NLGA Mentor finishes 4th in World! - Mentor of Jiu Jitsu Gym in Scranton, PA

Everything about Josh Saunders' journey to becoming one of the best no-gi jiu-jitsu competitors in the world has been unconventional, perfectly aligning with his association with No Limits Grappling Academy.

As the number one ranked heavyweight in Australia, Saunders has experienced a meteoric rise in the sport, earning his black belt in an astonishing 3.5 years.

He has competed against elite athletes, including the current no-gi Kingpin Gordon Ryan, and recently achieved a top 4 finish at the ADCC, the world championships of no-gi jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling.

This uncommon drive and commitment to excellence convinced Matt Marcinek, Head Coach of No Limits Grappling Academy, that a partnership between a heavyweight from Sydney, Australia, and a small gym near Scranton, PA, was destined to happen.

A Unique Partnership

“Yeah, it definitely goes against the norm of what is usually done in jiu-jitsu,” Marcinek chuckles.

“I’ve always been a go-against-the-norm kind of guy my whole life. So, why stop now?”

Traditionally, when someone opens a gym, it’s in affiliation with a more experienced black belt with whom they have a longstanding relationship.

However, this is not the case with No Limits and Saunders.

In fact, Marcinek has been training for 22 years, while Saunders has only been training for 3.5 years.

Their relationship has developed over the last two years, but for Marcinek, it’s about quality over longevity and innovation over tradition.

Breaking Traditions

“When I opened No Limits, I made a promise to myself and to my athletes that I would bring the highest quality no-gi training to the Scranton area.

Once I heard Josh’s story and everything he’s accomplished in such a short time, I knew I needed to learn more.

After talking online and discovering how closely our mindsets and views on training and competing aligned, I knew I had to associate with and learn from Josh,” Marcinek explains.

Commitment to Excellence

The two communicate regularly online, discussing curriculum development, mental preparation, and technical advancement for all No Limits athletes.

While this approach may not be traditional, it is their shared commitment to excellence and desire to succeed that has made their relationship thrive.

An Uncommon Coaching Relationship

“Like we said, it’s not the typical affiliation. In fact, it’s not an affiliation at all.

Josh is my coach and, in turn, serves as a mentor and advisor to the gym.

It may not be the normal thing, but nothing about either of our stories—my opening a jiu-jitsu gym with cerebral palsy or him becoming one of the top grapplers in the world in under four years—is exactly common,” Marcinek adds.

Aiming for Abnormal Results

Now, the goal for these two men with extraordinary stories is to come together and bring abnormal results to the athletes of No Limits!

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