BJJ Mental Models Ep. 342: Developing Coaches, feat. Cody Maltais
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Jun 16, 2025 Cody Maltais, the head coach at Elevate MMA, discusses his journey from a Marine Corps veteran to an advocate for student-centered coaching in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He emphasizes empowering students to take on coaching roles early, fostering collaboration and creativity in training. Cody stresses the importance of viewing mistakes as growth opportunities and the need for a balanced approach to coaching development. He also highlights the significance of interpersonal skills in building a diverse coaching team that reflects the academy’s culture.
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Early Coaching Ignites Passion
- Cody took his first coaching opportunity just a year into training by teaching a class verbatim from his coaches.
- This experience ignited his passion for coaching and helped him invest deeply in developing newer students.
Mistakes Foster Learning
- Allowing mistakes in coaching promotes learning and exploration in jiu-jitsu.
- Avoiding mistakes stifles risk-taking and personal expression critical to growth.
Encourage Early Coaching Attempts
- Create a culture that encourages stepping up and making mistakes without fear of failure.
- Give opportunities to all comfort levels to teach and coach within your gym communities.
