BJJ

What You Need To Know About Daisy Fresh BJJ

What You Need To Know About Daisy Fresh BJJ

Heath Pedigo is the founder, owner, and head instructor of Daisy Fresh BJJ, aka Pedigo Submission Fighting.

Daisy Fresh BJJ is more than just a gym. It is a place where practitioners learn that hard work and dedication is the key to success. It is a place where people come to learn BJJ and find a second family. And it is a reminder that no matter where you come from or what your background is, you can achieve great things if you are willing to put in the work.

Daisy Fresh BJJ shows the real meaning of BJJ, where practitioners not only practice BJJ but rather live according to the sublime, effective, and healthy teachings of the BJJ. And that is why Daisy Fresh BJJ takes pride in its teaching methods.

1. Daisy Fresh BJJ

Daisy Fresh BJJ is also known under the name Pedigo Submission Fighting Team (PSF). The team, based out of the Pedigo Submission Fighting gym, has gained a massive following in the BJJ community due to its unique approach to training and competitive BJJ.

The team is led by coach and founder, Heath Pedigo, who has built a reputation for his unorthodox style and ability to develop talent. Despite coming from a small town and lacking the resources of larger BJJ schools, Pedigo has turned his team into a force to be reckoned with, producing multiple IBJJF World Champions and top-level competitors.

Despite coming from different backgrounds and having different goals, the team members support and encourage each other both on and off the mats. And this support is the thing that distinguishes them from other BJJ academies.

2. Story Behind the Name “Daisy Fresh BJJ”

There was a small laundromat in the rural town of Mount Vernon, Illinois. The sign board over that laundromat was “Daisy Fresh”. From the outside, it looked like a laundromat but from the inside, it was a BJJ gym with the name Pedigo Submission Fighting. The owner and coach of the team Pedigo Fighting Team, never bothered removing that sign so the name of the gym remained and got famous as Daisy Fresh BJJ.

3. The Man Behind Daisy Fresh BJJ - Heath Pedigo

Heath Pedigo is a BJJ Black Belt under Rodrigo Vaghi. He is the head coach of Pedigo Submission Fighting Academy. It is the hard work of Heath Pedigo that today PSF Academy is one of the most successful BJJ academies.

“I had hundreds of notebooks filled with what you would imagine a mad scientist crossed with a football coach’s notebook to look like. Since that day in November, I always wanted to learn and teach. No matter how good I was at any other sport, Jiu-Jitsu was all that mattered. It was my life.”
Heath Pedigo

All his life, Pedigo remained focused on teaching BJJ. It was his dream to become a BJJ instructor.

4. History Behind Daisy Fresh BJJ

4.1. The Daisy Fresh Laundromat

In 1997, Heath Pedigo founded Pedigo Submission Fighting. But never changed the sign outside the gym that stated Daisy Fresh. So the name stuck with the Team and now it is called Daisy Fresh BJJ.

In an interview, some of the students said that many people entered the gym while holding a pile of laundry thinking that it was a laundromat. Little did people know that a simple-looking BJJ academy would be on the IBJJF charters today.

4.2. On the Road to Success

The aggressive fighting style of the practitioners made them a famous team and today PSF is an academy, every BJJ practitioner wants to be a part of. For a very long time, the gym had a small number of students, but as the team started winning international championships, more students enrolled in it.

5. Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle

At Pedigo Submission Fighting Academy, building a community is considered just as important as the training itself. The gym welcomes everyone, from beginners to seasoned fighters, and provides a supportive environment. The instructors and members work together to help each other grow, both on and off the mat, and friendships that last a lifetime are often formed within the walls of the gym.

The gym is like a home to practitioners. Living together has developed love and understanding among them and that is why the PSF team is one of the strongest BJJ teams.

5.1. Dedication to the Sport

BJJ athletes at PSF have dedicated their lives to the sport. These athletes train hard, compete often, and support each other. The gym is known for its unconventional approach to training, with a focus on drilling and positional sparring rather than traditional live rolling. This approach has proven successful, with many Daisy Fresh athletes winning titles both in the gym and on the competition circuit.

5.2. Personal Growth of Practitioners

Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle is more than just winning medals. It is about living a lifestyle that values health, wellness, and personal growth. At PSF, you can find the true teachings of BJJ. The gym encourages members to reach their full potential both on and off the mat.

5.3. Team Spirit - The Key to Success

One of the unique aspects of Daisy Fresh BJJ lifestyle is the team’s commitment to living together in a shared house. This allows for a strong sense of team spirit, as athletes train and cook together. They support each other through the highs and lows of competition and daily life. This lifestyle is not present in every gym, but for those who embrace it. It provides them with a sense of belonging.

Overall, Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle is a unique and inspiring community that values hard work, determination, and a love for BJJ.

6. Panda Express Sponsorship

The students at Daisy Fresh BJJ live an elementary life. In the past, they had little money that came from competitions. Whenever they won competitions, they used to celebrate by eating out at Panda Express. Due to their love for Panda Express, Andrew Wiltse, a renowned student at PSF, reached out to them and got a sponsorship.

The partnership between Daisy Fresh BJJ and Panda Express began in 2021 when the restaurant chain reached out to the team with a proposal to sponsor Andrew Wiltse.

Panda Express is a popular American fast-food chain known for its delicious Chinese cuisine. This sponsorship has created quite a buzz in the BJJ community, with many people wondering how a team known for its unconventional approach to training and lifestyle ended up partnering with a fast-food giant. But that’s what luck and hard work are, right!

6.1. Financial Support

Since then, the partnership has been a huge success for both parties. Panda Express proved as a financial benefactor to Daisy Fresh BJJ, helping the team to continue its mission of providing high-quality training and support to athletes of all levels. In return, Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle has helped to promote Panda Express through social media and other channels, showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to healthy and delicious food options.

