In a recent podcast episode with Dr. Masi Reynolds, Kade Ruotolo opened up about what it really means to surround yourself with the right people, whether you are recovering from a major injury or simply beginning your jiu-jitsu journey.
For Kade, everything starts with respect. Reflecting on the humility he and his brother Tye carry, he credited the culture they grew up around inside the gym.
“Martial arts I think is a huge teacher for that, and if you’re at the right gym, when you walk in, one of the first things you should be learning is respect, before you even step onto the mat,” Kade said. “You just can’t walk into a jiu-jitsu gym and be disrespecting anyone, right? At least the right gym.”
He made it clear that this kind of environment is non-negotiable. In his eyes, the culture of a gym sets the tone for everything else an athlete experiences there.
Kade also discussed the challenge of building a professional support system during his ACL recovery, explaining that he worked with several coaches and providers who each brought different philosophies to the process.
“There was always a lot of cooks in the kitchen, and I was blessed to have that,” he said.
Still, balancing conflicting approaches was not always easy. One provider prioritized mobility, while another pushed strength development first. Rather than blindly following one path, Kade focused on finding a middle ground while staying connected to how his body responded throughout recovery.
“You got to listen to your own body and kind of just see where that fits in with your own,” he explained.
That self-awareness, according to Kade, matters just as much as any degree or certification. Technical knowledge alone is not enough. The right people genuinely care about helping the athlete improve rather than forcing their own methods or chasing recognition.
Kade also highlighted the mental side of having a strong team around you, pointing to the role his brother has played in helping him regain confidence before competition.
“It’s super important, I feel like, to have somebody that could help with that, if you’re having trouble being that for yourself,” he said.
However, retired Navy SEAL commander and jiu-jitsu black belt Jocko Willink previously argued that the single most important factor in choosing a jiu-jitsu academy is not culture, coaching style, or even training philosophy: it is location.
“One of the main questions that people will ask me is, ‘What school should I go to?’” Willink said during an appearance on Jack Osbourne’s podcast.
“Get out Google Maps, put where you live and where you work and which one is close, because proximity is the Trump. Proximity is the highest weighted thing.”
Willink’s reasoning is rooted in consistency over perfection. In his view, the best academy in the world means nothing if the distance keeps you from showing up regularly.
Kade, on the other hand, placed far more emphasis on the people inside the room: the respect they teach, the honesty they bring, and the way they support athletes mentally and physically.
