Some traditions are built around music.
Ours is built around Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Every time Biohazard tours Europe, Billy Graziadei and I make it a priority to meet somewhere along the tour. This year, our tradition continued in Stuttgart, where we once again rolled on the mats, shared a meal, spent time backstage with the band and crew, and finished the day by watching another unforgettable Biohazard performance—this time from the side of the stage.
What started years ago as a single training session has become something I genuinely look forward to every time Biohazard comes to Europe.
From the Stage to the Mats
Like always, the day began with Jiu-Jitsu.
Away from the noise of the venue, Billy and I enjoyed another technical training session, exchanging techniques, rolling, laughing, and simply enjoying our shared passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
This time, we weren’t alone on the mats. Joining us were Cary Singman, guitarist of Striking13, and Matt Garzilli, guitarist of Sworn Enemy. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring together musicians from different bands through a common passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Training with Billy, Cary, and Matt created an incredible atmosphere. It wasn’t about who was on stage or who was in the audience—it was simply a group of friends sharing the mats, learning from one another, and enjoying the art of Jiu-Jitsu.
This was already my third training session with Billy during Biohazard’s European tours, and every time we step onto the mats, it feels as though we are simply continuing where we left off.
Jiu-Jitsu has an incredible way of bringing people together, regardless of where they come from or what they do for a living. On the mats, everyone speaks the same language.
Why I Bring the Mats
People often ask me how these training sessions happen.
The answer is simple: I load my mats into the car and drive to wherever the band is playing.
Whether it’s a concert hall, an arena, or a festival, I bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the artists.
Touring musicians spend months away from home. Between long drives, flights, interviews, soundchecks, and performances, finding the time and a suitable place to train can be almost impossible. My goal is to make that as easy as possible by bringing the mats directly to them.
But this project means much more to me than simply organizing a training session.
Music has always been a huge part of my life.
Since I was a teenager, bands like Biohazard have been there through every stage of my journey. Their music accompanied me through difficult moments, celebrated victories with me, motivated me to keep moving forward, and became part of the soundtrack of my life.
Today, thanks to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I have the opportunity to give something back.
If I can offer these artists a couple of hours to disconnect from the pressure of touring, train, laugh, and enjoy themselves on the mats, then I feel I am returning a small part of everything their music has given me over the years.
That is what Backstage Jiu-Jitsu is really about.
It’s not about backstage passes.
It’s not about exclusive access.
It’s about gratitude.
More Than Just Training
After training, we shared dinner together before spending the evening backstage with the entire Biohazard family.
It was another opportunity to enjoy great conversations, catch up on life, and spend quality time with genuinely amazing people.
Billy Graziadei, Evan Seinfeld, Danny Schuler, and Bobby Hambel are not only pioneers of hardcore music—they are humble, welcoming, and incredibly genuine people.
Every time I spend time with them, they make me feel like part of the family.
A special thank you also goes to the entire Biohazard crew, whose kindness and hospitality always make these visits unforgettable.
Watching Biohazard from the Stage
As the lights went down, I had the privilege of watching Biohazard’s performance directly from the side of the stage.
It’s a perspective very few people ever experience.
Standing just a few meters away while witnessing one of the most influential hardcore bands of all time perform live is something difficult to describe.
The intensity, the connection with the audience, and the energy shared between the band and their fans remind you why Biohazard continues to inspire generations after all these years.
Watching the concert from the stage was the perfect ending to another unforgettable day.
More Than Music
When I first listened to Biohazard as a teenager, I never imagined that one day I would call these musicians my friends.
I certainly never imagined that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu would create a bridge between our worlds.
Today, every European tour has become another opportunity to reconnect—not only to train with Billy but also to spend time with people I genuinely admire, both as artists and as human beings.
I want to sincerely thank Billy Graziadei, Evan Seinfeld, Danny Schuler, Bobby Hambel, Cary Singman, Matt Garzilli, and the entire Biohazard crew for another incredible day in Stuttgart.
Moments like these remind me why I started the Backstage Jiu-Jitsu project. Music has given me so much throughout my life, and being able to give something back through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a privilege I’ll never take for granted.
The next European tour can’t come soon enough. Until then, the mats are already packed in the car, ready for the next adventure.