Andrew Wiltse has confirmed news for the grappling community: he will be opening a new academy alongside his brother, officially launching “Wiltse Brothers BJJ.”
In a recent video announcement, Wiltse revealed that the partnership came together after his brother reached out with the opportunity.
“Him and Anna reached out to me and they actually asked me if I wanted to come move down there and open a gym with them,”
Wiltse explained. The location will be in Nebraska, where his brother is currently based. *Wiltse initially said Alaska but then corrected himself in a comment on social media.
Wiltse emphasized that he had deliberately avoided bringing up the possibility of working together not wanting to create any pressure or guilt.
“I never even said anything that hinted that I would like to do that because I didn’t want Bird to ever feel pressure or guilt or anything like that,”
he said. When his brother finally broached the subject, Wiltse‘s response was immediate and enthusiastic:
“This is like exactly what I want. I just never brought it up.”
The five-time world champion appears genuinely excited about the venture noting that his brother was supportive of him sharing the news publicly. The timing seems particularly meaningful for Wiltse who had previously been exploring other gym opportunities that ultimately didn’t materialize.
One of Wiltse‘s first priorities upon arriving will be promoting his brother to black belt.
“I’m going to just give Bird his black belt when I get there,”
he stated confidently.
“People were supposed to have done that a long time ago but they belt based on some interesting criteria. So I don’t care if I have enough stripes to do it or not. He deserves it. I’m a black belt. He’s going to get his black belt.”
The new academy represents a fresh chapter for Wiltse who has faced various challenges in recent times. The partnership with his brother offers both a business opportunity and a chance to work alongside family in building something meaningful within the BJJ community.
For those interested in following the development of Wiltse Brothers BJJ or getting more information about the academy Wiltse directed people to reach out to his brother directly as he continues to maintain a limited social media presence. The exact opening timeline has not yet been announced but Wiltse indicated he would provide updates as plans progress.
The grappling community will undoubtedly be watching with interest as this new chapter unfolds for the accomplished competitor and his brother in Nebraska.
