Jeffery Knight, Brown Belt

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art. You need an experienced sensei (literally translated as “person born before”) to help you see the order in the complexity.

The best instructors do more than show a random move of the day (you can learn random moves on youtube). Great teachers set the tone of the dojo. They create a distraction-free oasis in a noisy world that is a safe, fun, and open workshop where people of all ages and backgrounds can work together to improve themselves and each other. Aaron’s gym is just that kind of oasis.

Aaron is a top guy from the Renzo Gracie Academy NYC, a black belt under Renzo Gracie and John Danaher. I have trained with Aaron Milam for over 6 years, and his insight as a coach and training partner played a big part in me winning my purple belt division at the 2011 Pan Ams.

One thing I really appreciate about Aaron is his openness to creativity. You will be given solid fundamentals and you will learn tried an true techniques. But, he is open to new ideas and always evolving, and not stuck in a rigid set of techniques (if you want proof, just ask Aaron about leg locks).