Lindsay Kreighbaum & Bryan Gregerson

A jiu-jitsu gym is supposed to be the safest room you walk into all week. The recent allegations involving some of the biggest names in our sport pushed a harder question into the open: what does real safety look like in a sport built on trust, proximity, hierarchy, and access to people’s bodies? In this special Grappling Monthly episode, I’m joined by Lindsay Kreighbaum and Professor Bryan Gregerson, owner and head instructor of Legacy BJJ in Pasadena, CA, for a direct conversation about abuse of power in jiu-jitsu. We talk about the conditions that make violations easier to hide, why people often stay silent for years, and what gym owners, coaches, and teammates can do to reduce risk without turning the academy into a paranoid workplace. Losing a gym, losing training partners, and becoming the center of attention is not a “benefit” or a revenge fantasy. It’s frequently a painful tradeoff that people avoid until they cannot anymore. The episode breaks down why naming an experience can be difficult in real time, how authority and “hero culture” distort judgment, and why outside validation is often the moment things finally become clear. From an academy leadership perspective, this conversation gets practical. It covers concrete guardrails gyms can implement to reduce risk, including policies around private lessons with minors, avoiding situations where a single adult has unobserved access, and building a culture where reporting concerns is normal and protected. It also addresses what to do when someone confides in you, including the difference between adult disclosures and situations involving minors where reporting obligations may apply. We also get into accountability and culture. “Different norms back home” is not a defense. If you move into a new community, it’s on you to learn its boundaries and laws. Finally, this episode challenges a jiu-jitsu blind spot: belts and titles measure skill, not character. Respect the craft, but do not confuse rank with moral authority. This is not an episode about internet drama. It’s about standards, leadership, and building gyms where people can train hard without being put at risk. #GrapplingMonthly #JiuJitsu #BJJ #BJJCommunity #GymCulture #SafeSport #AthleteSafety #Safeguarding #CoachEducation #TraumaInformed #Leadership #PowerDynamics #SportsPsychology #MartialArts #LegacyBJJ