![](https://voyagedallas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20148894_1639031082796854_2030021881_o-1000x600.jpg)
![](https://voyagedallas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20148894_1639031082796854_2030021881_o-1000x600.jpg)
Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Young.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Kama Jiu-Jitsu is traditional Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with our focus on self-defense. Our style of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the “Invisible Jiu-Jitsu” created by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu “Master of Masters” Rickson Gracie. Kama Jiu-Jitsu was founded by Professor David Kama, who is one of the pioneers of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu outside of its native Brazil, being one of the first to receive the coveted black belt rank (aka “The Dirty Dozen of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”).
Kama Jiu-Jitsu opened its first location outside of Southern CA when I relocated from Southern CA to DFW, TX. Initially, I was looking for a school to train out of that was “traditional” in its Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teachings. As I was not able to find one in relatively close proximity, Kama Jiu-Jitsu’s first outside campus was born.
I’ve been training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu since 1989, when Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was still being taught out of “Gracie Garages” set up by the pioneers of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the USA (sons of Grandmaster Helio Gracie) during the 1980s. I’ve trained under four of Helio Gracie’s sons (Relson, Rorion, Royce, and Rickson).
In our DFW location, I teach children, adults (men and women), beginners, and advanced practitioners. Our goal is to help our members to develop their minds, their bodies, and their self-defense skills to their highest potential with a proven system that offers proven results.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since Kama Jiu-Jitsu was not opened up as a “full-time” martial arts business, “struggles” have been minimal. We’ve made use of other existing martial arts studios looking to earn some additional revenue by renting out their “non-prime” time slots, which has enabled us to keep our overhead costs relatively low. As such, we have not had the need to meet certain sales targets to survive and have chosen to carefully evaluate our prospective members to make sure Kama Jiu-Jitsu will be a suitable “fit” to their needs.
As a result, while Kama Jiu-Jitsu is not the largest jiu-jitsu school by any measure, our member family is especially close and all interested in helping each other reach their full potential.
Kama Jiu-Jitsu also has a “farm team” of junior instructors who are well trained in the Kama Jiu-Jitsu philosophies, methodologies, and curriculum, to take some load off me in the instruction arena.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kama Jiu-Jitsu – what should we know?
Kama Jiu-Jitsu is one of only a handful of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu schools teaching Master Rickson Gracie’s “Invisible Jiu-Jitsu.” While all Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, done and taught correctly is effective, we feel Master Rickson’s Invisible Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective expression of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught today.
As a company, we’re most proud of our members, who are all great KJJ family members. While we are all individuals with individual goals and reasons for training, we all help each other improve. We like to think of our school as a body of water that starts off shallow (low), with all our members being individual boats. As our “level” of technique execution “rises” (improves), we want to make sure all our members’ “boats” are rising with the water level. No one gets left behind, although we do acknowledge that there will always be those individuals who excel more and faster.
Kama Jiu-Jitsu has a strong curriculum, designed by Master Rickson Gracie. Where we add additional value, is the Kama Jiu-Jitsu Methodology, which teaches Master Rickson’s and Professor Dave’s curriculum, values, and philosophies in a manner that most effectively transmits that information to the student.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel the key to our success is that we don’t “need” to succeed. Every one of Kama Jiu-Jitsu’s black belts make our living through other means and don’t depend on the financial success of the school to survive. Rather, we “strive” to succeed by passing on the traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu that is quickly being lost with the proliferation and popularity of “competition” jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA).
Being one of the few schools in our geographical areas that concentrates on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as a self-defense art as taught by Grand Master Helio Gracie and his sons, we feel we offer a great value proposition and a niche that is increasingly difficult to find.
Contact Info:
- Address: Kama Jiu-Jitsu, LLC Corporate Office
2813 Balmoral Drive,
Trophy Club, TX 76262 - Website: http://kamajiujitsu.com/
- Phone: 682-233-0721
- Email: KamaJiuJitsu@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanyyoungg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bjjindallas/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KamaJiuJitsuDFW
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.