Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2026

Dan Carlson with his Young Warriors
story by Cherie Ward photos by Katherine Sowers
THE
ISSUE
Young Warriors Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Dan Carlson didn’t open Steel Coast Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because the Gulf Coast needed another gym, he opened it because he believed it could feel different.
“We were looking to create a more competitive community- driven type of facility,” Carlson said. “A place families would feel comfortable. It would be fun. Everyone would get better. Together.”
Opened in October 2023, Steel Coast was built on two pillars— have fun and get good at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. For Carlson—a black belt who has trained for more than two decades, traveled, competed, and coached at high levels—it’s that balance that matters.
“I strongly believe that for the team to reach it’s potential all team members need to be comfortable spending time at the facility,” he said.
Inside the Gulfport gym, that philosophy plays out daily. On the mats, three-year-olds learn to roll through obstacle courses while older kids practice technique and focus. Adults members train alongside high level competitors, parents, and first-timers simply looking for something new.
The age span stretches nearly six decades—from toddlers to a 62-year-old who recently competed in a tournament. “I thought he was 52,” Carlson said, laughing. “After the tournament, he was sitting on the bench exhausted, and said, ‘Not bad for a guy who can pull Social Security.’ I just thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s awesome.’”
That mix—young, old, competitive, curious—is exactly what Carlson hoped to achieve. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is, at its core, a combat sport, but competitive success is not the only goal of the martial art.
72 | April 2026
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