IS YOUR BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU READY FOR THE STREET?
I started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1994. Egan Inoue, the first non-Brazilian to win a BJJ world championship, awarded me a black belt in 2006. It’s been a rigorous, humbling and empowering journey. I love sport jiu-jitsu, and I train in it nearly every day.
But my original motivation to learn martial arts came when I was a shy 9-year-old walking home at dusk after baseball practice. I took a shortcut across a field when a large young man, probably in his late teens, approached. Without the confidence or training needed to say no to this intimidating figure, I followed his commands and ended up in his sordid lair.
When he finally released me, I was forever changed, damaged mentally and spiritually. And even though that incident still runs through my mind, now I can see the silver lining: I’m absolutely dedicated to making sure nothing like that happens again to me or my loved ones. Those loved ones include every single person I have the privilege of sharing my “for the street” martial arts approach with.
My last year of high school, I finally got to train in martial arts — under the legendary Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo in kali and jeet kune do. Fifteen years later, I was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu via Rigan and John Machado, whom I had hired to do fight scenes for Kickboxer 4, a film I choreographed. I dabbled in BJJ for a year, then caught the bug.
Although I had success with kali and in Dog Brothers stick fighting — I’m known as “Lucky Dog” — I couldn’t make my empty-hand techniques work against Egan or his brother
