About
Bio
I’m Doug! I coach Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu, teach Urban Kiz, organize events under Matrix of Movement, and build web projects. My work lives at the intersection of movement, connection, and how we learn.
My journey on the mats started like most—collecting techniques, hoping they’d finally make me feel in control. Then I found dance, and realized connection was its own kind of power. I’ve been coaching BJJ for 5+ years now, and over that time, my approach evolved. I started by teaching moves, then moved to systematic approaches based on information processing models. But I kept hitting walls. My students did too. The patterns worked in class but crumbled under pressure; the steps made sense but didn’t translate to real connection.
Then I discovered ecological dynamics and the Constraints‑Led Approach. These frameworks shifted my focus from prescribing solutions to designing problems. Later, I found Perceptual Control Theory, which gave me the “why” behind the “how”—a way to understand that we move to control what we perceive, not just to execute patterns. Together, PCT and CLA became the foundation of everything I do.
In the Kiz world, my path was different. I started as a social dancer, fell in love with the music and the conversation, and eventually founded Matrix of Movement to create spaces where dancers could connect and grow. I’ve been organizing events, watching how people learn, and shaping environments that foster authentic connection. Now, I’m stepping onto the floor as a teacher—the new kid on the block, but bringing with me everything I’ve learned about perception, movement, and the art of creating safe, playful spaces for growth.
As a programmer, I came up during a shift from object‑oriented to functional methodologies—a transition that taught me a lot about how different paradigms shape the way we solve problems. It’s no coincidence that my coaching followed a similar arc.
Today, I coach BJJ athletes using PCT and CLA. I’m building a new approach to Urban Kiz that prioritizes connection, musicality, and real‑time adaptation over memorized patterns. And behind the scenes, I’m always thinking about how technology, movement, and community intersect.
When I’m not coaching or organizing, you’ll find me coding, reading, or somewhere on the floor—either rolling or dancing.
Methodology
The Philosophy: Perceptual Control Theory (PCT)
At its heart, Perceptual Control Theory says that we don’t act to achieve outcomes—we act to perceive the outcomes we want. Your nervous system constantly compares what you’re sensing with what you intend to sense, and it adjusts your movements until the two match.
This means your body already knows how to solve problems. My job is not to pour techniques into you, but to help you refine your perception—so you can feel the difference between a good grip and a great one, or sense the moment your partner’s weight shifts before they move.
The Environment: Constraints‑Led Approach (CLA)
If PCT explains why we move, CLA explains how we create the conditions for movement to emerge. Instead of drilling isolated techniques, I set up task‑based games that naturally guide you toward solutions. By manipulating constraints—like removing a limb, changing the rules, or shifting the space—your body discovers adaptable, context‑aware skills that work under pressure.
The Cycle: Iterative Reorganization Method (IRM)
These two frameworks come together in the Iterative Reorganization Method, a four‑step cycle we use in every session:
- Task‑Based Game – We start with a live scenario that reveals the real problem.
- Explore Your Experience – We pause and reflect, building awareness of what you felt and what stopped you.
- Introduce a Clear Tool – I offer a principle or detail to test against that problem.
- Integrate and Rebuild – You return to the game, refine, and repeat.
This cycle mirrors how your brain learns naturally: perceive, act, compare, adjust. It builds skill that sticks—not because you’ve memorized it, but because you’ve discovered it for yourself.
Why This Matters
Whether you’re on the mats or the dance floor, you’re not a machine. You’re a living system, constantly sensing and responding. My coaching helps you trust that system, develop deeper awareness, and move with purpose—without losing the playfulness that makes growth fun.