Grounded Ramblings of a Veteran Grappler
Beyond Technique: Mastering the Mechanics and Mindset of Martial Arts.
Grounded Ramblings’ Dark Side of the Mat, explores the psychology of human behaviour in positions of power, especially in the worlds of martial arts and combat sports.
Drawing on my background as a former police detective, Army veteran, and martial artist with more than three decades of training, I examine why cult-like loyalty, abuse of authority, silence, and institutional toxicity continue to surface across gyms, teams, and organisations.
This blog is about creating awareness, asking difficult questions, and digging into the deeper causes of harmful culture in martial arts, not to tear it down, but to push for accountability, healthier leadership, and a better path forward.
There is a particular kind of disappointment that hits harder in martial arts than it does anywhere else. It is not just the disappointment of hearing that a famous coach has been accused of something…
Chapter 1. Why Do Smart Adults Obey Weird Gym Rules? BJJ Culture Explained Not dangerous rules. Not rules about hygiene or safety. I mean the strange ones. The ones that make grown men and women…
