Season 3 Premiere · Oct 6
Two Companies. One Mat.
"You train, and you try to kill each other. You become friends." (placeholder attribution: Smoothcomp co-founder; the quote is confirmed against the final cut before it ships)
Start small. A few short clips will tell you if this is your kind of thing.
Then pick a full episode when one grabs you.
Latest episodes
How a BJJ Black Belt Built Gymdesk from Nights and Weekends to a Multi-Million Dollar SaaS Company
This episode features Gymdesk founder Eran Galperin in conversation with CEO Alex Cuevas, discussing Eran's journey building the company from a bootstrapped side project to a multi-million dollar platform serving thousands of gyms.
How Four Rochester Jiu-Jitsu Families Built a Community That Trains Together
This episode tells the story of Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts (RPMA) in Rochester, New York, where four families came together to build a jiu-jitsu community from scratch.
How Culture and Teamwork Built a Thriving Jiu-Jitsu School | The Shogun West BJJ Story
Go inside Shogun West BJJ with Gymdesk Originals - training culture, coaching philosophy, and how to build a winning jiu-jitsu gym.
What It Takes to Grow a Strong Jiu-Jitsu Community | The Academia BJJ Story
In this episode of Gymdesk Originals, founders Steve Camara and Jeff Wellwood share how they built Academia BJJ around respect, connection, and community, creating a space where everyone feels at home the moment they walk through the door.
Building a Thriving Jiu-Jitsu School from the Ground Up | The NEO Martial Arts Story
In this episode of Gymdesk Originals, we visit NEO Martial Arts in Brampton, Ontario, co-founded by Patrick Teruel and Coach Solana Be, to explore how their unique approach to jiu-jitsu, leadership, and empowerment is shaping the next generation of martial artists.
The Blueprint for Scaling a Jiu-Jitsu Academy | Inside OCTA Jiu-Jitsu
In this episode of Gymdesk Originals, we visit OCTA BJJ Oakville, where Luiz and his partner turned a post-pandemic passion project into five thriving academies built on one core value: family first.
From Family Gym to Social Media Sensation | Argyle Jiu-Jitsu
Go inside Argyle Jiu Jitsu with Gymdesk Originals—academy culture, coaching approach, and what it takes to grow a successful BJJ gym.
Building a Martial Arts Legacy | Lessons from Renzo Gracie Milford
In this episode of Gymdesk Originals, we visit Renzo Gracie Milford led by Professor Mark Cerrone, one of Renzo’s earliest students from New York City. From taking the train into Manhattan every day as a teenager to helping grow Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into a global movement with over 300+ academies worldwide, Mark’s story is one of dedication, discipline, and vision.
Building a Gym That Changes Lives, On and Off the Mats
In this Gymdesk Originals, we visit Takeover Jiu-Jitsu in Buffalo, New York, where community, culture, and compassion collide to create something special.
I started jiu-jitsu in the park. I take a piece of mat like this and put it in the park. And we train, the Brazilians train together. One guy brings a beer, the other guy the sounds. And you train.
Alex Cuevas
Your host
Someone who’s actually on the mat.
Alex started teaching Taekwondo as a teenager. He’s a black belt in it now, and still trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“We’re stepping out from behind the website to hear your stories and learn what makes a gym thrive.”
Find a gym near you.
56
episodes across
40
cities and 7 countries. Hover a pin for the gyms there, or open an episode straight from the map.
Your gym could be the next one.
Every episode is a real gym and the person who built it, filmed where they teach. If that’s you, tell us how you got here. Alex reads these himself.