18 - The Warrior Poet – Shiloh Burchfield on Bringing BJJ to Southwest Missouri & Building Neosho BJJ

On this episode of The GRYND we sit down with Shiloh Burchfield — black belt, owner of Neosho BJJ, and the definition of a warrior poet. A large, powerful presence on the mats who is equally known for his humility, intelligence, and deep respect for the art.

Shiloh shares:

• Growing up with a big family of brothers and sisters and always being drawn to fighting

• How he and his brothers tracked down training in the early days when BJJ was still rare in the region

• Standing on the shoulders of the giants — the early 2000s pioneers who believed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and put in the work to bring it to Missouri

• What it actually looks like to own and run a BJJ gym in a smaller town (the daily grind, culture, teaching, and competition)

• His continued competitive journey as a black belt under Gracie Humaita and the lessons that come with still stepping on the mats at a high level

This is a conversation about lineage, respect for those who came before, the responsibility of carrying the art forward, and the quiet grind of building something lasting in your community.

If you train BJJ in the Midwest, respect the pioneers who made it possible, or just love hearing from high-level instructors who stay humble — this episode is for you.

Drop a comment: Who are the “giants” you stand on the shoulders of in your own journey?