How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Changed My Life

My name is Adam and I am 29 years old. In January of 2008, I enrolled my 6 year old son in the Future Champions Class at Best Way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/ American Top Team with Andre 'Dedeco' Almeida. One month after my son began training, I expressed my interest to Dedeco in getting into shape. He invited me to attend his BJJ beginners class for a couple of sessions to see how I would like it. I was 336 lbs standing 6'3, never exercised and having no sports experience. A month after attending his classes on a regular basis twice a week, I could feel the difference in myself and I was hooked. As the months went by, my weight continued to drop and my self confidence continued to rise. I attended every class I could, along with every open mat available to me.

On June 15th 2008, I entered the Massachusetts Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Tournament as a white belt and I took 3rd place in my division. If you asked me one year ago if I had ever thought this could be possible, I would have said you were crazy. I recently reached the rank of a blue belt and have moved on to Dedeco's advanced class. To date, I have lost over 100 lbs and feel better both physically and mentally than I did when I was 20. My self confidence has risen and my stress levels have dramatically dropped.

My son still trains twice a week in the Future Champions class and has reached the rank of junior yellow belt. His mother and I have seen the difference in his attitude and confidence. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become a large part of our lives and I feel it has brought my son and I closer together. So far, this has been a great experience for us with no end in sight. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has given me a brighter outlook on the next 30 years of my life and I only wish I had discovered this sooner.

Adam

July, 15 2008

Master Instructor Andre “D edeco” Almeida
Best Way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / American Top Team
27 Market Street Rockland , MA 02370

Dear Dedeco,

On behalf of the Town of Weymouth Fire and Police Departments, we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation for accepting the invitation to present our joined forces with an instructional demonstration of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as part of the Weymouth Fire/Police Fitness Challenge. The reputation of Best Way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and American Top Team as well as your own personal achievements gives us great confidence that each person in attendance will gain valuable insights into this very exciting and popular martial art. We are sure that this event will be the highlight of our Fitness Challenge. We look forward to the seminar in August and thank you in advance for your participation.

  Sincerely,

Officer Ed Hancock                                                                   Captain Mike Crowley

Officer Ed Chase                                                                        Lieutenant Keith Stark

Police Team Co-Captains                                                        Fire Team Co-Captains

July 30, 2008

Andre Almeida (Dedeco)
Head Instructor BWBJJ/ATT Boston, MA
www.bestwayjiujitsu.com

Dear Dedeco and your staff,

I want to start off by saying Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for what you, Andrew , Johnnie and Mike have done for my son. You all have such great patience with him and he looks up to you and is so eager to learn what you teach him.

Let me give you a bit of my son’s history and how far he has come. He has ADHD and sensory issues and this disability was almost taking him down a path I did not want to see him take. Until he came to you, This boy was always in fights he had no control over his sensory issues and it always turned into a fight. Instead of teaching him negative fighting you taught him how to control his body with positive fighting. Even his attitude has gone from negative energy to positive. I can see the control he has now, it is just amazing to see how far he has come. He is such a happier child and it makes me so happy to come to class and watch him move. As a mom it is wonderful to be able to bring your child somewhere that he loves to go. He has tried almost every sport and never stuck to it until we learned about this sport and how an impact it has made in our family. You are all like family to him and he feels that he belongs.

Which much Appreciation,

Julie