Joe Lauzon built one of New England’s most respected academies after his UFC career…

But running a gym that size for over two decades has taught him that the toughest membership decisions rarely involve genuinely bad actors.

Speaking on Matt Serra’s podcast, Lauzon explained that the most difficult calls usually involve well-meaning students who simply grate on everyone else in the room:

We’ve kind of screwed ourselves a little bit because it’s like, oh, Jiu-Jitsu is for everybody. But then it’s like, oh, this kid’s really annoying and really weird and we’re trying to not exclude people.
We’re trying to involve everyone, but this kid’s really ruffling a lot of feathers.

For me, it’s not the malicious people. It’s the mostly harmless but super annoying people you have to deal with. To me, that’s the hardest people to deal with.

Serra, who runs his own academy, agreed and said his approach to ownership has shifted over time:

I kind of consider it more of a club now, because it’s my retirement. Both me and you deserve to live the way we want to live now and run it the way we want to run it.

He broke down the calculation behind removing someone:

I don’t dislike this guy that I’m about to get rid of but he’s making it up… There’s five, six, seven other [guys], he’s ruining their time.
So what am I going to do? Am I going to sacrifice, not hurt his feelings, and have these guys leave?

You got to do what’s best for the many.

Lauzon added that these situations are genuinely harder to resolve than dealing with someone acting with clear bad intent:

It’s easier to get rid of people when they’re being malicious, though, or they’re intentionally a jerk, right?
Way harder when someone’s just an idiot and they just don’t realize that they’re pissing people off.

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents

💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win? 💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers? It’s not your age. It’s your strategy. If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you. 🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:

Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu

Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.

Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.