6.2. Focus on Health

The partnership has also helped to break down stereotypes about BJJ athletes and their diets. While many people assume that fighters subsist on a diet of pizza and fast food, Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle has shown that this is not the case.

The team takes nutrition and health seriously, and the partnership with Panda Express has allowed them to promote healthy eating habits.

“By working together, the two parties have shown that health, wellness, and delicious food can go hand in hand.”

7. Flograppling & Daisy Fresh BJJ

Flograppling is a popular online platform for BJJ enthusiasts, featuring news, live events, and exclusive content from top athletes and teams around the world. One of the teams that have gained a strong following on Flograppling is Daisy Fresh BJJ. Following are the some episodes of the PSF team where their daily life with BJJ is showcased:

Note: These videos are taken from the YouTube of FloGrappling

The documentary series: “Daisy Fresh: An American Jiu-Jitsu Story” has gained PSF enough fame. Daisy Fresh BJJ has become known for its unconventional approach to training and lifestyle, with a focus on drilling and positional sparring rather than traditional live rolling. The team has also gained a reputation for its commitment to community and its unique living arrangement, with team members sharing a house and supporting each other both on and off the mat.

Flograppling has taken notice of Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle’s success and has featured the team in a number of articles, videos, and live events. Flograppling has also made a series of episodes on the team where their routine and fighting techniques are discussed. This exposure has helped to bring the team to a wider audience.

7.1. Struggles & Sacrifices

The documentary series highlights the struggles and sacrifices that the team members face as they chase their dreams of becoming champions. From working long hours at blue-collar jobs to training in makeshift facilities, the team is a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance.

8. Daisy Fresh BJJ Headquarters

The Daisy Fresh BJJ headquarters is located in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Mt. Vernon is a small town with a population of approximately 15,000. There are a few branches of PSF in the United States as Heath Pedigo’s focus was an efficient team not branches of his institute.

9. The Future of Daisy Fresh BJJ

One thing about Daisy Fresh BJJ is certain, the team shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, they have big plans for the future. One of the team’s main goals is to continue to develop and promote its unique approach to training and competition. This includes their focus on drilling and positional sparring, as well as their commitment to community and support.

Daisy Fresh BJJ also has plans to expand its reach and impact in the BJJ community. This includes working with new sponsors and partners and collaborating with other teams and athletes in the sport. The team also hopes to offer more opportunities for its members to compete and showcase their skills on national and international levels.

Another important goal for Daisy Fresh BJJ Lifestyle is to continue to inspire and empower the next generation of BJJ athletes. PSF is based on the belief that BJJ is wholly concerned about the betterment and transformation of people’s lives. That is why PSF is dedicated to inspiring the future generation to propagate the teachings of BJJ.

10. Tight-Knit Culture of Daisy Fresh BJJ

It is a tight-knit community of athletes who support each other both on and off the mat. This unique culture has helped the team to achieve great success in competition and has earned them a loyal following among BJJ enthusiasts around the world.

The team is based in Mount Vernon, Illinois, where its members share a house and train together daily. This close living arrangement has allowed the team to develop strong bonds.

11. Daisy Fresh BJJ - Top Competitors

11.1. Andrew Wiltse

Andrew Wiltse is a BJJ Black Belt under Heath Pedigo. He was Pedigo Submission Fighting’s first Black Belt who gained international fame for the whole team. His performance at IBJJF was worth watching as he won 5 World Titles.

Year Championship Position
2020 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 2nd
2015 IBJJF World Championship 1st
2015 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2017 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2019 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2015 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st
2019 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st

11.2. Sathya “Bird” Wiltse

Sathya Wiltse is currently a Brown Belt World Champion. He is the younger brother of Andrew Wiltse. He is famous for his lethal straight ankle lock.

11.3. Michael Pixley

Michael Pixley is a Blue Belt world champion. He is famous for his quick submission and no doubt, he will be soon over the IBJJF charters while winning gold medals.

Year Championship Position
2021 Sub Spectrum: Des Moines Open 1st
2020 Sub Spectrum: Des Moines Open Fall 1st

11.4. Jacob Couch

Jacob Couch, also known as, The Hillbilly Hammer, is a BJJ Black Belt under Heath Pedigo. Jacob is one of the most decorated fighters of the PSF Academy. He won many gold medals in the IBJJF and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu championships.

Year Championship Position
2021 ADCC East Coast Trials 3rd
2012 WNO Tournament 3rd
2018 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2021 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2022 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st
2020 AJP Grand Slam, MIA 1st
2020 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st
2022 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st

12. Daisy Fresh BJJ - IBJJF Ranking

Daisy Fresh BJJ or PSF is ranked 14th on the IBJJF academies ranking list. PSF is the leading academy in the IBJJF Pan Championships.

13. FAQs

13.1. What is the Meaning of Daisy Fresh?

The term Daisy Fresh means energetic and enthusiastic and that is why PSF is still known with this name in the BJJ circle.

13.2. How Much Does Daisy Fresh BJJ Charge You For a Class?

Daisy Fresh BJJ charges you 1 day a week for $59.00 a month or 2 days a week for $89.00 a month.

14. Conclusion

Daisy Fresh BJJ is a home to BJJ practitioners where they learn BJJ techniques together. Their instructor Heath Pedigo is rightly famous for the creation of one of the strongest BJJ teams. The lifestyle at Daisy Fresh BJJ is the most innovative thing about it. The practitioners live together and care for each other. And the documentary series with Flograppling gave insight into the lives of practitioners who reside in the gym. Andrew Wiltse, Sathya Wiltse, and Jacob Couch are some of the most decorated students of the PSF academy.

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