In this milestone 500th episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Will McKee, Jiu Jitsu black belt and founder of Asylum Jiu Jitsu in Aledo, Texas.
Will shares his transformative journey from a 255-pound medical operations manager to a confident, mission-driven Jiu Jitsu practitioner shedding 60 pounds and rebuilding his mental health along the way.
Will opens up about the physical and mental transformation he's experienced through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), emphasizing self-confidence, resilience, and discipline.
He explains how he coaches kids to embrace competition without pressure, creating a gym culture where every student child or adult can grow, learn, and overcome real obstacles.
The conversation dives into Jiu Jitsu culture at large: the balance between competition and personal growth, the importance of a safe training environment, and the darker sides of martial arts culture that Asylum Jiu Jitsu was built to push back against.
Despite its name, Will explains, Asylum isn't a cage it's a place of refuge, structure, and freedom, closer to a monastery than an asylum in the traditional sense.
Will also reflects on his own mental health struggles and how Jiu Jitsu became his sanctuary during the hardest chapters of his life. He shares stories of student progress, his approach to mentorship, and his mission to be the coach he wished he'd had growing up — shaped in part by his relationship with his own father.
If you're interested in martial arts, BJJ, mental health, fitness transformation, or raising resilient kids, this milestone episode of Better Call Daddy delivers all of it.
🎙️ What's In This Episode
- Will McKee's journey from medical operations manager to Jiu Jitsu black belt
- His 60-pound weight loss transformation through BJJ
- How Jiu Jitsu improved his mental health and self-confidence
- Coaching kids in competition without pressure or fear of failure
- Building Asylum Jiu Jitsu as a safe, supportive training environment
- The balance between competition and personal growth in martial arts
- Confronting the darker side of Jiu Jitsu culture
- Why Asylum Jiu Jitsu is a space for freedom, not confinement
- Community, mentorship, and student success stories
- Lessons from his relationship with his father
💭 Memorable Quotes from Will McKee
"Jiu Jitsu is about helping people. I want to create a safe place for everyone to train."
"It's not about winning or losing — it's about learning and growing from every experience."
⏱️ Timestamps
- (00:00) Introducing Will McKee, Jiu Jitsu black belt and founder of Asylum Jiu Jitsu
- (05:15) His 60-pound weight loss journey through BJJ
- (15:30) Building confidence in kids through martial arts
- (25:00) Community and mentorship at Asylum Jiu Jitsu
- (35:45) Competition vs. personal growth on the mats
- (45:00) Mental health, resilience, and finding freedom through Jiu Jitsu
👤 About Will McKee / Asylum Jiu Jitsu
Will McKee is a Jiu Jitsu black belt and founder of Asylum Jiu Jitsu, based in Aledo, Texas. After a career in medical operations, Will transformed his own life through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has since built a gym culture centered on safety, mentorship, and personal growth for students of all ages. His mission: prove that Asylum isn't a cage — it's a space for freedom, discipline, and community.
Keywords: Asylum Jiu Jitsu, Will McKee, BJJ, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Aledo Texas, martial arts mental health, Jiu Jitsu weight loss, Better Call Daddy podcast
🔗 Connect with Will McKee / Asylum Jiu Jitsu
Instagram: Asylum Jiu Jitsu | Will McKee, BJJ
🔗 Connect with Reena Friedman Watts
Website: bettercalldaddy.com | LinkedIn: Reena Friedman Watts | Instagram: @reenafriedmanwatts
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