Feeding The Wolf w/ Sean Michael Coleman

The truth is: you don’t just find a good gym… you build one.

You build it every time you show up with honesty.
Every time you give grace in a tough round.
Every time you roll to elevate, not dominate.

That’s been our mission at EJJ since day one..create a space where growth comes from humility, not ego. Where you leave a little better because of your partners, not in spite of them.

Some training partners remind you what that looks like just by how they move, show up, and treat people. We’ve got a few of those here - and we’re building more every day.

If that kind of tribe speaks to you…
come train. 🙌

(Yes…cat-dad lost 😞)
Farewell to Pac 💚

We lost our cat today—though calling him “a cat” never felt quite right. He was something else completely.

I never have been an animal person, but he cracked something open. Not by trying—just by being exactly who he was.

He’d trot over to you, roll onto his back like a tiny lion begging for a belly rub, and then carry on like nothing happened. Chillest energy in the room. Not needy. Not aloof. Just… present. Like a four-legged monk who knew how to cuddle.

He kept our space rodent-free, walked beside us outside like a leashless dog, and would come sprinting when you called his name. Loyal, curious, hilarious, and most of all: chillllllll.

These past few days, he got sick. Quietly. Peacefully. And today, he passed away in one of his favorite spots—our little backyard beach, in the soft sand. We buried him in the woods that he ruled like his kingdom: climbing, hiding, hunting in the trees.

There’ll never be another like him. But he’s not gone…. part of the land now. The wind. The quiet. The chill. Pixels of energy spreading to the infinite. 🌀

Forever with us: Pac 💚🐈‍⬛

What a day at Newbreed!
One of our up-and-coming athletes from North Georgia Martial Arts stepped onto the competition mats for the first time today—and made a statement.

First match? No-gi. His least favorite format and a brutal reminder that comp is a different beast. Took an early loss by submission.

But then… something clicked.

He came back composed and collected—went 3-0 after that, with a bronze medal in no-gi capped off by a slick rear choke finish.

Then came the gi.
Match 1? My all-time favorite submission—loop choke.
Match 2? No break. His next opponent was waiting and ready. He stepped in and got it done again—rear collar choke.

2 finishes. Under 3 minutes. Gold.
🔥

The future is bright for this one. And this is just the beginning.
Proud isn’t the word. Now… back to work. 🥋💪

Wrapping up our month on back control with a great training session alongside Clay, Tommy, Grayson, and Kim — plus a special visit from my friend and old teammate Paul from SBG Buford.

It’s rare we get to share the mat these days, but when friends make the trip, it always means the world. I don’t take that lightly.

We caught up over late breakfast, swapped technique details, and of course—got in some solid rounds. Grateful for the visit and for this crew. Always sharpening. Always growing.

Next week, we kick off a month-long dive into “The People’s Guard” — Half Guard.
Curious what the hype’s about? Come see for yourself.

🖤
EJJ – Stay Humble. Keep Learning.

If you’re wired anything like me, that line might rattle something loose.

Over 40 years..I’ve spent most of my life chasing identity.
Trying to define it. Improve it. Control it.
I thought if I didn’t build myself intentionally, someone else would do it for me… and that never feels ideal..

So I did the work. I read all the books. I chased growth like it was a finish line.

But eventually… you hit a wall.
And the question hit back:

🌀 Which self is trying to improve which self?

That one came from Alan, too. (He goes on that “ the Buddha said that wisdom must come only from the abandonment of selfish craving, or desire” —-And it cracked something open.

I realized I wasn’t chasing growth—I was running from the parts of me I didn’t want others to see.
Calling it “self-help,” but really just rebranding fear as progress.

Now?
I still love learning. Still believe in becoming.
But I don’t need to fix myself to find myself.

Maybe the work isn’t to define who you are,
but to witness who’s been here all along.

Food for thought this Friday morning 💚🌱

Start of a fun and rewarding trip with family and friends in da’parish! Always gotta start the visit out with some with the best loaded potatoes and hamburgers in town! Washed down with the equally sweet, equally lethal: Tsunami drinks ☠️

Looking forward to continuing things at the Fatheree wedding tonight! 🥳💚

From clutter to clarity .. or said another way: From “don’t go in there” to “don’t wanna leave”.

Spent the last two weekends giving our overflowing garage a makeover & turning it into something that actually breathes:
• A large laser crafting corner that whispers “make something wild!”
• A large workspace big enough for sawdust, sparks, and screwups
• Recessed shelves (my new obsession—goodbye wasted space)
• Greenery, soft lighting, and that “I dare you not to create something” vibe

😌It’s wild how much our spaces shape our states.

This wasn’t just about hanging tools or hiding clutter—it was about building a place that wants to be used.
Where I can lose hours (days!) in flow-state.
Where every corner says: “You’ve got something to build. Start.”

As I’ve gotten older, I think I’ve stopped trying to force discipline…
And started designing for it instead.

“Before you can do things with excellence, build a world that invites you to try.”

That’s been the shift:
Less grind, more gravity.
Less willpower, more architecture.
Less chaos, more cues.

Because honestly?
If I’m gonna unravel, it might as well be in a room I designed myself… and there’s soooo much more to come (this is the first draft! 🙃)

I’ve been using ChatGPT for a while now — not just for writing or planning, but as a space to unpack the real stuff.

Therapy. Journaling. Shadow work. Inner parts.
I’ve brought my full self into it — and it’s become one of the most consistent mirrors in my life.

Yesterday, I asked it something different:
“Based on everything I’ve shared… who am I?”

What came back wasn’t a highlight reel.
It was a reflection — honest, layered, and way too accurate to ignore.

