My journey in martial arts began long before I stepped onto a BJJ mat. As a youth, I was deeply immersed in combat sports – Karate lessons, wrestling, kickboxing matches, and, admittedly, more than my fair share of street fights. Those early years were filled with raw energy, teenage rebellion, and a love for the art of fighting. But as I entered my twenties, life took over, and my focus shifted toward building a career and raising a family.
Years later, it was my son who brought me back to martial arts. At 11, he developed a passion for mixed martial arts, and soon, we were training together. We traveled, shared the mats, and immersed ourselves in kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, CrossFit, and overall fitness. Training side by side with him reignited my passion. This journey together deepened our bond, and our shared love for martial arts and fitness just became a way of life. My son went on to win the Iron Man as a Marine, and I recently earned my first-degree Black Belt from the legend himself, Carlson Gracie Jr.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle and mindset through martial arts also helped me excel in the boardroom. I spent less time going out and more time training, staying focused, and enjoying the journey. This shift helped me grow as a leader and mentor, opening doors to new opportunities on and off the mat. An acquaintance—now a friend—needed help with a fight scene for a low-budget film. That chance encounter led to my son and me playing roles in his movie, which opened more doors in film.
Training in BJJ again was transformative. It taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of being present – all essential skills that translated seamlessly into my work as an executive, gym owner, actor, and stunt performer. My martial arts background gave me a unique advantage in the film industry, where understanding body movement, spatial awareness, and timing are crucial for delivering authentic action scenes. As a stunt coordinator, I bring realism and precision to fight choreography, making each sequence visually stunning and technically sound.
Balancing – or rather, merging – my roles as an executive, BJJ professor, gym owner, actor, stunt coordinator, father, grandfather, and husband has been quite the journey. People often ask how I do it or comment on how “lucky” I am. My response is always the same: Anyone can do it—they just need to start, try, and act. We were all beginners at some point. I encourage them to enjoy what they do and commit to learning, studying, and practicing. It’s by investing in ourselves – constantly learning, trying new things, and training hard – that we build the foundation to work smart. Consistent practice and pushing our limits equip us with the skills and mindset needed to make better decisions, adapt quickly, and excel in whatever we pursue.
At over 50 years old, I’m often asked how I keep up with such an intense pace, from running a gym and acting to stunt coordination and executive roles. The answer is simple: I refuse to slow down. Aging gracefully doesn’t mean doing less; it means taking better care of my body and mind. I prioritize consistent training, stretching, and recovery to maintain flexibility and prevent injuries. Recently, I’ve embraced advanced healing techniques like stem cell therapy, which has been instrumental in helping me recover faster and continue performing at my best. This approach to self-care allows me to keep pushing my limits, proving that age is just a number when you invest in yourself and your health. My goal is to inspire others, regardless of their age, to stay active, take care of their bodies, and continue to pursue their passions with full intensity.
This mindset also led me to join the team at BJJLink. I wanted to help fitness-minded gym and academy owners operate more efficiently. At BJJLink, we’ve developed a platform that allows gym owners to manage their academies effortlessly, giving them more time to focus on what they love: teaching, training, and growing their community. We handle membership and attendance tracking, build curriculums, enable content monetization, and facilitate in-store, online, and membership billing.
As a BJJ professor and owner of Triple Crown Athletic, I’m committed to giving back by sharing my skills, connections, and experiences. We have an incredible team of fitness, striking, and BJJ coaches from diverse lineages and backgrounds. I bring in top talent from BJJ, fitness, stunt, and acting communities to inspire and elevate our local community. My passion is to create an environment where everyone can learn, grow, and be motivated by legends in the sport and industry. Triple Crown Athletic is becoming a destination to learn about fitness, CrossFit, striking, kickboxing, grappling, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and stunt/action acting.
My journey has been anything but linear – from street fights to the boardroom, running a gym, acting, and helping to develop a software platform – but each step reflects the core principles of martial arts: perseverance, continuous learning, grit, hard training, and giving back. I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to the martial arts community, the Triple Crown Athletic team, and the film and stunt community. I continue to share my knowledge through social posts, teaching, hosting, and delivering seminars while also learning and growing myself. I still compete, attend seminars and camps, and learn from industry experts, legends, and anyone willing to share their art.
