During an episode of the Overdogs BJJ podcast, Mikey Musumeci and two-time black belt world champion Jalen Fonacier pushed back against a mindset they believe is harming young athletes: the idea that students must abandon their education to reach the top of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Musumeci began by sharing concerns about advice he has heard from coaches throughout the sport.
“I’ve been around a lot of instructors, a lot of people in jiu-jitsu that literally have told people to quit school, telling kids to stop going to school,” Musumeci said.
According to him, the message often comes with the belief that becoming a world champion requires complete sacrifice.
“If your dream is to be a black belt world champion, you have to sacrifice and give everything,” he said, describing the argument often made by some instructors.
However, Musumeci made it clear that he strongly disagrees with that philosophy.
“I want on this episode to really explain that to parents with kids that this is so false,” he said. “That you have to stop your kids from going to school to be a world champion.”
Instead, Musumeci argued that success in both academics and jiu-jitsu is possible with the right approach.
“With the right hard work, the right work ethic, you could do anything,” he said.
He also pointed out that some athletes who leave school don’t necessarily devote all of that extra time to training.
“A lot of the people I’ve noticed that quit school, they just play video games when they’re not training.”
Fonacier then revealed that he had personally faced a similar situation with his own coach, Rubens ‘Cobrinha’ Charles. While preparing for major tournaments, Cobrinha suggested that he temporarily reduce his academic commitments to focus entirely on training.
“Cobrinha actually asked me to step away a little bit from school and focus on training,” Fonacier said. “I think it was last year. We had a whole plan to go out to Brazil and train there for Worlds.”
According to Fonacier, his coach proposed taking some time away from school to maximize his preparation.
“He asked me, ‘Maybe we take a little time away from school, focus on training,'” Fonacier recalled.
Despite the suggestion, he remained committed to continuing his education.
“Of course for me, I told him like, ‘No, Cobrinha, this is what I’ve done all my life,'” Fonacier said. “‘This is what I want to do. I want to show people that it’s possible.'”
After Fonacier went on to achieve success while balancing both commitments, Cobrinha’s perspective evolved.
“He told me, ‘The reason I did ask you was because it’s different for him,'” Fonacier explained.
Fonacier said his coach came from a different generation and environment where combining high-level academics and elite competition was rarely seen.
“He grew up in a much different culture,” Fonacier said. “He’s never seen someone do school and win a World title other than Mikey.”
Their conversations eventually led to a shared realization.
“After we talked, we realized that it is possible,” Fonacier said. “And we’re so proud to be able to show the kids now that it is possible.”
Musumeci later expanded the discussion beyond competition and focused on the importance of having a backup plan. He emphasized that athletic careers can change instantly because of injuries or unforeseen circumstances.
“What happens if your kid breaks their knee?” Musumeci asked. “What happens if they’re in a car crash, God forbid?”
He stressed that no athlete can guarantee long-term health, making education a crucial safety net.
“There are so many variables in our bodies remaining healthy,” he said. “So if you remove education from your kid now, what are they going to do when they can’t train, they can’t teach? Now what are they going to do?”
