The Begining
I started jiu jitsu because I had let myself go, and I knew it. I was up around 260 pounds, drinking beer, playing video games, and convincing myself I still “looked fine.” I had no drive to work out, no real motivation to change, and no accountability. I only did enough to pass my fitness test for the Air Force. I wasn’t built that way my whole life, but at some point, I stopped caring about the things that used to push me. I didn’t feel like the version of myself I used to be, the one who could outwork anything and anyone. I was just coasting.
When I walked into my first jiu jitsu class, it wasn’t some big emotional moment. I wasn’t expecting to get hooked, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it to change my life. But it did. Something clicked on that mat. That first roll felt like a switch got flipped back on. It brought me back to my powerlifting days, when training wasn’t just something I did, it was part of who I was. Back then, I trained no matter what. If I wasn’t feeling well, I still showed up. If something hurt, I found a way around it. I didn’t skip. I didn’t stall. I always found a way to work. Jiu jitsu gave me that feeling again, the feeling of being connected to my own effort, of earning progress one round at a time.
From the moment I started, I was hooked, not just because it got me in shape, but because it gave me purpose again. It wasn’t just about losing weight, it was about becoming the version of myself I respected. The grind made me feel alive. The hard days, the frustrating days, the small wins, the breakthroughs; I needed all of it. It reminded me that I’m at my best when I’m pushing myself, not when I’m comfortable.
That’s where Roll Reapers came from. I didn’t start the brand just to sell shirts. I started it as a reminder. A reminder to never let myself stop again. To never slip back into the version of me that settled. It’s a reminder that training isn’t optional when life gets hard, that’s when it matters the most. Good days, bad days, busy days, tired days the grind still calls. Roll Reapers is built on that mindset: stay relentless. Not just for jiu jitsu, but for everything.
I’m also a few years away from retiring from the Air Force, and I’ll be honest; the idea of starting over is intimidating. I’ve been serving for a long time, and walking into a whole new world, new career, new identity, is a lot to think about. But I knew one thing for sure: I didn’t want to get out of the military and start something I wasn’t happy to do. I’ve always wanted to start my own company, something that meant something to me, something that wasn’t just a job, but a part of who I am.
Roll Reapers is that thing. It’s the proof that I wasn’t done. It’s my reminder to keep pushing forward, to stay disciplined, to stay hungry, and to build something real. It’s for the people who train when they’re tired, who don’t make excuses, who refuse to settle. It’s for anyone who knows what it feels like to fight with yourself and win. The brand grew out of my own comeback, but it’s not just about me anymore. It’s about a community of people who live the same way on the mat, in the gym, at work, in life.
I didn’t create Roll Reapers to be pretty. I created it to be a statement. A message. A reminder to stay relentless. To earn your progress. To keep moving forward even when nobody sees the work. Because that’s where the real growth happens, and that’s where the real strength gets built.
If you’re on that same path, welcome. You're exactly who I built this for
