Congratulations to Konan Pérez for being awarded most improved male of 2021! Konan was awarded most improved in 2021 based around the fact he does everything to maximize his attendance. He is a staple in the noon class, Sunday open mat and even makes an occasional appearance to our 6am open mat on Friday. His attitude is exemplary and his grappling progress has been as consistent as his attendance. What is your name, how old are you and Where are you originally from? Konan Perez, 31 years old. Fairfax, VA What brought you to BJJ and Checkmat Charlotte? I’ve always been an MMA fan and constantly heard about the positive aspects of BJJ on podcasts, online and through friends. I had a coworker who consistently kept pushing me to give it a shot (thanks Jamie). He had been to a handful of different gyms around the Charlotte area and said Checkmat was the best & most competitive. How long have you been training? 2 years this month What is your favorite submission? Baseball Choke What is the hardest thing about BJJ? Dealing with injuries. Especially when I was brand new to BJJ, I would try to use force rather than technique to work out of defensive positions which would results in tweaked muscles, bruised ribs, etc. It definitely forced me to roll smarter and avoid those types of mistakes. What is your proudest moment in BJJ so far? Getting the most improved award for sure. There are so many people at our gym that are extremely dedicated and hardworking so just being in the conversation was a huge honor. Can you describe a moment when a challenging new skill clicked? Foot placement on the single leg x (this week!). Didn’t realize the importance of which side the inner foot is placed on the backside. Made a huge difference on the ability to maintain control of the opponents knee line. So beware, I’m coming for your ankles (just kidding…). What is the one thing you like best about BJJ? The sense of balance it gives me in my life. The mental and physical challenge that pushes me when in the gym is something that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. What advice would you give to a brand new student starting BJJ? Stick with it. Everyone goes through ups and downs at all different levels. The most important part is to keep showing up. Congrats again to Konan!
