When Kit Dale Walked Into Monterey… and Smashed Me

Some days you plan your training.
Other days, training plans you.

It was just another evening at our jiu-jitsu studio in Monterey. I had my gi  and my usual mindset: survive class, maybe even pull off something that doesn’t look like a baby giraffe learning to walk.

Then the door opened, and in walked Kit Dale.

Yes. That Kit Dale. The Australian black belt. The quick-witted trash talker. The guy who was out there before Craig Jones made mullets famous. The guy whose game I’ve watched, studied, and maybe tried to copy during late-night YouTube binges.

Now, “rolling” might be a generous term for what happened. What really happened is this: Kit Dale demonstrated the many ways a human body can be folded, rotated, and gently reminded of its own mortality. It was like being in a highlight reel, except I was the highlight victim.

But here’s the thing, getting smashed by Kit Dale wasn’t humiliating. It was a rush. For someone who’s been in jiu-jitsu for years, it was like meeting a living piece of the sport’s history. He’s the precursor to Craig Jones, a pioneer in his own right, and somehow, he ended up here, on our mats, at Elite Team Monterey.

It was completely unplanned, but absolutely unforgettable.

Random moments like that, rooted in the love of jiu-jitsu, are exactly why we made MatClips. They keep your skills sharp, but not your fingernails, so you can roll hard without scratching your partner. Because no one wants to walk away from an epic roll with a legendary black belt… and a claw mark on their neck.

So here’s to surprises, smashed egos, and keeping the mats friendly.

Chuck, Grit Knives