In this episode of Keepers of the Mats, we sit down with Duncan Maitland — a longtime friend, training partner, and one of the most enthusiastic members of our Tried & True Jiu Jitsu community. Duncan’s story is about commitment, resilience, and finding joy in the grind of training.
Duncan’s path to Jiu Jitsu began through fitness. Before stepping onto the mats, he was part of our CrossFit community, where he learned the value of consistency, pushing through discomfort, and discovering the strength that comes from perseverance. That foundation carried over naturally when he decided to give Jiu Jitsu a try.
From the very beginning, Duncan was hooked. He showed up ready, buying a gi before his first class and deciding that this wasn’t going to be a casual hobby — it was going to be part of his life.
For Duncan, Jiu Jitsu quickly became more than just training. It was the “invisible workout” — the best cardio he had ever experienced, wrapped inside an art that never felt like exercise. The hours spent sparring and drilling left him exhausted, but also energized in a way traditional workouts never could.
It didn’t take long before he noticed improvements not just in fitness, but in mental toughness. Every roll required him to stay calm under pressure, breathe through the chaos, and make decisions even when exhausted. Those lessons extended far beyond the gym.
What kept Duncan coming back, especially in the beginning, wasn’t just the workout. It was the community. Even while “getting smashed” in those early rolls, he was surrounded by training partners who encouraged him, taught him, and made him feel like part of the team.
That camaraderie — the feeling that no matter how tough the round was, he was supported — turned training into something more meaningful. Jiu Jitsu became less about what he could achieve alone and more about what he was building with others.
Duncan’s story is a reminder that commitment and consistency matter more than perfection. He didn’t come into Jiu Jitsu knowing what to expect, but he made the decision to show up, to stick with it, and to embrace the lessons along the way.
For anyone thinking about starting, his journey proves that the mats welcome you exactly as you are. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to take the first step and keep showing up.
This conversation with Duncan captures the heart of Keepers of the Mats. It’s about more than fitness, more than self-defense — it’s about the friendships, resilience, and sense of belonging that Jiu Jitsu creates.
Because at the end of the day, Jiu Jitsu isn’t just something you do. It’s something that becomes part of who you are. And Duncan’s story shows exactly how that transformation happens.
Click here to listen to the episode on our Spotify channel.
