In the world of combat sports, success is often measured by titles, wins, and championships. But for Michael San Nicolas, the journey through Brazilian jiu-jitsu has become much more than competition. It has become a story of discipline, courage, family support, and a mission to inspire the next generation.

Michael first became interested in martial arts as a teenager. After watching a fight movie with his father, he mentioned that he might want to try martial arts. His father searched for local schools and found Elite Team Lemoore, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school located nearby.

Michael did not know much about jiu-jitsu at the time, but that first step eventually changed the direction of his life.

Today, Michael is a professional Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, a champion in multiple weight classes, and the owner of Elite Team Corcoran, a gym he and his wife opened nearly two years ago in the City of Corcoran.

For Michael, jiu-jitsu is not just physical. While the training is demanding, especially as a smaller athlete training with people of different sizes and strengths, he says the biggest challenge is mental.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he explained, is like problem-solving. It requires patience, technique, leverage, and the ability to keep going even when progress feels slow. That mindset has helped shape the way he approaches both competition and life.

A normal training week for Michael is intense. He trains Monday through Saturday, usually every afternoon, and often trains twice a day several times a week. Each session can last from one hour to 90 minutes and includes drilling techniques, sparring, and preparing his body and mind for competition.

Behind that commitment is a strong support system, especially from his wife, Charize San Nicolas. Michael said having her support gives him the freedom to focus on what he can control, rather than worrying about outcomes.

“When it comes to opening up our business and competing professionally, I know whether I win or lose, her opinion of me won’t change,” Michael shared. “She’s going to support me regardless.”

That support has been a major part of his success. While Michael focuses on teaching and training, Charize helps run the business side of Elite Team Corcoran. She handles social media, administration, finances, and helps keep the gym moving forward.

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Charize also plays a major role at home and during Michael’s training camps. With a full-time job and a daughter, she said their family has learned to work as a team. When Michael is training, she focuses on making sure their daughter is cared for and that Michael has what he needs to recover, stay hydrated, and prepare.

“His training camps are not easy,” she said. “Sometimes he’s training two times a day, multiple days a week, and that’s really hard on his body. If I can do my part to help him excel, I try to make it as easy as I can.”

When Michael steps into competition, he understands that fear is part of the experience. He does not deny it. Instead, he uses it.

He said competing is often more mental than physical. Fear, pressure, and the possibility of losing in front of others are all real emotions. But Michael remembers something he learned when he was young: there is no courage without fear.

“If you’re not afraid of something and you do it, it doesn’t mean you’re courageous,” he explained. “When I feel fear, I remind myself this is an opportunity to show courage.”

That mindset has helped Michael build an impressive resume. He has competed in well over 100 matches, including amateur matches and tournaments across the country. In 2023, he won the Jiu-Jitsu World League World Championship tournament at UCLA as a purple belt.

He is also the current Valley Fight Series professional champion in three weight classes: flyweight at 125 pounds, bantamweight at 135 pounds, and featherweight at 145 pounds.

Now, Michael may be preparing for another major challenge. He said he was recently called out by the lightweight champion at 155 pounds from a rival promotion, and a possible matchup could take place in late August.

Looking ahead, Michael has even bigger goals. The UFC has launched its own Brazilian jiu-jitsu league, UFC BJJ, and Michael hopes to one day compete there and become a UFC jiu-jitsu champion.

But his goals are not only about personal achievement. Michael wants his journey to make an impact on young people in Corcoran, the Central Valley, and beyond.

He hopes kids who see his story will learn to believe in themselves, work hard, and not be afraid to fail.

Michael’s message to young people is simple but powerful: failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of the process.

“If you’re not failing, you’re not growing,” he said. “Failure is a part of the success process.”

He believes people often only see the winning part of someone’s journey, without understanding the many losses, setbacks, and lessons that came before it. In jiu-jitsu, failure is part of daily training. Athletes get submitted, make mistakes, and learn through discomfort. For Michael, that is where growth happens.

Charize also offered advice for spouses and families supporting someone chasing a dream. She said the key is to remain present, supportive, and united, especially during stressful seasons.

For her, the foundation of their marriage and partnership is remembering their “why.”

“Our why is to serve our community and spread jiu-jitsu with everyone,” she said. “If we can’t be a good supportive team together, then it’s not going to work.”

Elite Team Corcoran is located at 1133 Chittenden Avenue in Corcoran, CA 93212. Those interested in learning more can find the gym on Instagram and Facebook at Elite Team Corcoran. The gym can also be reached by phone or text at 559-904-5129.

For Michael and Charize San Nicolas, jiu-jitsu is more than a sport. It is a family mission, a community effort, and a platform to teach discipline, courage, and resilience.

And as Michael continues chasing bigger stages and greater challenges, his message remains grounded in one belief: success is built through hard work, support, and the courage to keep going, even when failure is part of the journey.