BJJ Mental Models Ep. 336: Growing Your Academy, feat. Hillary Witt & Nelson Puentes
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May 5, 2025 Join Hillary Witt and Nelson Puentes, co-founders of Inverted Gear and owners of a thriving Jiu-Jitsu academy. They share their journey from apparel to academy, revealing valuable lessons in creating a positive school culture. The duo discusses innovative curriculum design, highlighting a games-based training approach that boosts student engagement. They emphasize the importance of embracing mistakes for better learning and fostering inclusivity, particularly for women in martial arts, ensuring a supportive environment for all skill levels.
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Mistakes Are Learning Features
- Traditional martial arts teaching often discourages risk-taking and mistakes.
- Embracing mistakes as learning tools encourages experimentation and deeper skill acquisition in jiu-jitsu.
Swimming Lessons Inform Teaching
- Nelson taught swimming to daycare kids, realizing you cannot expect beginners to mimic perfect technique immediately.
- Early jiu-jitsu skills look imperfect due to physical and motor limitations, which improve with practice.
Cultivate Safe, Family Gym Culture
- Build a family-friendly gym culture by fostering community and safety.
- Enforce zero tolerance for toxicity and encourage supportive behaviors among belts at all levels.