Philip first started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after he saw Royce Gracie fight in the UFC nineties. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had just started opening up around Florida, where Philip was attending college at UCF.

The schools he was attending did not have a planned curriculum and often allowed the inexperienced members to do dangerous techniques. The instructors all had great talent, but the methods of teaching still needed refinement. After a few years of training, he was still a white belt and his skills were not improving. Then, to make matters worse, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery.

After surgery, Philip didn't start Jiu-Jitsu again. However, working a desk job and having a big appetite is not a very good recipe for success. Within a few years, his weight was up to 235 lbs.

It became clear that something needed to change. Staying active exercising on his own was very difficult. He saw a sign for a Gracie Barra school near his house in Huntington Beach. He was glad to hear they had a gi that would fit him, because none of his old gi's fit anymore!

Instantly, Philip felt at home at GB Huntington Beach. This was "real jiu-jitsu" to him, but practiced under much more enlightened teaching methods. For example, white-belt's weren't being put into sparring matches against aggressive blue-belts on day #1. There was a planned curriculum designed to teach you Jiu-Jitsu in a safe and effective manner.

Within 6 months, Philip's weight was down to 180 lbs. He has kept the weight off for about 2 years. The recipe for losing weight was simple -- exercise about 5 days per week on something fun and count how many calories per day you eat.
 

Before BJJ After BJJ
 

 

I originally started at GBHB to help combat my severe insomnia by reducing the amount of stress in my life. How could I know what would happen? After my first free class I said Sign me up right now! I was hooked-not only for the stress release but as a weight reduction device and overall lifestyle change. Since that first day I have lost 23 lbs and have gone down 2 dress sizes. I have also noticed that I have the ability to face stressful situations with a more calm approach.
People sometimes ask me if I am intimidated to roll/ workout with the men in my classes. I actually prefer to workout with the men. Depending on who I am working out with I am able to gain a different aspect of training. I try to overcome the strength and agility that the men bring while from the woman I would overcome their technicality and flexibility of the same move. I tell them that to me, the men do not actually intimidate me as much as the women in the Pink Team do. Don't let the name The Pink Team give you the wrong impression. While it is very girly sounding, those girls are some of the toughest fighters that I have ever had the opportunity to train with. 
Last September I even competed in my first tournament, and although I lost (to a higher belt and only in the last few seconds of the fight) my professors/coaches still were proud of me.
Eight months later you can still find me on the academy mats as a blue belt at least twice a week if not more. Although at times I am known to throw evil eyes at my instructors during tough sessions, I always do the best I can while keeping a smile on my face. 
I love my Professors/Coaches at Gracie Barra with their continuous encouragement to push me (the student) to do the best that they see in me, even though I may not even see it in myself. If it wasn’t for them I would have given up long ago. 
As I look to the future I am preparing for many more competitions, with my new friends, really my new family and I would not have it any other way. GBHB for Life!
 

Patrick first became aware of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when it hit the U.S. back in the early nineties. "I tried some other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools around Orange County but it wasn't the right fit for me. When I found Gracie Barra Huntington Beach, I knew immediately that I had finally found a home. That was important for me. Not only was I made to feel at home and welcomed by both my peers and the school staff, but I was finally able to improve my self-esteem as I began to develop the fundamentals of my BJJ game. 

Here at Gracie Barra Huntington Beach I have discovered a new me. I've changed my eating habits and begun exercising regularly. I have even completed a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and even a triathlon. My whole lifestyle is different and I owe a significant part of that change to Gracie Barra Huntington Beach. 

The future is very promising for me now that I've shed 205 pounds! I have set down goals for myself which include: becoming an instructor and helping those who are as heavy as I once was. I plan on increasing my skills in BJJ and seeing what the future holds.