When you thinks Martial Arts, you might think of Karate Kid or Kung Fu Panda, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris, but would you think of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club is for students at both LHS and LNHS. Students will bow in at the door to their practice then go inside. Students would then change into their uniforms that are called Gees. After bowing in to their coaches, students would then practice for two hours on their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo skills to become tournament-ready and prepared for hostile situations. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on grappling submissions on the ground and Judo focuses on fighting on your feel and doing takedowns.
“We all gather around and watch a technique, get with a partner and then practice with them,” senior Justice Thompson said. “After a certain amount of time, we go watch another technique and then practice, practice, practice. Practicing is a big thing for us.”

Students in the club are passionate about what they do and are friendly towards one another.
“We’re all nice to each other; we don’t talk mean to each other,” senior Trevor Preston said. The members of the club’s main goal is to be precise; not to see how much they can injure your partner.
“You’re not hurting your partner. Everyone thinks that we go in and ‘kill’ our partner but we don’t,” Thompson said. “There’s certain rules that we have that prevent us from hurting our partner.”

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club is the only club in the nation that is based in a school. Because of this, impressive professionals have come in to do clinics with the students in the club.
“We have had people like Nick Delpopolo, who is ranked number one on the U.S. Olympic Judo Team, Ethan Day, who is a black belt under Renato Tavares, and Dustin Dennis who is a fourth degree black belt and Brazilian World Champion,” Advisor Joe Wheeler said.
These professionals don’t just teach students cool moves to use, but they also give motivational speeches.
“Dustin always talks to us about how we should never give up,” Thompson said. “He always says that you’re always failing forward. I live by that a lot.”
Wheeler agrees.
“Dustin Dennis is a great motivational speaker,” he said. “It’s really great to have someone like him come to our school to learn from.”
Having successful professionals coming to their school is very surreal for some students.
“It’s really cool to have all of these world renowned people coming in,” Preston said. “It’s a real honor.”

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club has been very beneficial to many students. They are learning self-defense, life lessons and how to keep in shape.
“Being able to go out there and exercise in a different way and not have to go to a gym is pretty cool,” Preston said.
Students become more confident with their body and strength.
“If I ever got into a predicament where I have to defend myself, I know that I could,” Thompson said. “It gives me so much confidence and makes me feel so good about my body. I feel strong doing it.”
It is not too late to join the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club. Anyone is allowed to join the club and they are still accepting new members. If you would like any information about joining, the club meets on Mondays in Liberty Hour B in Advisor Mr. Wheeler’s room in room 31. It would be very beneficial to join- they’re having Judo Olympians coming in and doing a clinic in April.
“Everyone should try it. It is definitely an amazing thing to learn,” Thompson said.
Putting forth effort and having a strong work ethic in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will benefit in the end.
“It takes a lot of hard work; you have got to be dedicated,” Wheeler said. “You have to set long-term goals, stick with it and train to some day be a black belt.”