Send Will to the World Championship

Dear Supporters,

I wanted to thank you once more for your support! Also, I’ve got a fantastic update! The double bronze at the IBJJF World Championships boosted my 2023-2024 division ranking to #1 in the world!

That’s well above and beyond my wildest expectations! I’ve decided to take a hiatus from competition and focus on supporting new fighters and kids who want to compete! It’s time to give back.

Today Professor Mateus, head blackbelt at NOLA BJJ, approved a competition team structure and curriculum that I will implement at the end of this month. I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks for your support. Feel great about my Jiu Jitsu journey and look forward to the next phase.

Will

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I’ve just completed the IBJJF World Championship in Las Vegas thanks largely to your support. I’m disappointed to not be bringing home Gold, but I’m bursting with pride and joy to bring home a Bronze Medal in my weight class and a Bronze Medal in the all weight division open rounds! I go home satisfied with my performance. I did everything I could to train all year, and I did everything I could on the mats today. The better fighter won! I’m at peace with that! Thanks for your support. I’ll be contacting you again with a play-by-play, but I wanted to immediately let you know the outcome.

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Folks,

Thank you for your support. We have exceeded our fundraising goal, and the funds are being put to good use! We have now entered fight week.

In the past two weeks, I’ve focused on posture, small muscle development, fluid movement, standing game, submissions and escapes with Professor Jabari Walker. I’ve learned the ways of the assassin with Professor Ray Lopez! The bench is deep at NOLA BJJ and these two took time to provide advice for my specific abilities and limitations.

The whole body is a weapon. It has to function as such. The technical aspects of the fighting form are crucial. But it’s meaningless if you can’t move your whole self or breathe! I had the good fortune to work on controlled breathing techniques and hip mobility with Jes Honeycutt who is a yoga instructor for the New Orleans Saints.

Nothing rattles the mind more than fear. All fighters will tell you they have it before every fight no matter how long they’ve been in the game. Often matches are lost as a result of the crushing anxiety that sets in days before the fight. Some say that fighting is 90% mental, yet few ever actually “train” that aspect. I am addressing that with Sports Psychologist Eric Manuel who works with many successful MMA and BJJ fighters.

I can honestly say I’ve done all I can to prepare for this. Your support has enabled me to take my training to the highest level.

Win or lose, I’m glad we are in this together!

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I’m deeply moved by the outpouring of support! We reached our goal within a week! The funding was necessary, but it’s the show of support that helps me really kick my training up a notch as the fight approaches!

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Becoming a competitive athlete ain't easy, especially when you start at a 'seasoned' age, when some say I ought to know better. But I've got to try, and show myself and my sons that sometimes it's worth striving for something that may be out of reach. Maybe you can relate.

As many of you are aware, I’ve been on an epic journey in martial arts which has lifted me off the path of self-destruction (and declining health driven by substance abuse and unhealthy living) to what, on September 2, 2023, will be the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation 2023 World Championship in Las Vegas.

I don’t fight for Gold simply for my own glory. I fight to set an example for my boys first and foremost. But I also want to set an example for people like me who failed to prioritize their own health. People like me who numbed out their trauma, pain and frustration with alcohol. People like many of us.

To train as a world class athlete is intense. It requires a lot of time, discipline and sacrifice. In the past 30 days, I’ve logged 53 hours of Jiu Jitsu training, 21 hours of yoga and more. It also costs money!

Expenses include flight to Vegas, lodging and special food. Preparing for this fight required dojo dues, private lesson fees, multiple tournament fees, purchase of gear, vitamins and other supplements, and a lot of deep tissue massage expenses!!! That’s where y'all come in.

With sincerity, I’m asking my friends to support my effort to bring home the Gold! Will you please pitch in? If you can, whether $10 or $100 or more, I will keep you updated each step of the way to Las Vegas.

Thank you Magnolia Yoga, Flagpole Coffee, Beloved’s Nature and Leila with Arbonne International for their sponsorship. I hope you’ll join the team too!

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.