Kombat Arts History Lesson

The other day someone was asking what the letters represent on our blue wall mats. You can barely see them in the picture, but we used to write the letters of the alphabet on the mats. When we started off at Gold's Gym in Mississauga, almost 14 years ago, we were in a 2500 sq. ft. aerobics studio. At the time we could not afford grappling mats. So we made our own, out of plywood, tarp, insulation, industrial strength Velcro and carpet under padding. And at the beginning of EVERY Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class or MMA class, we would set up all the mats, and with the Velcro attach them together! There were about 16 mats! Each about 4' by 8'! It makes me laugh and smile at those memories. All of the students that helped build those big cumbersome mats, and every class laying out those mats. I'm glad that we don't have to do that anymore. But I'm also glad we kept those mats, which are now wall mats. They are a constant reminder of my roots, where and how I started, and to keep myself humble and hungry to keep improving myself, the students and the Kombat Arts.