do. We eliminated that problem with the 5-Week Beginner Course.
Here is a video of the meeting where we came up with this referral program:
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Watch Now
The Referral Program Reveal
The full story behind how we built this program — straight from the room where it happened.
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Upcoming
Next Beginner Courses
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Know someone who’s been on the fence about trying jiu-jitsu? The 5-Week Beginner Course is the perfect structured entry point. The next two are:
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Course 1
May 25th
Mon & Wed
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Course 2
June 9th
Tue & Thu
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Special Event
Healthcare Worker Self-Defense Workshop
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Saturday, June 6th — 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Members: Free • Non-members: $25 • Capacity: 50 participants
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On Saturday, June 6th, Legion is hosting a specialized self-defense workshop tailored for our community’s healthcare professionals. It’s a sobering reality that while healthcare workers represent just 10% of the workforce, they endure nearly half of all workplace violence injuries. We want to help change that.
You may not know that Pablo Perez, our coach who assists with Monday Fundamentals, worked as a hospital security guard for years. He’s seen a lot of action and is probably the best person in the city to teach this kind of workshop. Paige and Miha will be assisting him.
The workshop is open to members and guests alike. Please help spread the word to anyone in the industry — nurses, doctors, EMTs, paramedics, hospital staff, dentists, dental assistants, counselors, hospice workers, and more.
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Kids Program
Need to put your kids in a padded room mid-summer?
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Summer is right around the corner, and our Kids Summer Camp is filling up fast. We’ve seen a lot of interest from parents whose kids don’t even train jiu-jitsu regularly yet — so don’t wait to grab a spot. Designed for ages 6–12 with no experience required, the camp runs daily from 9 AM to 3 PM (early drop-off and late stay available).
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Camp 1
June 15 – 19
Mon – Fri
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Camp 2
July 13 – 17
Mon – Fri
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Registration includes a free gi, healthy catered lunches, and 6 hours of daily coaching and activities.
Early bird pricing: $399 per session until May 10th. Stop by the front desk to sign up before we hit our 24-camper limit!
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Competition Report
ADCC West Coast Trials Report
One of the most competitive no-gi competitions in the world
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West Coast Trials is one of the most competitive no-gi competitions in the world. With brackets packed full of talent and skill, every competitor arrives with one goal in mind: punching their ticket to ADCC Worlds in Poland.
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Gold — 1st Place
Paige Clymer — Women’s +65kg
Three submissions and a decision en route to gold, claiming her spot at the ADCC World Championships.
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Bronze — 3rd Place
Breylor Grout — Men’s -99kg
Battled through one of the most stacked weight classes, earning three submissions and a decision via forfeit. Found a way out of bad spots multiple times in a strong consolation bracket run.
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Tune in to watch coach Paige compete at ADCC Worlds, September 12–13! But before that, she’s facing the highly touted Helena Crevar at ONE FC in Bangkok in July — one of the biggest female grappling matches of the year.
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That does it for another edition. Hopefully the tips for selecting training partners help, you’re ready to climb the pyramid, and you’re completely up to date with our events.
See you on the mats.
— Miha & the Legion Coaches
P.S. Shameless plug — I recently launched a new series of jiu-jitsu puzzles on my Instagram. It’s a unique concept that Eric and I have been working on for a year and finally pulled off. Check them out here and give all of the Legion instructors a follow while you’re there!
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Legion American Jiu-Jitsu • San Diego
7550 Miramar Rd, Suite 330, San Diego CA 92126 | (858) 888-1815 | legionsandiego.com
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