Posted on

The Omoplata System: Available Now For Pre-Order

Hi folks! A lot of y’all know that Jeff and Dave have started their own school, Bellingham BJJ.

During this time of school closures due to coronavirus, we took the time and completed a longtime goal: Jeff’s first instructional, the Omoplata System for BJJ. (We’re calling it #Omoplatapalooza)

This is a 2 hour, 40 minute digital instructional featuring more than 40 techniques and bonus content from black belt instructors (and podcast guests) Jake Whitfield and Josh Murdock.

For now, it’s available only to Bellingham BJJ students … but it’ll be open to the general public next week, and it’s just $40 via pre-order. Check it out! And then go shoulderlock somebody. Let’s get back to training soon, and until then, enjoy the videos.

Posted on

Thanks For The Business, Real Yoga Gear!

Three and a half years ago, I had an idea for a new Toro BJJ rashguard: I grew up playing 8-bit video games, so I thought it’d be cool to create a mock Jiu-Jitsu video game and put it on a rashie. I drew an 8-bit scene of me grappling with my buddy Sean, created a scene reflecting a game cartridge, and shipped it out. We got a great response and BJJHQ picked it up!

It’s always flattering when people dig your work, so I was pretty excited that a company called Real Yoga Gear had grabbed the design as well. Sure, they removed the “Toro” branding, but I’m sure that was just a mistake. They have a bunch of other rashguards on their site, and I’m sure none of those were lifted from other companies’ proprietary artwork. Even better, they say they handmake all their material right here in the USA, and I’m sure that’s true, too.

They even used my art in Instagram ads to drive people to their site! This is also a huge compliment for me, and I’m excited for the exposure. Even more exciting is the value they see in the work — they wouldn’t pick just any image as an ad, so it’s clear they see the financial returns art can create.

I love yoga, too, so I wanted to make sure to express my appreciation. I sent them the following message:

“Hello! I saw your ads on Instagram for the 8 Bit rashguard. I’m so glad you’re offering this product, since that’s original artwork I designed for Toro BJJ expressly for this purpose.

I notice that you’re both selling the rashguard and using it in Instagram advertisements. It’s super-flattering to know that you think my work has such value! I’m attaching my usual invoice for work of this nature.
My typical rate for licensing my art is $500 per piece, so please find my invoice attached. Because I love yoga and admire your commitment to making everything by hand in the USA, I’m willing to offer an alternative: a $250 donation to the Women’s Debate Institute, a great non-profit. You can even deduct it on your taxes! My invoice is here. (Also kindly note that Live to Roll / Roll to Live is a registered trademark of Toro BJJ).
Please note that merely taking down the ads and rash guard listing will not be enough to satisfy this invoice, since my work has already been used for profit. Please either send payment directly (I accept PayPal and Venmo) or proof of a non-profit donation by Oct. 1.
Thanks again,
Jeff Shaw”
I wanted to share this because I know that a lot of my friends make art, and would be as flattered by this as I was. Also, a lot of my friends are lawyers, and while I’m sure many of them would encourage me to take a different approach, I’m confident that Real Yoga Gear will accept my offer of a donation to a great non-profit before any of them send me offers of pro bono work.
Namaste!
Posted on

DWB is Moving — and Growing

For the past 10 years, we’ve been proudly rooted in Durham, North Carolina — the mighty Bull City, a place that punches above its weight in terms of history, art, culture, food and jiu-jitsu. A part of me and my family will always be here in the place where esse quam videri (to be, rather than to seem) is the motto.

The only constant is change, in life and in jiu-jitsu. Dirty White Belt is moving about as far one can move and still stay in the lower 48 states, to Bellingham, Washington, home of Western Washington University. In driving from one ‘Ham to another, we’ll finish up in the upper left edge of the country, about 30 minutes from the Canadian border. We’ll be road-tripping across the USA along this route, possibly stopping at a gym near you.


Does this mean we’re going to stop writing about and podcasting about jiu-jitsu in the American Southeast? Far from it. Quite the opposite, in fact: we’re taking the show along its natural trajectory, expanding to topics national and international. Lourdes will still be here in the great state of North Carolina, doing interviews and the occasional post, and we’ll stay plugged in to the scene down here even as we acclimate to the new home place.

So if the move doesn’t mean the end — what does it mean? Growth, mostly. Expansion. And a few changes to the format of the podcast that we think you’ll like. It’s probably best to imagine some of the common questions that will come up, and respond to them. Continue reading “DWB is Moving — and Growing”

Posted on

Ask Professor X: Financial Realities of a Jiujitsu School

You might remember the guest post we ran from “Professor X,” a jiujitsu school owner who has been in business fewer than 5 years. The Large Professor (Google it, kids) opened the books to us and made some candid observations about the business side of jiu-jitsu. Best of all, Professor X offered to answer any questions you might have had — and boy, did you send some in! Here’s our first edition of Ask Professor X. Got more questions? Post ’em in the comments. 

Continue reading “Ask Professor X: Financial Realities of a Jiujitsu School”