My Journey: From Struggling to Thriving Through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

 

When I graduated high school, I stood 5'10" but weighed just 97 pounds—clinically and dangerously, underweight. Despite years of doctors’ visits and weight-gaining regimens, including steroid shots, no one could find a solution. My high school years were a miserable routine of trying to gain weight without success.

 

At 18, just after graduating, I finally found a doctor who gave me straightforward advice: "You need some muscle, son." He recommended I hit the gym, but as someone who had never been a gym-goer, I found the experience intimidating, boring, and disheartening. A trainer suggested finding a sport, but as an adult working a mall job, opportunities seemed limited. However, I discovered that martial arts schools welcomed students of all ages, so I began my search.

 

It wasn't easy. Many schools wouldn’t even let me watch a class without signing up first. Others had practices that seemed more cultish than constructive. But then I found a Judo school. On my first visit, I watched a smaller kid effortlessly throw a much larger man to the ground. I was intrigued. The head instructor offered me a free week of training, saying, "If you like it, you start paying. If you don't, all you lost was some time." By the end of that month, I was in love with the art of grappling.

 

A year later, a new job took me to a different city, too far away to continue my Judo training. But I was determined to keep grappling. I asked everyone at my new job if they knew of any Judo or grappling schools, and eventually, I was invited to a Sunday grappling session with a group of BJJ students under Chris Saunders, (Rickson Gracie's first American Black Belt). My first session was brutal—I was exhausted, bruised, and feeling a bit defeated. But something inside me refused to quit. I returned the following week, and the reception was completely different. "You came back! You have heart and are a fighter, welcome," they said. From that moment, they began teaching me their favorite techniques, and I was hooked.

 

Soon, once-a-week sessions weren't enough. I started training with Chris Saunders regularly, and before long, I wanted even more. Chris directed me to Rickson Gracie's school, where I began training six days a week. I had finally found my home, my passion, and my community. Over time, I gained 30 pounds of functional muscle, and for the first time in my life, I felt strong and confident.

 

A few months later, Rickson promoted me to blue belt. However, the costs of tuition and commuting became too much to bear, so Rickson arranged for me to transfer to his cousin, Jean Jacques Machado's school, which was closer and more affordable. During my time with Jean Jacques, I joined the U.S. Navy and was soon stationed in Okinawa, Japan. My journey continued as I earned my purple belt under Jean Jacques Machado.

 

In 2010, I was stationed near Washington, D.C., where I found Master Leo Dalla’s school—a place that felt like a true family. After retiring from the Navy, I decided to make the Northern Virginia area my permanent home and continued my BJJ journey with Leo Dalla who promoted me to brown and black belt.

 

Today, Guardian BJJ is the culmination of nearly two and a half decades of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, teaching, and competing. It’s the result of the contributions of world-class champions like Rickson Gracie, Jean Jacques Machado, Leo Dalla, and the many teams that welcomed me as my Navy travels took me around the world. I’m incredibly fortunate for everything BJJ has given me, and I’m excited to share these benefits with my community here at Guardian BJJ.

 

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, I invite you to join me on the mat and discover the life-changing impact of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.