Last month the MMA Academy had the honour of hosting a seminar from the Wilson brothers – Marcus and Jonathan Wilson, who run Wilson Bros. Grappling – the premier location for Jiu Jitsu in Colorado Springs.
Famed for their signature grappling styles, such as ‘High Ground’ (a revolutionary no-gi attack system), Marcus and Jonathan were both national-qualifying collegiate wrestlers, and have competed at the highest levels in grappling/Brazilian jiu jitsu.
The seminar was brilliant, with everyone who attended stating that they picked up so many jewels of knowledge.
Following this, head coach Jason Tan posed a few questions to the brothers, getting an insight into what goes on behind the scenes:-
1. How did you guys get started in jiu jitsu?
We both started wrestling around ages 12-13, my brother started jiu jitsu around 2010 in Hawaii under Egan Inoue. After an All-State senior season in 2009-10 I earned a scholarship to wrestle in college, Marcus walked on the team and earned one shortly after. After graduating Marcus went back to Hawaii to continue training under Egan Inoue, while I wrestled for 5 years and coached for 3 at the NCAA Division II level. After moving back to our hometown of Colorado Springs in 2018, we started Wilson Bros. Grappling.
2.what does your training schedule resemble when preparing for a tournament/bout?
Performance based training is much different than skill acquisition training, so scouting/game-plan sets the framework for your camp. My training camps typically focus on cardio, positional work, ruleset, and recovery. I dial in the cardio 1-2 months before the comp, base my positional work on the skill matchup/tendencies, hit ruleset rounds at varying paces, and spend the last 2 weeks under-training and recovering.
3.How would you say your training schedule differs now compared to the schedule you were on in college wrestling?
We were overtrained in college, with limited access to technical instruction. A camp-based approach for each individual works way better than a cookie-cutter program. Rather than burning yourself out trying to outwork everyone, learn how to keep yourself healthy and on the mat, develop skills during your plateaus, and peak at the right time. I still train as often as I did back then, 5-6 days a week, but with more focus and less intensity and often shorter sessions.
4. What upcoming competitions/bouts do you have in the pipeline
Laying low for a bit with a baby on the way, but I’ll hit some more ADCC and IBJJF opens this year, hoping to hop back on EBI and Polaris, but other than that I’m not sure yet. I’m in my offseason currently, trials at the end of the year.
5. How long have you developed the high ground system, who got you started on it?
Baret Yoshida is a legend and has been doing it for decades. My older brother Marcus pushed me to do it for years. My deep dive began in 2021-22. I have always had a funky wrestling style, and that opened the door for some unorthodox movements from there, implementing some freestyle/greco wrestling concepts along with some nonsense.
You can follow the brothers on insta at:-
@wilsonbrosgrappling
@marcustrick
@officer_grimy
