thePULSEBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the new Simmler Academy
By Kimberly Dunbar.
Unlike Chuck Norris, your tears can’t cure cancer and you actually have to read books in order to get the information you want. Or so the story goes. But there’s one thing Chuck Norris does that you can do: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Drilling the loop choke
And everyone in Hollywood seems to be doing it, too. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the new exercise craze in Cali, riding the same wave of popularity that that yoga, Winsor Pilates and Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo have in recent years. Celebrities like Ed “Al Bundy” O’Neil (who has been practicing for over a decade), Guy Ritchie, Paul Walker, Tommy Lee, Shaq, Kevin James, and Sean Patrick Flarity (who is a Pan-American gold medalist in the artform) all practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While it may be an up and coming Hollywood favorite, the sport really isn’t a fad at all. Jiu-Jitsu has been dominating the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) series for over a decade.
“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of only a few practical self-defenses out there,” says Dan Simmler, owner and head instructor of Simmler Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “It’s also an amazing workout and sure beats the treadmill.”
Simmler, a Grafton native and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, stumbled across the sport in high school. “I wanted to go into the Navy SEAL program after high school and decided to do everything I could to make it easier,” he said. But when the Navy program fell through for him, Simmler stuck with Jiu-Jitsu. He attended Long Island University on a soccer scholarship and started training Jiu-Jitsu with Matt Serra, a black belt Jiu-Jitsu artist who was crowned SpikeTV’s UFC Champion this season, and his brother Nick Serra, also a black belt.
“Matt [Serra] told me that if I got along with his team I could stay,” said Simmler. He’s been a member of Team Renzo Gracie ever since.
Simmler returned home from Long Island a year after graduation with five years of Jiu-Jitsu training under his belt to begin training Judo with Jimmy Pedro, a four-time Olympian (two-time Bronze Medalist) and World Champion. After Simmler beat the top two kids in the country and climbed the belt ladder with ease, he knew he had a special gift. “I thought, ‘Why not me?’”
In additional to a collection of local tournament wins, Simmler spends most of his time competing on the national level. He has won the National Championships at every belt five times in all, the North American Championships four times, and medaled at the Pan-American tournament last year.
Simmler continues to train five days a week with Jimmy Pedro in Wakefield, MA as a hopeful for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is too similar to Judo, there is not a separate event in the Olympics.
Simmler opened his Academy after spending the last few years teaching private Jiu-Jitsu lessons on the road. As his clientele grew, the tighter his schedule got. After finding a small leasable space in Millbury, Simmler decided to set up shop in order to share his craft with even more students. “I now have about 20 students who attend classes at the Academy, and I couldn’t be happier with them,” said Simmler.
However, there is one thing Simmler would like to see improve: the number of women who participate in his classes. “Jiu-Jitsu works great for women as well as men,” said Simmler. “Girls get good fast because they have plenty of flexibility and balance. And it’s practical, it works and it’s addicting!”
Simmler said that the keys to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are balance, leverage, and concentration. He compares the sport to a game of chess. “You’re always thinking five moves ahead. It’s just so different and unique,” he said.
Simmler sporting some of his recent Championship wins/belts.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is working its way into the mainstream America. “In California, there are academies on every corner and people are discovering what a good work out it is,” said Simmler. “In this area, there is a demand for Jiu-Jitsu but no supply. I want to fix that by building a solid team and a good reputation,” he added.
For more information, call or drop by Simmler Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, 73 Canal St., Millbury, MA, 508-839-9562
Nice, BJJ is good but what we really need is a muay thai academy here!
We have a muay thai intructor. Stop by anc check us out, we are currently building a 35oo sq’ facility that will host BJJ,muay thai, yoga,boxing,and judo.
-SBJJ Staff
*3500 sq’
i might be heading there this week. Kinda funny since those are all the things im interested in, even the yoga. I don’t have Much experience in any of them though. : (
Right now the academy concentrates mostly on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Its better to get your core down and get good rather to be a Jack of all trades type…..The new academy will be a force hosting some of teh best up and coming talent in the are. We have the best BJJ training anywhere around the worcester area. Stop in and check out the school or call and schedule a free intro class.
-SBJJ Staff
Do you teach kids?
I did some JKD/BJJ a few years ago and would love to get my son and daughters in to BBJ and Thai Boxing.
Hi Jim,
Yes, we teach kids BJJ, call the academy and we can go over what you are looking for for your children.
SBJJ Staff
Where is the best in Worcester for Muay Thai?
I don’t want to go to Clinton or Framingham. Thanks
There are plenty on Martial Schools in and around the area but finding one with a competent instructor with an ability to effectively relay his knowledge to others is not so easy to find. I’ve been teaching Parker Kenpo version 4 for a couple of years now and I’ve seen quite a few instructors that aren’t worthy of their rank.
The Simmler Academy is awesome, high energy, always moving, a great group of students, a high number of which bring talent from other disciplines they have studied. Dan is very passionate about BJJ, his teaching style is very effective, and his BJJ skills are impressive to say the least, overall, one of the best instructors I have seen in many years. I would highly recommend Simmler BJJ Academy to anyone interested in adding ground fighting to their Martial Arts skill set.
Wow, Quite impressive. Looking good with the belts. I will definatley be stopping by your SBJJ school in Worcester MA soon. Thanks!
Josh over at MMA411.com
Simmler, hows the jaw?
john saari looks wicked goofy in the top picture
This dude just got knocked the fuck out on The Ultimate Fighter.
In your school, what is your procedure for a new student who wants to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Team link bjj all the wayyy! check us out in worsceter
Worcester MMA and Simmler BJJ are the sh%T. The school is 6000SQ, the closest competitor has maybe 2000sq. and had a blue belt teaching for both trial classes I got. SBJJ I had three lessons, all tought by black belts, a different one for each lesson actually Dan, Radu, and Chris. they have classes all day everyday from 6am-10pm!!! I also checked out their boxing and Muay Thai and their Muay Thai instructor is amazing. I looked him up an did my research, he is the second or third highest ranking muay thai instructor in the country and the ambassador for the USA appointed my the Muay Thai Federation and Thai Government!
If you check out all the local schools you wont think twice to go with SBJJ.
Tom
I you are having doubts about training here, don’t. There are two things you will notice immediately after walking in the door: 1.) Simmler BJJ is home to some of the best jiu jitsu fighters in the area, and 2.) everyone is very friendly and welcoming. What are you waiting for?!