We arrived in Denver on Tuesday afternoon after an eventful journey filled with some unique stops along the way. This wasn’t my first cross-country drive—I’ve made the trip from Brooklyn to California and back three times—but one of the hardest lessons to learn on these drives is taking the time to venture off the highways. It’s tempting to power through the middle states, dismissing them as empty stretches of road. But when you take the time to explore, you find places and people full of unexpected depth and skill.
One of those discoveries was Pedigo Submission Fighting, a gym that’s been making waves in the Jiu Jitsu world. Nestled in the small mining town of Mount Vernon, Illinois, this unassuming spot is home to some of the best Jiu Jitsu talent anywhere. After training there, I was blown away by the simplicity and intensity of their workouts. Sure, I got my ass handed to me, but I walked away having learned a lot in a very short time.
One thing that stood out during this trip is how accessible the instruction has been at every gym I’ve visited, including Pedigo. I’m not great with short-term memory, so I usually struggle to retain detailed coaching. But here—and at other top gyms along the way—the coaching has been refreshingly straightforward. Instead of hyper-technical jargon, they focus on clear, practical teaching that trickles down from their best fighters to the beginners. It’s ironic, in a way—these are some of the best gyms in the world, yet their teaching style is anything but complicated.
The culture at these gyms is just as impressive. Walking into a room full of people training to fight, you’d think the vibe might be intimidating. Instead, it’s welcoming—like a collective effort to help each other grow. That sense of camaraderie was especially strong at Pedigo, and it’s rooted in the story of how the gym was built.
The gym’s founder, Heath Pedigo, started with little more than a dream and an old, rundown laundromat called Daisy Fresh. Fighters lived and trained there—literally. They slept in sleeping bags on the mats or in their cars parked outside. Out of those humble beginnings came a team that dominated the Jiu Jitsu scene and gained recognition through a YouTube series by FloGrappling.
Today, the gym looks nothing like the rough setup it once was. It’s a two-story facility with dedicated spaces for Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, and strength training. The classes are packed, and the talent pool is global. During my visit, I met students from France, the UK, Italy, and Australia—all drawn to train under Heath. It’s no surprise that many of them leave as champions.
One standout athlete I had the chance to meet and photograph was Michael Pixley, who was recently sponsored by my friend’s company, VHTS. Pixley is a phenomenon. At 6’2” or 6’3” and around 220 pounds, he’s lean, powerful, and versatile—a multidisciplinary athlete with a background in judo and a three-time NCAA wrestling title to his name. And here’s the kicker: he’s only a purple belt, two levels below black belt. Yet, he’s beating black belts in competition.
Pixley’s schedule is grueling, but he still finds time to coach youth wrestling, which says a lot about his character. His success isn’t about secret moves or flashy techniques—it’s about mastery of the fundamentals across multiple disciplines. That philosophy seems to define Pedigo Submission Fighting as a whole.
What this trip—and my time at Pedigo—reminded me is that the best gyms don’t rely on gimmicks. Their strength lies in relentless discipline, a commitment to fundamentals, and a culture that fosters growth for everyone.
Below are photos from my experience with Michael Pixley and Pedigo Submission Fighting.
