SuperfightThis episode covers a packed jiu-jitsu weekend with team competition on Saturday and Devin Stevens' superfight on Sunday. Derving and Devin break down what it takes to coach kids and adults through a chaotic tournament day, how the team performed, and what the weekend revealed about the team's growth.We discuss how the youth team finished second, how the adults placed third in no-gi and fourth overall without gi competitors, and why competition is used as a tool to build confidence, humility, and better decision-making.

Key topics

• In this episode, Devin Stevens explains why the Saturday tournament was meant to be a warm-up event, but became a much bigger team test when more youth and adult competitors signed up last minute.
• The team had about 20 youth competitors and 10 to 15 adults planned for an upcoming submission-only tournament in Boone, but the Naga event became an unexpected dress rehearsal.
• Devin shares how coaching tournament day becomes pure autopilot, with constant switching between youth, adult, no-gi, water, warmups, and bracket management.
• The kids' second-place finish stood out most because they used the same positions and sequences they drill in class, especially in bad positions like back control and armbar setups.
• Hallie, a 10-year-old student, hit four flying armbar style attacks across four matches and spent only about 25 seconds of mat time total.
• Another young student, only about five weeks into training, won double gold in the boys division and submitted everyone she faced.
• Devin describes using comp classes and positional sparring to humble overly confident kids, keep them safe, and reinforce that winning and losing are both part of learning.
• The adults placed third in no-gi and fourth overall out of 50 teams, despite having no adult gi competitors and fewer than seven adults total.
• Devin argues the team is especially strong in no-gi submission grappling and that the team environment is a major reason the group keeps improving.
• Sunday’s Toro Cup superfight became a personal test for Devin, who went in with a deliberate plan to avoid relying on his leglock game and instead work on upper-body attacks.
• After getting knee-picked and having his back taken early, Devin adjusted, re-entered leg entanglement, then won with a triangle-to-Kimura sequence.
• Devin reflects on how competition teaches things the gym cannot, including pressure, emotional control, adaptability, and what happens when the unexpected actually happens.
• The conversation returns often to the idea that competition is battle testing, not just scorekeeping, and that the lessons matter more than the medals.

• "Monday's still gonna be Monday. Win or lose."
• "Competition is the closest thing to a life or death situation."
• "Coaching is like my wife and competing is like my side chick."

• Build more well-rounded jiu-jitsu by regularly training both takedowns and guard work.
• Use positional sparring to address weak spots instead of only repeating favorite sequences.
• Encourage competitors to focus on process, not just placement.
• Keep coaching and competing aligned so students can see both sides of the game.
• Trust a plan A, B, C, and D before relying on reaction or improvisation.

Action items

• Build more well-rounded jiu-jitsu by regularly training both takedowns and guard work.
• Use positional sparring to address weak spots instead of only repeating favorite sequences.
• Encourage competitors to focus on process, not just placement.
• Keep coaching and competing aligned so students can see both sides of the game.
• Trust a plan A, B, C, and D before relying on reaction or improvisation.