Jacob McKee

Jacob McKee, widely known as "Budo Jake," was born on July 9, 1974, and began his martial arts journey at age 12 through karate and later kempo. Neither discipline held his long-term interest, but both opened the door to a lifelong path of practice. His eventual discovery of aikido proved transformative — its emphasis on mental discipline, honour, and continuous self-improvement resonated with his values in ways the earlier styles had not. Through years of dedicated training, Jake earned a 3rd degree black belt in aikido, a rank that reflects the genuine depth of his commitment to traditional martial arts.

In 1999, Jake moved to Japan, where he lived until 2002, immersing himself in traditional Asian martial arts culture. That period shaped him both practically and professionally: he built lasting relationships with Japanese martial arts content producers — contacts that would later serve as a critical foundation for his ventures in martial arts media.

Following his return from Japan in 2002, Jake co-founded BudoVideos in 2003 alongside his friend Dave Contreras, known as "Budo Dave." The timing was significant — the internet boom had not yet fully democratized access to martial arts content, YouTube did not yet exist, and many disciplines remained largely inaccessible to practitioners outside specialized communities. BudoVideos was built to fill that void, offering footage and instructional content across a wide variety of martial arts to audiences around the world.

The relationships Jake had established in Japan provided the initial pipeline for sourcing and distributing traditional Asian martial arts content. Over time, BudoVideos grew into one of the largest martial arts retailers and content producers globally. As Jake's personal involvement in Brazilian jiu-jitsu deepened from 2005 onward, BudoVideos expanded its catalog into grappling material — beginning with early instructional tapes from Renzo Gracie, Cesar Gracie, and Rorion Gracie — before ultimately becoming one of the most prominent sellers and producers of jiu-jitsu content in the world.

Finding the Right Mat

Despite his awareness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu through events like the UFC, Jake had long maintained a philosophical distance from the sport. He viewed its sparring-focused approach as misaligned with the mental discipline and honour that drew him to traditional Asian martial arts. That perspective shifted in 2005, when his wife first brought him to the mats — a step that coincided with Gracie Barra establishing its United States headquarters.

Jake began training at Gracie Barra HQ under an exceptional group of instructors, including Carlos Gracie Jr., Marcio Feitosa, Marco Joca, and André Fernandes. Although his wife stepped away from training after approximately a year, Jake had by that point found within BJJ precisely what he had sought in traditional martial arts: depth, personal growth, and a genuine framework for continuous self-improvement. He continued training with full commitment.

Belt Progression and Black Belt

Marcio Feitosa served as Jake's primary coach and oversaw his progression through the belt ranks. As Feitosa's organizational responsibilities within Gracie Barra expanded and required him to travel frequently, Kayron Gracie and Otavio Sousa stepped in as regular instructors. Feitosa formally awarded Jake all of his belts through brown. In 2013, Carlos Gracie Jr. awarded Jake his black belt — a meaningful distinction that underscored the depth of his connection to the Gracie Barra lineage.

A Historic First

One of Jake's most enduring contributions to the sport came not on the competition mats but behind the camera. In 2008, BudoVideos made history by live streaming the 2008 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship — the first time an IBJJF major event had ever been broadcast live to a global audience. The broadcast represented a genuine turning point for the sport, bringing professional-quality production values to jiu-jitsu competition and exposing the discipline to a far wider viewership than had previously been possible.

Expanding the Sport's Reach

The success of that inaugural broadcast validated the concept and established BudoVideos as the essential production partner for major grappling events. BudoVideos subsequently continued live streaming coverage for the IBJJF's and ADCC's most significant events, dramatically expanding the sport's visibility in the years that followed. These broadcasts are widely credited with professionalizing BJJ's public image, raising the standard of how the sport is presented and consumed, and broadening its global fanbase in ways that continue to shape the landscape of competitive jiu-jitsu.

Voice of the Community

Beyond production and broadcasting, Jake became a recognizable and respected voice in the BJJ community through his work as a host and media personality. He hosted and produced several influential programs — including This Week in BJJ, Rolled Up, and IBJJF TV — bringing interviews, technique breakdowns, and event coverage to practitioners and fans around the world.

From Media Figure to Coach

In 2011, Jake opened a matted training area at the BudoVideos headquarters, initially conceived as a filming space and a place to train alongside colleagues. Over time, that mat space evolved into a genuine coaching environment, where Jake began teaching BJJ for the first time, working primarily with employees and friends. This shift from media figure to instructor represented a natural progression — one that brought his roles as practitioner, producer, and community contributor into closer alignment.

Competing at the Black Belt Level

Jake's commitment to BJJ extended to active competition at the black belt level. Competing in the Senior 1 division, he won the American National Championship in 2013 and placed second at the Las Vegas Summer Open that same year — demonstrating that his engagement with the sport went well beyond broadcasting and into the lived experience of competition.