Cole Abate: Rebuilding Stronger for The Crown

Filmed inside Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Costa Mesa, California, this episode follows Cole Abate as he prepares for one of the biggest challenges of his young career — The Crown 2025. After an early career injury and a comeback season filled with gold medals at No-Gi Worlds and Brasileiros, Cole reflects on the lessons that shaped his evolution as a black belt. With unmatched discipline and a student’s mindset, he’s ready to face a stacked featherweight division featuring world champions and rising stars. Alongside IBJJF Hall of Famer Guilherme Mendes, Cole opens up about: -How he rebuilt his confidence after injury -The technical and mental adjustments behind his return to elite form -What makes the featherweight division the most unpredictable in Jiu-Jitsu -His vision for long-term consistency and dominance at the top -AOJ’s philosophy of precision, discipline, and excellence that continues to shape new champions Gui Mendes breaks down Cole’s growth from prodigy to professional — revealing why his student’s technical understanding is years beyond his age and how AOJ’s relentless approach to improvement is preparing him for The Crown. 📺 Watch now to go behind the scenes with one of Jiu-Jitsu’s brightest young athletes as he takes the next step toward greatness.