What It Takes To Be The Best | A Conversation with Pierre-Olivier Leclerc

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Pierre-Olivier Leclerc on 12 years at Tristar in Montreal, nogi competition, teaching, and training at 33 with 75 in mind. He walked into Tristar Gym as a white belt at 21 and never left. He now teaches at three Montreal academies and actively competes in no gi jiu-jitsu in major competitions. In this episode: - What an edge in nogi grappling used to cost, and what replaced it now the information is free - Making a living in BJJ: part time work, seminars, and a market with far more black belts in it - How he builds a class, mixing systematized position work with constraints and situational rounds - Training volume at 33, and why he treats rehab as sport science rather than softness - Scouting, IBJJF, and why he stopped pulling guard - The word sacrifice, and why he will not use it about himself Recorded on site at Mizu Studios in Montreal, Quebec. GUEST Pierre-Olivier Leclerc Instagram: www.instagram.com/@leclercbjj #BJJ #NoGi #GrapplingMonthly #bjjlifestyle #jiujitsu Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com