Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What happens when a life marked by violence, addiction, prison, and underground MMA is completely transformed by faith?
In this powerful episode of The Resilient Show, host Chad Robichaux sits down with Garrett Gross, a professional MMA fighter, gym owner, and Christian leader whose story is as raw as it is redemptive.
Garrett opens up about growing up in chaos, battling addiction from a young age, spending time in prison, and fighting professionally while still trapped in destructive cycles. From fighting with an ankle monitor to breaking his jaw on Dana White’s Contender Series, Garrett’s life looked successful on the outside but was completely broken within.
Everything changed when Garrett surrendered his life to Christ and committed to sobriety. Today, he runs Backwoods American Jiu Jitsu, mentors young men, disciples athletes, and runs Operation 17-2 to expose and stop child predators, placing himself directly in harm’s way to protect the innocent.
This is not a polished testimony.
It’s a real one.
If you’re searching for purpose, struggling with addiction, questioning what biblical manhood really means, or wondering if redemption is still possible, this episode is for you.
Follow Garrett on Instagram: instagram.com/officialgarrettgross
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 - The Hit That Failed
00:02:05 - Introducing Garrett Gross
00:03:56 - Stabbing Alligators with Project Savior
00:06:24 - Ministry for Vets and First Responders
00:10:13 - Diving into Swamps at Night
00:11:49 - Breaking My Jaw in Vegas
00:15:25 - Fighting Through a Broken Jaw
00:18:48 - American vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
00:22:21 - Why I Teach Jiu-Jitsu
00:27:28 - Childhood Abuse and Hardening
00:30:09 - 12 Years Old and Drunk
00:31:55 - Hitchhiking and the East St. Louis Incident
00:36:50 - Shot Twice Over a Drug Deal
00:38:03 - Eight Years in Prison
00:45:20 - Fighting with an Ankle Monitor
00:51:08 - The 6 A.M. Nashville Epiphany
00:57:30 - Being a Fake Christian
00:59:24 - Finding a Brotherhood of Men
01:08:58 - Anointing 3,000 Men with Oil
01:14:12 - The Problem with Entertainment Churches
01:20:23 - Hunting Predators: Operation 17:2
01:25:20 - How the Decoy Operation Works
01:31:13 - Sharing the Gospel with Predators
01:35:26 - The Vision for Rise Ranch
——
Stay up-to-date with all things Resilient by subscribing to our Resilient Times Newsletter: resilienttimes.substack.com
RESILIENT:
Follow Us On Patreon: patreon.com/theresilientshow
Follow Us On Instagram: instagram.com/resilientshow
Follow Us On Twitter: twitter.com/resilientshow
Follow Us On TikTok: tiktok.com/@resilientshow
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shop.theresilientshow.com
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instagram.com/chadrobo_official
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SLNT: slnt.com
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The Resilient Show is a proud supporter of military and first responder communities in partnership with Mighty Oaks Foundation.
What happens when a life marked by violence, addiction, prison, and underground MMA is completely transformed by faith?
In this powerful episode of The Resilient Show, host Chad Robichaux sits down with Garrett Gross, a professional MMA fighter, gym owner, and Christian leader whose story is as raw as it is redemptive.
Garrett opens up about growing up in chaos, battling addiction from a young age, spending time in prison, and fighting professionally while still trapped in destructive cycles. From fighting with an ankle monitor to breaking his jaw on Dana White’s Contender Series, Garrett’s life looked successful on the outside but was completely broken within.
Everything changed when Garrett surrendered his life to Christ and committed to sobriety. Today, he runs Backwoods American Jiu Jitsu, mentors young men, disciples athletes, and runs Operation 17-2 to expose and stop child predators, placing himself directly in harm’s way to protect the innocent.
This is not a polished testimony.
It’s a real one.
If you’re searching for purpose, struggling with addiction, questioning what biblical manhood really means, or wondering if redemption is still possible, this episode is for you.
Follow Garrett on Instagram: instagram.com/officialgarrettgross
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 - The Hit That Failed
00:02:05 - Introducing Garrett Gross
00:03:56 - Stabbing Alligators with Project Savior
00:06:24 - Ministry for Vets and First Responders
00:10:13 - Diving into Swamps at Night
00:11:49 - Breaking My Jaw in Vegas
00:15:25 - Fighting Through a Broken Jaw
00:18:48 - American vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
00:22:21 - Why I Teach Jiu-Jitsu
00:27:28 - Childhood Abuse and Hardening
00:30:09 - 12 Years Old and Drunk
00:31:55 - Hitchhiking and the East St. Louis Incident
00:36:50 - Shot Twice Over a Drug Deal
00:38:03 - Eight Years in Prison
00:45:20 - Fighting with an Ankle Monitor
00:51:08 - The 6 A.M. Nashville Epiphany
00:57:30 - Being a Fake Christian
00:59:24 - Finding a Brotherhood of Men
01:08:58 - Anointing 3,000 Men with Oil
01:14:12 - The Problem with Entertainment Churches
01:20:23 - Hunting Predators: Operation 17:2
01:25:20 - How the Decoy Operation Works
01:31:13 - Sharing the Gospel with Predators
01:35:26 - The Vision for Rise Ranch
——
Stay up-to-date with all things Resilient by subscribing to our Resilient Times Newsletter: resilienttimes.substack.com
RESILIENT:
Follow Us On Patreon: patreon.com/theresilientshow
Follow Us On Instagram: instagram.com/resilientshow
Follow Us On Twitter: twitter.com/resilientshow
Follow Us On TikTok: tiktok.com/@resilientshow
LIVE RESILIENT STORE:
shop.theresilientshow.com
Follow Chad:
instagram.com/chadrobo_official
https://x.com/ChadRobo
SPONSORS:
Smith & Wesson: https://www.smith-wesson.com
Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com
Gatorz Eyewear: https://www.gatorz.com
Allied Wealth: https://alliedwealth.com
BioPro+: bioproteintech.com/CHAD30
BioXCellerator: https://www.bioxcellerator.com
SLNT: slnt.com
------
The Resilient Show is a proud supporter of military and first responder communities in partnership with Mighty Oaks Foundation.
