Lyndhurst Jiu-Jitsu Academy celebrates 18 years!

Today is the 18th Anniversary of the Savarese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. I always take the morning of this day every year to walk through the doors, drink in the atmosphere and reflect on the journey. I opened this school with nothing but guts. No money, no plan. My family didn’t have the means to help. Thinking about what I know now compared to what I knew then, looking back now, it’s amazing I didn’t go out of business in the first 2 years. I can only laugh at my ignorance. Over these 18 years, I have personally have grown so much as an instructor, a business owner, BJJ practitioner and most importantly, as a person. Opening this Academy (Thanks David Adiv for your constant pushing) was truly the best decision I ever made and I am so thankful for those who have supported me and helped me grow during this journey. And thankful to those who come on this journey every day with me. To know how much we as a team have made a difference in the lives of the people in the room and in our community for years and generations to come is the most rewarding feeling one can have. Lives are changed EVERY DAY here. People become better versions of themselves before our eyes. Many champions have been created on these mats, both on and off the mat. As a white and blue belt, doing something like this seemed like a pipe dream, a goal that seemed almost unattainable but I am proud that it was a goal and dream reached. I would like to thank all my students whose role play an important part in the success of our Academy. I am so proud of the way everyone treats each other and I can honestly say the atmosphere in our Academy is what I am most proud of. Just a group of people who stand by each other every day in pursuit of a bigger picture, leaving their problems and ego at the door and trying to become better martial artists and people every day. Boys have become men, little girls have become women. Families have started because of this place. New Academies to help other people and communities have started because of this place. I am even thankful for the bad times, the students who opted out of this journey with me, because the lessons I learned from those times made me stronger and better. Looking forward to helping others grow on and off the mats for as long as humanly possible. Thanks to all my students for their trust and dedication and to everyone on the ride w me. I truly am grateful. I can honestly say I love where we are right now as a TEAM, w everyone on the same page.

These 3 pics show our journey from the outside of the Original 900 sq ft Academy at 482 Stuyvesant Ave where it all started, a place w a drum set in the office, a door that was so short that in the winter winds of cold would blow through and a place where we constantly put holes in the walls. That is where I became a teacher, had lifelong friends in BJJ travel to start training me w me and holds a special place in my heart.

Next was 500 Stuyvesant w/ the poles, a 2nd floor Academy that was a microcosm for many of our journeys, because it was a place where a lot of us grew and ascended to new heights. It was a truly special and meaningful place for many of my upperbelts and where others got their start.

And lastly, our home, our 5500 sq ft facility at 40 Park Ave. The place I always dreamed we’d someday have.

Looking forward to what the future brings!