June 2026 | Episode #26
Pictured: James Richardson’s hair remains untouched through tough rounds during the Spring Crucible.
The art of modern Jiu-Jitsu is at a crossroads of identity.
On one side, you have the new era of Sport Jiu-jitsu. Fueled by the meteoric rise of superstar athletes and polarizing coaches, advocates of this approach often hold the belief that learning Jiu-jitsu for self-defense is meaningless, that competition is the only true measure of rank, and that martial arts traditions like bowing or belt are a thing of the past.
On the other side, you have the Traditionalists. For them, Jiu-jitsu is nothing without preserving the past. Non-linear attacks like attacking a leg lock from the top position are often discouraged, warm-ups and drilling take up the majority of class, and belts are sometimes more participation trophies than recognition of skill.
Both have their merits and show the evolution of the art. In fact, all of our coaches have trained at gyms on all ends of the spectrum - perhaps you have too.
At LŌKAHI, we believe the standard should exist somewhere in the middle.
We aim to be a place where people without any grappling background can feel comfortable taking their steps on the mats. A room diverse enough where hard rounds and flow rolls can be found in every class. Where play is encouraged, but respect is always given. And close attention is paid to the modern meta, while never forgetting our roots as a martial art.
As such, promotions hold significance because they represent commitment, growth, and contribution. They symbolize the countless hours someone has investing into themselves and supporting their teammates. But Jiu-jitsu is also difficult by nature. Live training and hard rounds are necessary because they reveal, in real time, a practitioner’s ability to problem-solve, adapt, and apply leverage against resistance. For these reasons and more, the Crucible was born.
The milestones of progress, friendship, and a lifetime journey.
The LŌKAHI Crucible
The idea behind the Crucible came from a desire to create an event that mixed elements of celebration, challenge, and engagement for the entire team. In the past, we received feedback that Promotion day felt lackluster, while on the other hand being rather stress-inducing due to people not knowing whether they’d be recognized or not.
Taking this feedback constructively, we decided to evolve our Spring Promotion format. Here were some of the highlights:
All promotees were announced in advance
Everyone who attends gets to participate
Specific shark-tank rounds for our honorary members
Gi and No Gi training was encouraged and welcomed
We start-together, We end-together
Coach Nolan reflected afterward:
“Seeing the team lift up their training partners, especially during the hard rounds, and celebrating each other’s accomplishments was really special. The buzz in the room was tangible, and I think everyone who got promoted will have really fond memories of the day.”
While Jiu-jitsu is ultimately an individual journey, no one reaches their goals alone. A strong team supports, encourages, and elevates each other along the way and we appreciate everyone who came out to support this fun event.
We’re proud to recognize our newest colored belts!
Alex Parker
Andy Terry
Jake Godwin
James Richardson
Kyle Booth
Matt Beck
Max Wold
Mitch Johnston
Tim Locklear
“ This gym and the people in it are special.”
“I have had the privilege at training at some of the biggest and best BJJ gyms all over the US, and I will miss Lokahi the most. This gym and the people in it are special. The coaches are attentive, thoughtful, and amazing at teaching. The facility is clean with a large mat space. The coaches here genuinely care and love what they do, and it is obvious from the first minute you walk in. If you are looking to train BJJ in Omaha, look no further. Thank you Ryan, Matt, and all my training partners for such an amazing experience.
”
June 6, 2026
What’s Coming Next for Team LŌKAHI???
LŌKAHI x Phalanx No Gi Kit
The Pre-orders for our new kit are in! Thank you for the overwhelming feedback and support with our new partnership and merch design drop. We expect delivery in the early part of July and will let you all know once your order is prepared and ready for pick-up.
Forgot to order?
A’ole pilikia and no worries! We will have a few select sizes in stock.
December 5th (Morning)
Winter Crucible & Promotions
December 5th (Evening)
Holiday Party
Upcoming Local Tournaments
June 6th - Nebraska Jiu-jitsu Championship Elite Series
Lincoln, NE
June 13th - American Grappling Industries
Kansas City, MO
June 27th - Newbreed Jiu Jitsu Federation
Kansas City, MO
July 11th - Grappling Industries
Kansas City, MO
July 18th - FUJI BJJ Summer Open
Kansas City, MO
“A Hui Hou”
We wish these Collective members safe travels on their upcoming adventures. A Hui Hou and until next time!
ARJUN MAUDHOO
Our Asian heart throb and top-voted rest round, Arjun Maudhoo will be relocating to Texas on the 20th of June. While we will be most saddened by the departure of his beloved Corgi, Panko, Arjun did confirm the pair will be making a regular pilgrimages back including our December Promotions.
TANNER ABBAS
Tanner’s Physical Therapy rotation landed him in Omaha from his hometown of Des Moines, IA. A student of our good friend Carsten Carlsen and the Renzo Gracie Des Moines crew, Tanner quickly became a favorite training partner for anyone looking to improve their stand-up game. We have our fingers crossed to get Tanner back on a more permanent basis!
JUNE Birthdays
Wishing all of our Collective Members a very happy birthday!
Andy Terry — 6/4
Ezra Guerrero — 6/5
Jacob Grothe — 6/7
Natalya Trinidad — 6/10
Mery Manjarres — 6/13
Jayden Wooten — 6/17
Jake Ferry — 6/17
Evan Rosales — 6/20
Kyle Repaskey — 6/21
Quintin Black — 6/23
Tim Heller — 6/26
*Don’t see your birthday? Update your profile on the app or speak with someone at the front desk!
Rage Bait, incoming :)
“I’ve known both, Matt and Ryan for a long time. I took the long drive down to train with them today from Sioux City and it was most definitely worth it. Ryan ran a masterclass today going over a few different truck entries from multiple positions. I also got to roll with them both which was a real blessing for me. They both taught we quite a bit today, and Ryan even stayed after his class to do a bunch of extra gi rounds with me as well. The facility is top notch, tons of mat space, a workout area with heavy bags, an area for students & family members to hang out or wind down, and they have showers to boot! I cant say enough good things about how they run their ship, I highly recommend stopping in to train if you live in the Omaha area!”
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