A Christian Jiu-Jitsu Connect Group
The First Round
Strong hands. Humble hearts.
The First Round · Friday, November 27 · McKinney, Texas
Our first gathering falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Trade the line for the mats. Skip the cart, grab the gi, and spend ninety minutes learning to be steady under pressure with men who will help you up.
Time until next gathering
Friday, November 27, 2026 • 6:30–8:00 PM • Check-in 6:15 PM
Live RSVP count — Friday, November 27
Mats open—reserved of 40 mats
- Mats left
- —
- Loaner gis left
- —
Updates about once a minute. Counts are planning numbers, not a hard gate.
Event details
The essentials
- Date
- Friday, November 27, 2026
- Time
- Check-in 6:15 PM · Training 6:30–8:00 PM
- Location
- 3 Embers Grappling Academy
320 Industrial Blvd., Suite 206
McKinney, Texas 75069 - Cost
- Free to attend. This is a Connect Group, not a membership.
Who it is for
- Free to attend
- Men and sons age 13+
- Beginners welcome
- Gi required
- Loaner gis available by request
- Bring water
Loaner gis are available by advance request, subject to size and availability.
Ninety minutes
How the night runs
- 6:15 PM
Check-in
Sign in, confirm both releases, meet an organizer, and get pointed to the changing area.
- 6:30 PM
First 30 — Prepare
Welcome, opening prayer, safety brief, scalable warm-up, breakfalls, stance, and one controlled standing skill.
- 7:00 PM
Middle 30 — Learn
One ground position with two or three connected techniques, cooperative repetitions, then coach-directed resistance.
- 7:30 PM
Final 30 — Apply and Pray
Positional rounds for beginners, controlled rolling for experienced grapplers, line-up, prayer requests, and prayer out.
- 8:00 PM
Clean and close
We wipe the mats, stack the gear, and leave the academy better than we found it.
Beginners and sons
Come as you are. Leave with brothers.
You do not need to be in shape, know a single position, or prove anything to anybody. Beginners get their own lane with coach-directed drilling and positional work. Nobody will crank a submission on you, and every round requires consent.
Sons 13 to 17 train with a parent or legal guardian present, with both required releases completed by that guardian. It is one of the best ninety minutes a father and son can spend together.
Devotional
“Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Before the grip comes surrender. Before the round comes prayer. On the mats, pressure reveals what comfort can hide—but strength is never the destination. We train our hands, humble our hearts, and learn to use what God gives us in service of one another.
Trained to serve. Disciplined for peace.
What to bring
Pack light. Show up early.
- A clean gi (loaner gis by advance request, subject to size and availability)
- A fitted rashguard or athletic shirt and compression shorts to wear under the gi
- Water — the room gets warm
- Sandals or slides for every off-mat area
- Trimmed nails, no rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, or catchable piercings
- A mouthguard is strongly recommended for live rounds
Safety and waivers
Two releases, signed once.
Everyone training signs both releases before stepping on the mats: ours and the host academy's. Guardians sign for anyone under 18. Sign at home in a few minutes so check-in stays quick, and do not train if you have a fever, an unexplained rash, ringworm, or any suspected contagious condition.
Both releases are required before mat access
Sign both online before your session. Participants aged 13–17 need a parent or legal guardian to sign, and that guardian stays on site for the full session.
- Train My Hands for War releaseSign on Mat-Ready
- 3 Embers Grappling Academy releaseSign on Mat-Ready
Track your progress on Mat-Ready.
Prefer paper? Download the release
Printable participation release, assumption of risk, and medical acknowledgment (PDF, 2 pages). Fill it in at home and hand it to an organizer at check-in.
Gear
Mats and gis, sorted before you arrive
We keep a limited stack of loaner gis on hand. Tell us what you need and an organizer will set it aside for November 27 — no gi, no problem, and no cost.
Live RSVP count — Friday, November 27
Mats open—reserved of 40 mats
- Mats left
- —
- Loaner gis left
- —
Updates about once a minute. Counts are planning numbers, not a hard gate.
Mat and gi request
Tell us what you need on the mat
Second session
Friday, December 18, 2026
Holiday-session gathering. Clinch control at walk-through pace, then closed-guard posture and two beginner-friendly sweeps.
Third Friday this month due to the Christmas holiday.
One combined waiver covers every session in the series, so if you sign for November 27 you are already cleared for this one.
Live RSVP count — Friday, December 18, 2026
Mats open—reserved of 40 mats
- Mats left
- —
- Loaner gis left
- —
Updates about once a minute. Counts are planning numbers, not a hard gate.
Still have questions?
Ask before you arrive
First-timer nerves, directions, loaner gi sizing, or father-and-son details — send a note and an organizer will answer directly.
Where
3 Embers Grappling Academy
320 Industrial Blvd., Suite 206
McKinney, Texas 75069
Questions?
Reach the organizers
Meet me on the mats.
Come ready to work. Leave with brothers.
Questions? Send us a note and an organizer will answer.