Page Last Updated April 2026
What Is Open Note Grappling?
Open Note Grappling is the best way to learn jiujitsu and how it works in fighting.
I’ve been watching, training, and teaching various combat sports for my entire adult life. Mainly jiujitsu and related grappling arts.
Now I’m writing about what I’ve learned so you can benefit from the best parts of combat sports culture. That doesn’t stop at fighting. That means how to learn and teach, how to prepare your mind and body for uniquely stressful situations, and a lot more. And I know people would benefit from understanding the culture that is pouring out of martial arts gyms.
Combat sports are at the forefront of western culture.
The President of the United States regularly attends UFC fights being commentated on by the biggest media personality in the western world and all of it is financed by the wealthiest people you’ve never heard of. Fighting is a spectacle that no one can look away from.
This shouldn’t be surprising. It’s certainly not new. And I want to explore why this constant craving for more combat sports culture exists while helping you, and many more like you, learn the principles, tactics, and techniques of fighting.
I know martial arts are uniquely valuable and I want more people to benefit from them like I have.
Who Are You?
My name is William.
I teach jiujitsu in Austin, Texas. Before that I was helping small businesses raise money. And before that I was scaling the fastest growing retail wellness company in the US.
I started training mixed martial arts at the end of high school. Shortly after I started training my family lost their home. The gym I was training at became my safe haven through the most tumultuous time in my life. Without that gym and the community it created I was as good as dead. Instead, what I learned at that gym catapulted me forward.
At every stage of my life I’ve been fortunate enough to do things I was under-qualified for; speak at SXSW, fight in the back of Hell’s Angel’s gyms, open the best gym in the capital of modern jiujitsu, and a lot more.
It’s been a collection of million dollar experiences that I wouldn’t pay a dime to repeat.
Today my priority is running the best jiujitsu gym in the world, teaching, and writing about everything I learn along the way. I made this website to share what has helped me, on and off the mats.
Can We Work Together?
I’m open to new consulting, writing, and scouting projects.
Before I opened my own gym I consulted for LA Fitness as well as other health & wellness businesses. I helped them figure out the fastest way to get traction and grow their business sustainably. I practice what I preach too. My jiujitsu gym was named the number 1 gym in Austin in its first year open, we were cash flow positive from day 1, and have never spent a cent on advertising.
If you’re curious about what it takes to run an award winning gym you can email me at opennotegrappling at gmail dot com. You can also respond to any newsletter article I send out.
If you are a professional fighter and you want a scouting report on yourself or an upcoming opponent I’d be happy to work with you.
When I’m not writing online I’m teaching martial arts. I’ve taught and cornered for grappling matches, MMA fights, boxing events, and more. I even helped UFC fighters Charles Johnson and Weili Zhang get ready for fights with virtual scouting and analysis work.
Curious about the process? Click on either of the images below.
What Are You Working On Now?
I just finished the final draft of my first book. If you want to open an award winning jiujitsu gym you have to read it.
The Jiujitsu Gym Operations Manual is an actionable guide to turning your hobby into a fulfilling and profitable career. It’s a book with zero fluff so you can stay focused on what actually matters and get the results you want.
I’m also turning my notes and articles into a database of athletes, techniques, and fights so you can study how jiujitsu actually works in fighting and professional grappling. It’s called The Help Desk and it looks like this.
If you want to learn jiujitsu and how it works in fighting while supporting independent combat sports media, subscribe to the Help Desk. It’s only $5 per month, you can try a week for free, and can cancel whenever you want.
What Our Readers Are Saying
"This is content we dreamed of having when I first got into the sport."
"You are legitimately HELPING me as this is stuff I do not know and NEED to learn for my own content!"
"I can’t tell you how much I value your work, you have a gift for clear speaking when it comes to grappling."
