Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Cronce.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started wrestling at the age of 5 in Phillipsburg, NJ. Growing up, I played a lot of sports but Wrestling was always a constant in my life. If it wasn’t practicing, it was preparing for the next season with other activities. In high school, I wrestled at the #1 school in the country and in college wrestled Divison I at Drexel University.
After college, I found MMA and Jiu-Jitsu at the Philadelphia Fight Factory. After a brief lapse in training to focus on my career in the Renewable Energy Industry, I got back into Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 28. My family and I moved to Texas in 2019 for my career where we eventually landed in Krum. After years of pursuing my own endeavors on the mat, I felt a calling to develop a program to bring Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling to more people as a healthy outlet for kids, adults and families to form bonds over Jiu-Jitsu and being healthy in general. A program that would give people a genuine opportunity to find their place on the mats with expert instructors in every class without corners being cut from scratch.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing that provides you with a sense of purpose will ever be smooth. There will be all kinds of variables that make you want to quit this pursuit: life events, unplanned outcomes, other peoples’ opinions, etc.
When it comes to finding your purpose, you often have to find a way to break the mold of what is “possible” in your own mind. It’s hard to pinpoint one struggle of 3 decades of grappling, competing and growing a community, but I figured out in College Wrestling that being consistent is what will always set “doers” apart from “dreamers”.
James 1 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.”
This is how I try to live my life.
The longer you can stay in the pocket and do difficult things with a good attitude, the further the gap comes between who you were and who you want to become.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I own Eclipse BJJ and Grappling Academy in Krum, Texas. I do everything at the Eclipse that needs to get done in order to create an encouraging and safe environment for the families that trust us to teach them Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense. I prefer to be on the mats coaching/helping coach class but some days I’m maintenance, other days I’m marketing, and some days I am personal relations talking to parents about their kids struggles and victories off of the mats. I’ll do whatever needs to be done to maintain this type of culture at the Academy.
Aside from 30+ years of experience in grappling as a coach and competitor, I truly believe that my specialty is that I never shy away from the work. There is nothing more powerful than being consistent and showing up to do the work with intent.
I have a lot of competitive titles and accomplishments, but I’m most proud of my family and how my son looks up to me as a man and a person. I believe that children are a direct reflection of your tendencies and actions.
Any big plans?
We have some very big plans in the works right now to bring more value to the community at Eclipse BJJ. Our community knows where we’re going so that I can hold myself accountable to assuring we stay the path. A lot of people find Jiu-Jitsu as their “challenge”…While I’m always learning various aspects of what I love to do, Jiu-Jitsu/Grappling is a lifestyle for me; thus, I always have to find new ways inside of the Jiu-Jitsu space to force me to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eclipsebjj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclipse_bjj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eclipsebjj/
Image Credits
Personal Photo – Emily Davis – Click Studios
