Opening your own BJJ gym is never an easy thing to do… Especially when you’re a brown belt and just 18 years old; exactly the belt rank and age that Fabio Gurgel was when he ventured towards his very first Jiu-Jitsu school!
Gurgel, today a CEO and head coach of the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team, shared how he did it:
As I said, from the time I was 14-15 years old, I was spending more time at the Academy than in my house. So, when I started getting questions from people to coach them myself and when I realized I had an opportunity to start my own class, I knew that I had to take it.
He emphasized the amount of respect he continued displaying towards his instructor:
However, first and foremost, I respected my instructor. I asked Jacare whether I should bring those students – the ones who asked me to coach them – to him, so he could train them. And Jacare gave me his permission to do it on my own; he said that I was good to go and that I knew enough in order to coach by myself.
But, even though I started coaching my own classes, I kept on training with Jacare. I still knew that there’s so much to learn and I wanted to continue developing myself.
And as the number of my students grew, what I did was that I made them join the Master Jacare’s school as well. So, I’ve brought the people I coached to Jacare’s school. That way, we became one of the biggest schools back then – by having more than 200 students in 1991, which is a number of people that other BJJ Academies at that time simply didn’t have.
View this post on Instagram
Make sure to read our full interview with Gurgel on the following link.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents
💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?
💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?
It’s not your age. It’s your strategy.
If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you.
🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:
Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu
Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.
Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
