Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Taylor.
Hi Kali, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t grow up in jiu-jitsu—I found it as an adult, and it completely changed my life.
I started training around 5 years ago and quickly realized it was so much more than just a workout. It gave me confidence, structure, and a sense of purpose that carried into every area of my life. As a mom and a business owner, I was used to pouring into everyone else, but jiu-jitsu became something that was just mine—and at the same time, it made me better for everything and everyone around me.
As I got deeper into the sport, I became more involved on the business and marketing side of academies, while my husband, Cory Taylor, continued to grow as a high-level competitor and coach. We saw firsthand what worked, what didn’t, and what was missing in a lot of gyms—especially when it came to creating a space that truly supports families, beginners, and people who just want to feel safe and capable.
Evolv came from that.
We built Evolv Jiu Jitsu from the ground up with a very clear vision: a place where people can walk in exactly as they are and leave stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s not just about producing great athletes (although that’s part of it), it’s about building confident kids, empowering women, and creating a community that people actually feel a part of.
We’ve poured everything into it—time, energy, resources, and a lot of heart. And now, getting to watch people step onto the mats for the first time, or come back to something they’ve missed for years, it’s exactly why we started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not even close—and honestly, I don’t think anything worth building ever is.
There have been a lot of challenges, both expected and completely unexpected. From a business standpoint, we were building Evolv Jiu Jitsu from scratch—figuring out the right space, navigating buildout, inspections, timelines, and all the behind-the-scenes logistics that people don’t see. There were moments where things moved quickly, and others where it felt like everything stalled at once.
Financially, it’s a big leap. We invested a lot into something we truly believed in, without any guarantees. That comes with pressure—especially when you have a family and other responsibilities.
On a personal level, balancing everything has probably been the hardest part. I’m a mom, I run a marketing agency, and I’ve been deeply involved in building this business from the ground up. There were a lot of late nights, a lot of stress, and moments of questioning if we were doing the right thing.
When you build something like this with your spouse, it pushes you. You’re making big decisions together, handling stress differently, and learning how to communicate through all of it. It’s not always easy—but it’s also been a huge part of the growth.
But every challenge has reinforced why we’re doing this. Seeing people walk through the doors, especially kids gaining confidence or adults finding their way back to jiu-jitsu—it makes every hard moment worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Evolv BJJ. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Evolv Jiu Jitsu is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy built around one core idea: helping people become more confident, capable, and resilient—on and off the mats.
At the highest level, we teach jiu-jitsu. But what we really do is create an environment where people can grow. That includes kids learning discipline and confidence, women learning practical self-defense, and adults building strength, skill, and a sense of purpose through training.
We offer structured classes for all levels—from true beginners to experienced athletes—with a strong emphasis on fundamentals, safety, and long-term progression. Our programs include kids classes, adult fundamentals, advanced training, no-gi, and specialty offerings like women’s self-defense. Everything is designed to meet people where they are and give them a clear path forward.
What sets us apart is how intentional everything is.
My husband, Cory Taylor, leads the instruction with over a decade of experience and a very modern, systemized approach to teaching. There’s real structure behind what we do—it’s not random techniques thrown together. Students understand *why* things work, not just *how* to do them.
From my side, coming from a marketing and brand background, I’ve been very focused on building a space and experience that feels elevated but still welcoming. We wanted something that didn’t feel intimidating or outdated—something families, beginners, and even people who never saw themselves in a martial arts gym would feel comfortable walking into.
We’re also deeply community-driven. This isn’t just a place to train—it’s a place to belong. Whether someone is here to compete or just to feel stronger and more confident in their everyday life, they matter here.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how aligned everything is. The message, the experience, the environment—it all reflects the same mission. Nothing feels thrown together or transactional. It’s intentional, and people can feel that when they walk in.
What I want people to know is that you don’t have to be “in shape” or experienced to start. You don’t have to be tough or athletic. You just have to walk through the door.
We’ll take care of the rest.
What does success mean to you?
Success has evolved a lot for me.
At one point, I probably would’ve defined it by growth—numbers, revenue, how fast something was scaling. And while those things matter when you’re running a business, they’re not what I measure success by anymore.
Now, success looks like alignment.
With Evolv Jiu Jitsu, it’s about building something that actually reflects what we believe in and seeing that translate into real impact. It’s the mom who tells us her child is more confident. It’s the woman who says she finally feels capable of protecting herself. It’s the person who walked in unsure and now can’t imagine their life without training.
It’s also being able to build this alongside my husband, Cory Taylor, and create something that supports our family—not just financially, but in the way we live our lives and spend our time.
Of course, we want the gym to grow. We want a full room, a thriving business, and longevity. But not at the expense of the culture or the people inside it.
So for me, success is building something meaningful, doing it the right way, and knowing that it’s making a real difference in people’s lives.
Pricing:
- Roosterweight Unlimited Membership (4-8 Years Old): $120/month
- Featherweight Unlimited Membership (9-15 Years Old): $150/month
- Adult Unlimited Membership (14+): $150/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evolvbjj.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/evolvbjj
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/evolvbjj
