Master Austin Shares How Getting Choked Out Started Our Jiu-Jitsu Program

At most traditional martial arts schools, students learn one style from one lineage, and outside methods stay outside. Our dojo has always been different. We're into what works, and we love learning new things. This is the story of how Master Austin was choked into an open mind, and how it brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to our dojo.

A Hapkido master meets a jiu-jitsu professor

By then, Master Austin had studied Hapkido for many years and trained in Taekwondo and Kali along the way. Grandmaster Dave Wheaton had always taught him to "learn from everyone." Still, as Austin puts it, "I thought I had a pretty good understanding of martial arts, but in reality I did not fully understand how much I did not know."

While he was our Martial Arts Director, Austin met Justin Tevis, a decorated jiu-jitsu athlete who had been wrestling in competitions since early childhood. The two started training Hapkido together and hanging around after class to talk shop and trade techniques. The differences and similarities between their arts sparked a new excitement in both of them.

The choke

One day, Justin decided it was time to introduce the rear naked choke. Austin gathered a few students to learn it, too, and volunteered to be the uke, the training partner.

Justin's arms slid into position as he explained how the choke works. With a deceptively slow squeeze, Austin felt the pressure build, started to feel sleepy and tapped.

The room went quiet. Then a big smile took over Austin's face. That split second of fear and discomfort was the feeling of something new, and he couldn't wait to learn more.

"It's hard to understand the power behind Jiu-Jitsu until you actually get choked out," says Justin. "After that, you either want to learn Jiu-Jitsu, or you want nothing to do with it."

A new program is born

Austin had caught the jiu-jitsu bug. Together, the two proposed a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program to Grandmaster Wheaton. After a test program, the dojo reshuffled the schedule and opened weekly jiu-jitsu classes for teens and adults.

We believe the best martial artists leave their egos at the door. Sometimes growth starts with a tap.

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