What if the thing you almost didn’t try became the thing that saved your life?

In Episode 20 of Inside the Wave, Perry sits down with longtime Utopia black belt Jimmy Kanno to unpack a 14-year journey that started with MMA fandom and a random neon sign—and turned into sobriety, leadership, business ownership, and a black belt earned the hard way.

Jimmy began training at 28. At the time, he was working tough manual labor jobs, living cash-only, and stuck in habits he knew wouldn’t lead anywhere good. Jiu-jitsu wasn’t part of some master plan. It was just something to try.

But it became the one consistent thread in his life.

In this conversation, Jimmy shares:

How training helped him close the door on addiction for good
Why plateaus are inevitable and why showing up anyway is everything
The identity shift that happens from white belt to black belt
What changes in your 40s when you have to work harder just to stay sharp
The reality of gym ownership versus simply loving to teach
Why community, not technique, is what keeps people on the mats

Jimmy’s belt progression mirrors his personal growth... from getting his first checking account to building businesses, getting married, and mentoring the next generation.

If you’re a white belt wondering if you’ll stick with it, a blue belt feeling plateaued, or someone who knows jiu-jitsu is becoming more than just a workout—this episode will hit home.

Listen now and ride the wave.

Follow Jimmy here:
Instagram: kanno_est1983

Stay tuned for more conversations that go beyond the mats.