Off the Mats Podcast #292 features a conversation with Naomi Ives of Ivey League MMA and Crazy 88 MMA, a longtime teammate whose jiu-jitsu journey reflects the realities many practitioners face but rarely articulate in full. We discuss how she began training, the gym environments that shaped her early identity on the mats, and how consistency, setbacks, and self-perception evolved. Rather than centering the discussion on highlights alone, this episode focuses on the quieter chapters that define longevity in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

A major part of the conversation addresses injury, how it first showed up, what it took away, and what it demanded in return. Naomi breaks down the physical and mental cost of being sidelined, the uncertainty that comes with rebuilding trust in your body, and the internal work required when progress slows or stops altogether. We discuss practical changes she made during her return, including how she adjusted training intensity, partner selection, positional choices, and recovery habits, as well as the conversations she learned to have with coaches and teammates.

We also explore how parenthood reshaped her relationship with training. That includes managing time and energy, redefining what a productive training week looks like, and navigating guilt on both sides of the equation, being on the mats and being away from them. Naomi reflects on what jiu-jitsu has taught her about patience and composure, and what parenting has clarified about priorities, boundaries, and sustainability in training.

The episode closes with a look at where her jiu-jitsu is now and what success looks like at this stage. This is a practical, honest conversation about resilience, identity beyond performance, and staying connected to jiu-jitsu through injury, life changes, and shifting goals.