Our professor

My martial arts experience began with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a journey that started 17 years ago. I had a large enough ego to make myself believe I could handle myself in any altercation physically and emotionally charged. I truly believed this until the day came that I lost physically but more importantly emotionally. A close family friend said he knew a guy, that lives next to a guy that has a jiu-jitsu gym. That he was trained by Royce Gracie in California. My first question was "Does that stuff work?". My friend said this guy weighed about 155 lbs. and could take anyone on. To my disbelief I said I was going to check this out. 

I had so many questions running through my mind. Is this going to be like Karate? Do I have to break boards? Do I have to call another man master? To this day I still remember my first class. Walking into Urban Jungle for the first time. The first knot Tony Torres-Aponte tied in my white belt. Since that day with hard work and dedication, my life has changed on and off the mats for the better.