Friday, May 30, 2025 by C. Michial Jones
In the wake of my recovery in late 2024, I found myself in a strange limbo. I was back on the mats, but I felt like a burden. I was the practitioner who couldn’t take “Knee on Belly,” the one the younger guys had to “work around.” In a room full of hungry Blue Belts simply “beating the crap out of each other,” I wasn’t just stalling—I felt like I was in the way.
The Transition of the Room
As the environment at Reclaimed shifted—with Bryce stepping back and the owner, Josh, navigating his own recovery—the dojo began to lack the structured direction I required. We were a group of dedicated practitioners, but we were “rowing without a captain.” Without consistent, high-level instruction to guide the sessions, we were merely rolling, not evolving.
Conversely, my weekly trips to MMA Minded in Wabash were becoming the highlight of my training. Rocky offered a different experience: detailed, insight-driven instruction that spoke to my “Old Man Jiujitsu” needs.
Investing in the Future
For a time, we looked at expanding the Reclaimed space. I even joined a group offering to invest in a new building, hoping to grow the club we had all invested so much time in. But as often happens in the world of martial arts, things changed. The expansion didn’t pan out, and Bryce ultimately moved his focus entirely to helping Rocky at MMA Minded.
I found myself at a crossroads. I was still battling the cancer—living in the “wait and see” window between quarterly blood tests—and I realized that my time was too valuable to spend on directionless rolling.
The Decision for Structure
In April 2025, I sat down with Josh for a conversation that every long-term martial artist eventually faces. It was a talk born of respect, not resentment. I told him plainly: I need structure. I needed an environment where the “Why” and the “How” were articulated with the same precision I apply to my Gojuryu classes. I made the decision to go under Rocky.
Conclusion: Loyalty and Lineage
My commitment to Josh and the Reclaimed crew remains. I still walk through those doors to help teach and support the club’s growth. But my own “Do” (Path) now leads to Wabash twice a week.
At this stage of my life—facing Stage 3C and nearly 50 years of Budo—I am no longer interested in just “getting through” a class. I am interested in the mastery of the fine details. By going under Rocky, I am choosing the path that challenges my mind as much as my body. I am still helping Josh build his dream, but I am ensuring that my own fire has the proper fuel to keep burning.
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