Walking into the Marcelo Garcia Academy (MGA) in Midtown, Manhattan, the noise of the the street dies out a
s you walk up three floors of gray cement stairs. The first thing to hit you is the smell of sweat and the muddled sound of thumps and loud music ranging from Wu-Tang to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Step through the door and you’ll see what may look like a bunch of sweaty students aggressively hugging and wrestling each other, at least if you’re unfamiliar with Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art system of joint locks, choke holds, throws and pins on the ground. It has origins on the battlefield of feudal Japan. It’s purpose was to be used by a disarmed combatant, because strikes would be useless against the hard armor of samurai warriors.
By the late 1880’s a refined version of jiu-jitsu known as judo was developed by a man named Jigoro Kano. One of his students, Mitsasu Maeda, decided to leave Japan to fight overseas in the Americas, eventually settling down in Brazil, where he crafted what is now known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Fast forward decades later and this sport has spread and found a home in NYC.
According to Bjjheroes.com, Marcelo’s Garcia’s record is 86 wins and 17 losses in his professional grappling career. He has won multiple world titles. He retired back in 2013 however, and now puts his focus and emphasis on his students to become the world’s next top competitors.
Another instructor at MGA, Joel Burgess, one of Marcelo’s students, is also well decorated and has competed at the highest level. His accomplishments include winning some of jiu-jitsu’s most well known competitions, the New York Open and No Gi Pan Ams multiple times, No Gi Worlds and Europeans. Also in various North American Grappling Association and Grappler’s Quests.
Additionally, he fought in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) ring twice and won both by submitting his opponent.
In an interview with The VOICE, Burgess spoke about being an instructor at MGA and how he approaches the challenge of teaching jiu-jitsu.
“There is what is taught to people and then there is actually what is done so one thing I’ve always found interesting and challenging is trying to teach people what is actually done. And don’t get me wrong, I teach what is standard or the way traditional people teach too but especially against more advanced or for more advanced students I try to ….. Especially for when I’m teaching the stuff I know, I try to teach the stuff I exactly do teaching them what I do exactly and exactly what Marcelo does.”
He was also asked what is it like being a competitor. What is his mindset going into a competition. “I’ve always been a very competitive person so it was natural I was gonna compete. But for a long time I had a hard time with the nerves.” he continues to say. “What I found best for me and what I feel still works for me is to not think at all.”
Also, Burgess has the perspective of being a student. He often talks about his teacher Garcia and what kind of advice he gives him. He recalls Garcia once saying to him “Don’t remember the loss remember the mistake.”
