You know those holiday trips where you finally feel like you can actually breathe? That was us in Maui. My wife, the kid, and I were just soaking up that slow, easy Hawaiian, Kihei energy.

If you’ve never been, Kihei is kind of the "local" side of the island. It’s way more about worn-out flip-flops and food trucks than those fancy, high-end boutiques and restaurants you see in the brochures. It’s the kind of place where nobody’s in a rush, and honestly, it’s beautiful.

I’d spent the better part of the afternoon face-deep in poke bowls and some surprisingly decent Thai food from a food truck. By the time we made our way back to our hotel, the sun was absolutely baking the golf courses. I was just sitting there by the pool, working on my second espresso, feeling that kind of dangerously relaxed where you forget what day of the week it is.

A myriad of food trucks at South Maui Garden in Kihei, Hawaii. Photo by South Maui Gardens.

But, because I have that specific brand of brain rot more commonly known as "Jiu-Jitsu addiction," I couldn’t just sit still. I pulled out my phone, opened Google Maps, and did the thing we all secretly do. I typed in "BJJ gyms near me."

I just wanted to see what the local scene looked like, maybe snag a cool t-shirt. But then I saw it. Ohana Jiu Jitsu Academy. It was minutes away, run by a Professor Rodrigo Fanti, had glowing reviews, and it was on a rooftop.

I had to go.

I did the "good husband" routine, begged my wife for a hall pass to go get sweaty for an hour or so, and once she gave me the green light, I shot them a DM on Instagram. They hit me back almost instantly: "Come on over!"

I didn't even have my gear packed properly. My surf shorts were drying on the balcony, so I grabbed those, threw on a beat-up t-shirt, filled a water bottle, and hit the road.

The drive was one of those "life is good" moments. The sky was doing that incredible Maui thing, turning neon orange, red, and purple. I had the windows down, the warm air was blowing in, and I’ll admit it... I had Justin Bieber blasting on the speakers. I passed this glowing local brewery on the way and told myself, I’m definitely stopping there after class. (Spoiler: I totally forgot.)

Spotted Maui Brewing Co. on the drive to the mats and told myself I’d be back for a post-roll pint. Photo by Maui Brewing Co.

I pulled up to the GPS location and realized the gym was actually a school during the day. At night, they transform the rooftop into a mat space. It was genius. I walked up just as the kids' class was wrapping up. Parents were sitting around chatting, kids were laughing, and the sun had just set over the ocean in the background. It was pure magic.

That’s where I met Professor Fanti. The guy is a Carlson Gracie black belt who’s clearly been on the mats since he could walk. He had that perfect blend of Brazilian grit and Hawaiian "aloha." He was wearing an old-school gi covered in logos and patches, the kind of look that says, "my technique actually works in a street fight."

The kids' class was winding down, with Professor Rodrigo Fanti sharing a laugh and that effortless island energy.
You can tell a lot about someone's game by the patches on their gi. This is that old-school, tried-and-tested energy. Photo by Ohana Jiu Jitsu.

We jumped into warmups with about a dozen or so people, a total mixed bag of ages and levels. There was even a suspect purple belt who clearly felt he was too cool for jumping jacks, which made me feel right at home.

The technique for the night was some beautiful, old-school craftiness. We worked takedowns into kesa gatame (scarf hold), then transitioned into head-and-arm chokes. But the "chef's kiss" moment was when he showed us an escape from that same choke that leads directly into a reversal and a submission. It was the kind of sneaky, veteran stuff that catches people off guard if they’re getting too comfortable.

Then, it was time to roll.

The vibe was light, playful, and respectful, exactly what you want as a guest. For my final round, I paired up with a guy who was bald, heavily tattooed, and looked like he meant business. We started moving, and I could tell immediately: he wasn't trying to kill me, but he definitely wanted to work.

We scrambled for a bit, and I ended up inside his closed guard. I’m feeling good, feeling relaxed... and then he reaches up for an Ezekiel choke with his gi from the bottom. Now, honestly? It’s been a minute since someone tried to finish me when I'm in their closed guard. I didn't respect it. I thought, Nah, I'm fine.

A heartbeat later, the stars in the Maui sky started spinning and looking a lot brighter.

He had it locked. I tapped (or at least tried to), and he let it go with a grin. We both chuckled. He knew he’d caught me sleeping, and I knew exactly what had happened: the second you let your ego onto the mats, the sport finds a way to humble you.

I drove back to the hotel with a smile on my face. Of course, being a nerd, the first thing I did when I got to my room was look up the best way to have escaped that.

I left Hawaii with a lot of great memories, but that rooftop session was the highlight. I came away with a new gym experience, a great story, and an Ezekiel escape that I’m never, ever going to forget.

Not your average mat space. Memorable rolls at Ohana Jiu Jitsu, perched right on top of the Kihei Charter School.

Gym Information
Ohana Jiu Jitsu Academy
Address: The Altitude Deck, 650 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: (707) 499-5824
Website: https://www.ohanajiujitsumaui.com/

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Written by

Calvin Ling
Calvin Ling
Calvin fell into jiu-jitsu on a total whim and never left. Between his work and Dad duties, he hits the mats to trade daily stress for a good sweat, firmly believing that life is better when you’re slightly sore and folded like a pretzel.