Leandro Nyza began training jiu-jitsu as a child in Brazil in 1984. He earned his black belt in 1997 and moved to Hawaii three years later without knowing English, carrying a Portuguese-English dictionary as he began building a new life.

In this episode, Leandro talks about his early years around the development of Nova União, teaching on the Big Island and Oahu, and watching Hawaii’s jiu-jitsu community grow.

He also shares the personal story behind his return to competition. After years of teaching, running a school, and losing his own motivation, the Honolulu Open gave him a reason to make a change. He stopped drinking, lost approximately 40 pounds, returned to the mat as a competitor, and rediscovered an important part of himself.

We also discuss longevity, developing students from white belt to black belt, adapting jiu-jitsu for people with careers and families, and why the first step into a gym is often the hardest.

Leandro is a sixth-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and the owner and head instructor of Masters Martial Arts in Hawaii.

Alan Alegre’s grappling journey began with wrestling at Pearl City High School, continued through judo and eventually led him to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at UFC Waikele. Along the way, military service interrupted his training, competition tested his confidence and repeated losses forced him to take a closer look at how he was preparing.

Alan shares what he learned from a 10-to-15-match losing streak, how he turned things around and why competing in Japan helped accelerate his development. He also talks about coaching wrestling, staying calm in bad positions, protecting his body for longevity and the importance of keeping training fun.

More than anything, Alan wants to help bring Hawaii’s judo and jiu-jitsu communities closer together. His story shows how the two arts can strengthen one another and how progress often begins with leaving your ego at the door, trusting the basics and remaining willing to learn.

It’s easy to question your progress when younger, faster, or more athletic teammates keep getting the better of you. But comparing yourself to them may not give you an honest picture of where your jiu-jitsu is.

In this episode, I talk about age, athleticism, belt levels, and why two students wearing the same belt can be at very different places. Getting your guard passed or being submitted by a lower belt doesn’t mean you’re not improving.

Your real measurement is who you were a week ago, six months ago, or a year ago. Ask your coaches and teammates for honest feedback, recognize your own progress, and stop letting unfair comparisons take away the joy of training.