Are you ready to earn your place? Here is the blueprint for success:

• 1. Excellence is a Habit: Give your absolute best in every session. Do not be a “mutuca” (someone who hides from hard work or cherry-picks rounds). Show up and do the work.
• 2. Check the Drama at the Door: The mats are for growth and discipline. Leave outside distractions and negativity where they belong—outside.
• 3. Protect Your Greatest Asset: Your training partner is your most valuable resource. Push them, challenge them, but never intentionally harm them. If you feel the need to “prove” something, do it on the competition mats, not in the gym.
• 4. Walk Your Own Path: Comparison is the thief of progress. Every student has a unique timeline; focus on your own development rather than your teammate’s pace.
• 5. Relinquish the Timeline: The moment you obsess over your next promotion, you demonstrate that you aren’t ready for it. Focus on the journey, and the rank will follow naturally.
• 6. Seek Competence Over Color: Rank is a heavy responsibility. Ask yourself: Would I rather be a dominant Purple Belt or a struggling Brown Belt? Aim to be undeniable at your current level.
• 7. Practice Gratitude: Be loyal to the academy and the teammates who sweat and bleed alongside you. You didn’t get here alone.
• 8. Communication is Key: If you have concerns, speak directly with your professor. We are human and value honest dialogue. Transparency solves problems, silence breeds resentment.
• 9. Own Your Progress: If you have the support of your coaches and teammates but still aren’t seeing results, look in the mirror. Success requires you to do your homework and take personal accountability.
• 10. Exit with Honor: You have the free will to train wherever you choose. If you decide to move on, do so with integrity and leave through the front door. Do not become a creonte—loyalty is the foundation of our art.