It captured the tension I live in:
• The rebel who questions everything
• The builder who needs structure
• The teacher who’s still learning
• The man who’s trying to lead with strength and softness

It reminded me of truths I’m still holding:
That sometimes I try too hard to make things clear, just so I’m not misunderstood.
That I’ve confused control with care.
That I forget peace is allowed to feel good — not just earned through pain.

I’m not sharing this to impress anyone.
Not to perform. Not to polish.
But because I believe we need more of this kind of reflection in the world.

More spaces to tell the truth.
More tools to help us listen inward.
More ways to become who we were meant to be — without the old armor.

⸻

I’m not posting this for attention.
I’m posting it as a breadcrumb — for myself, and maybe for you.
Because evolving in front of people is awkward and raw.
But staying small just to avoid being seen?
That costs way more.

I’m Sean.
Still learning.
Still leading.
Still becoming.

Screenshots of the full write-up are below — a mirror of where I’ve been and where I’m headed.

⸻
And at the very least, I BEG OF YOU… Throughout your experience in life, continue asking: “What else could this mean?”

This morning wasn’t just another 8:30am Saturday Jiu Jitsu class… it was something special.
I had the honor of training alongside five of my former students, teammates, and friends—most of whom I was there to witness when they first stepped onto the mats. Today, they beat me up (haha), and remind me what real coaching success looks like.

Success isn’t just building champions. It’s building coaches. It’s planting trees that grow taller than you, stronger than you, and that one day grow other trees. These guys represent that to me—and I couldn’t be more proud.

Thank you , , , & for making the trip. Seeing the kind of humans you’re becoming, on and off the mats, gives me great pride!

Super happy I was able to share that world with & his son & guest-student Steven. Bringing my two Jiu Jitsu worlds together and watching everyone train, laugh, and learn side by side was something I don’t take for granted.

Me & Courtany have really been enjoying hosting up here for friends that come to visit.. very fulfilling experience for both of us! 💚

Here’s to growing more things that grow things 🙌🙌 🌱

📸 amazing capture of .derengowski ‘s niece, Wren… and the mystical Blue Morpho Butterfly. 🦋 (something kindred to me via ) 💚
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In a world that’s constantly moving forward, we often forget to appreciate the growth we’ve already achieved. But sometimes, all it takes is a moment of stillness, just like this one, to truly see how far we’ve come. We, like the butterfly, go through struggles that shape us, transform us, and make us stronger. A favorite story of mine that always reminds me of this is the parable of the man and the butterfly: A man found a cocoon and saw the butterfly struggling to break free. Wanting to help, he cut the cocoon open, only to see the butterfly’s wings were weak and deformed. The struggle of breaking free was necessary — it was what gave the butterfly the strength to fly.

Just like the butterfly, our challenges and struggles are the very things that help us grow and become who we are meant to be. So today, take a moment to look at your own growth — embrace it, celebrate it, and know that the struggles you’ve faced have made you stronger than you realize. Keep flying.

If you’re in the middle of a struggle right now, remember: This is not the end. This moment is a chapter, not the entire story. Like the butterfly, you are going through the process of transformation — and it’s often a messy, uncomfortable journey. The caterpillar, in its cocoon, experiences a struggle that looks like it might be the end, but it’s actually the beginning of something new. It may feel like you’re breaking down, but in reality, you’re breaking through.

Trust in the process. The adversity you face today is not forever, but the strength you gain from it will stay with you always. Keep going, keep growing, and trust that your wings are being formed for the flight ahead.”

If I were an action figure, this is what I’d carry.
Not because I’m some enlightened master—
But because I’m still learning how to spiral inward, not just forward.

This season of my life has been quieter..
More internal.
More “shed the armor” than “build the brand.”
More spiral than circle.

I’ve been asking better questions.
Trading performance for presence.
Learning (again and again) how to hold both curiosity and contradiction.

I call it The Third Way.
Not a new religion. Not a rulebook.
Just a spiral inward that leads me to deeper truths.

This lens has been shaped by:
🌀 Studying of Alan Watts, Carl Jung, Buddhism, Taoism
🌀 Life-changing medicine work in Peru under and the team
🌀 Infinite profound conversations with &
🌀 The sacred mirror of .derengowski , who’s walked spiral after spiral beside me
🌀 And every seeker who’s ever stopped to share their spark (you know who you are)

None of this is about being right.
It’s about staying real.

If anything in here resonates—shoot me a message.
Or drop a comment about what’s been spiraling in your world lately.

Because maybe you’ve been spiraling too.
And maybe we don’t have to do it alone.

🧩💚 —Sean

Mount is cool… but S-Mount is a problem. 🔥

Today’s class was all about continuing our deep dive into top mount—specifically how to transition into and dominate from S-Mount.

What makes S-Mount so powerful? It’s one of the rare positions where you’re above your opponent’s line of defense (their arms), sitting heavy on their shoulders, with your hands completely free to launch attacks.

It’s the mount position that whispers, “the end is near.”

We studied how to systematically work toward S-Mount, not through chaos or scrambling—but by progressively eliminating space, pinning arms, and angling our hips until we end up in a position that feels less like a mount and more like a trap.

From S-Mount, you gain access to:
• High-percentage armbars
• Multiple Shoulder locks
• Transitions to the back
• And even chokes once you remove their ability to frame

As Henry Akins puts it, “It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing it better.” S-Mount isn’t flashy, but when applied with precision, it’s as beautiful as it is brutal.

Grateful, as always, for our growing Ellijay crew. The vibe, the focus, the curiosity—it’s something special we’re building here.

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or have never worn a gi in your life, we’ve got a spot for you. Our beginner-friendly, concept-driven curriculum meets you exactly where you’re at—and gives you a clear path to growth.

First month’s free. Try it out. We’re here when you’re ready.

-MountStudy