Hometown
Toledo, Ohio
Current Rank
Black Belt – 1st Degree
What year did you start training?
2007
How did you get started?
The summer after my freshman year of college, I ran into an old wrestling coach, who invited me to start training with a group of guys. My initial plan was to just to one amateur fight to see what it was like. I never planned on Jiu Jitsu becoming a lifestyle and career path.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was always figuring out a way to spend more time training. Life outside of the school comes first at times. Whenever it got hard to make set training sessions, I relied on my friends and training parters to train outside of their normal times and do extra work.
What’s your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?
Training is almost like meditation for me. No matter what else is going on in life, I know that when I step on the mat I will be worry free for a couple of hours. Teaching, is a completely different experience. It is amazing to watch my students grow. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to share my knowledge and experience with students the same way my professors did for me.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
The biggest goal I have right now is to lead an Easton location. The happiest times in my life have always been at the school and I want that to be the cornerstone in my life. Off the mat, my goals revolve around spending more time with loved ones and people who make me a better person.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Before I found martial arts, I was on the pre-med track in college with the goal of becoming a doctor.
