Kanata Academy Of Martial Arts

It's taken me a little longer than usual to write this one.

Over the course of a few days in Orlando, we had the chance to support athletes from across our extended Renzo Gracie family at Kids Pans and the Orlando Open. As always, it was a weekend full of great matches, great people, and memories we'll be talking about for a long time.

But I left with one question that hasn't stopped following me.

What do you really want?

Not what sounds good.
Not what you post about.
Not what you tell your teammates.

What do you actually want?

Because everyone wants their hand raised.
Everyone wants the medal.
Everyone wants to be called a champion.

Very few people want what it costs.

Competition doesn't create champions.
It exposes preparation.
It exposes discipline.
It exposes consistency.

It exposes the promises you kept to yourself... and the ones you didn't.

Long before you ever step onto the mat, the result has already started to take shape.

So when the match is over... ask yourself if you would have done anything differently.

If the answer is no, then walk away with your head high. You gave yourself every opportunity... you put everything on the line.

If the answer is yes, don't let that answer disappear when Monday comes. That's where growth begins.

We love these weekends. We love the road trips, the laughs, cheering each other on, and sharing these experiences as a team. Those moments are a huge part of why we do this.

Now we get back on the mats.

The next tournament doesn't start on competition day.
It starts today.

Just a reminder that the academy will be closed this Monday for the long weekend.

We hope everyone gets a chance to relax, enjoy the extra day, and make the most of the weekend with family and friends.

If you're looking to get some training in, we'll be running an Open Mat from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Come get some rounds in, drill, roll, or just spend some time with the team.

Enjoy the long weekend, have fun, and we'll see you on the mats Monday evening! 👊

A few schedule changes are on the way, and we're kicking things off with one that a lot of people have been asking for.

Starting tonight, Boxing is back on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.

That also means we'll now have Boxing every Monday through Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

Kru Aaron will be leading tonight's class, so if you've been waiting for another evening to get your rounds in, this is it.

We'll have a few more schedule updates to share over the coming days, but for now... we'll see you at 6! 🥊👊

Canada Day reminder 🇨🇦

The academy will be closed for regular classes tomorrow so everyone can enjoy the holiday.

Hopefully the weather holds off and everyone gets a chance to have a great day with family and friends.

We will be running an Open Mat from 6:00–8:00 p.m. (thanks Peter!), so feel free to drop in, get some rounds in, and spend part of the evening on the mats.

Have fun, stay safe, and come train tonight before the holiday! 👊🍁

Two weekends. Two competitions. Countless opportunities to grow.

One thing we know about this young team is that they don't shy away from challenges... they chase them.

Hard matches. Bigger opponents. New experiences. Long days. Win or lose, they keep stepping back onto the mats ready to learn something new.

That's where real progress happens.

Not when everything goes your way, but when you choose to lean into the difficult moments instead of avoiding them.

Watching these kids become more confident, more resilient, and more determined with every competition is far more exciting than any medal count could ever be.

The future is bright for this team, and we can't wait to see where their willingness to keep challenging themselves takes them next. 👊

🚨 Final Reminder! 🚨

Our Kids BJJ Grading is TOMORROW, and registration closes at the end of today!

All kids are encouraged to attend... even if they aren't expecting a stripe or belt at this time. Grading is a chance to learn, receive feedback, celebrate everyone's progress, and be part of the experience with the rest of the team.

If your child plans to participate, please make sure they're registered before the deadline.

📧 Check your email for the registration link, or visit the Events page on our website.

Tomorrow's Schedule:
✅ Tiny Tigers – Running
✅ Family Muay Thai – Running
✅ Advanced No-Gi (4:30 PM) – Shortened class
❌ Junior No-Gi – Cancelled
❌ Youth No-Gi – Cancelled
❌ Youth MMA – Cancelled

We can't wait to see everyone on the mats! 🥋

Every promotion night is a chance to celebrate progress. To recognize the countless hours, the frustrations, the victories, the lessons, and the decision to keep showing up, over and over again.
No two journeys are the same. Some people arrive at these moments quickly. Others take the long road. Some have faced obstacles on the mats. Some have faced them far away from the academy. But for a brief moment, we get to stop and celebrate how far they've come.

A huge congratulations to everyone who was promoted. And an extra congratulations to Peter on receiving his black belt.

For years, Peter has been someone people could count on. A teammate, a mentor, a leader, and someone who genuinely cares about the success of the people around him. He's helped shape the culture of this academy simply by showing up, sharing his knowledge, and investing in others.

His black belt is well deserved, but what makes me happiest is knowing exactly the kind of person receiving it.

The night also reminded me how much this community means to me.

Seeing familiar faces, seeing people who haven't crossed paths in a while, seeing the room full of laughter, support, stories, and celebration.. it fills my cup more than I can accurately express.

Thank you for trusting us with your journey.

And thank you for being such an important part of ours. ❤️

Adult BJJ Promotions are tomorrow night! 👊

***Please note that Boxing and Fighters Training will be cancelled to accommodate promotions.

We'll kick things off at 6:00 p.m. with training led by our black belts, followed by promotions beginning around 7:00 p.m.

This is one of the most special nights on our calendar... a chance to recognize the hard work, dedication, perseverance, and growth of our team.

Professor Hammer will be joining us for the evening, and we'd love to see a big crowd out supporting those receiving their next rank.

Students from across the entire OAMA family are welcome to join us for the celebration, the training, and of course, some rolls afterwards.

See you on the mats!!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and role models in our community.

The ones working hard, taking care of their families, showing up for the people who count on them, and occasionally escaping to the gym for a little "self-improvement" (or just a break from hearing their name shouted from another room).

We're lucky to have so many incredible people in our K**A family... training alongside their kids, cheering from the sidelines, coaching, mentoring, and leading by example every day.

Martial arts doesn't make someone a great father or role model, but we like to think it helps. A little patience, a little resilience, a little humility, and a healthy reminder that there's always more to learn.

Thank you for everything you do, both on and off the mats.

Happy Father's Day from all of us at K**A 👊