Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training In Greensburg Pa

Westmoreland County BJJ Champions Train In Greensburg, Pa.

On May 5th, 2013 the Pennsylvania Combat Sports, resident Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, achieved another competitive martial arts goal. Casey Leonard, a BJJ Brown belt under Professor Vicente Junior, was able to earn “double gold” at the 2013 IBJJF International Dallas Open. Winning both weight class, and the open weight division, is a highly sought after goal for many high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors.

Coach Casey Earns Double Gold In Dallas Open

This goal was first conceived just over a year ago at the 2012 IBJJF New York Open, when Casey won double gold as a purple belt. It was on the podium at NY Open that Vicente Junior would also promote him to brown belt.

“It was on that day at the NY Open, where I first set the goal of becoming a brown belt double gold champion.”

Knowing that the skill level of opponents would be much higher, there would be no good way to determine when (or even if) this goal might be achieved. The one thing that was certain, was the necessity to compete and train BJJ at a much higher level. In addition, a regimented approach to strength training would tap into CrossFit programming, with a major emphasis on speed and conditioning.

Competing in some NAGA (North American Grappling Association) events helped by getting a feel for what brown belt competition would be like. Casey would also make the trip to Los Angeles for the 2013 IBJJF Pan Ams, which is one of the biggest events on the international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu scene. Winning his first match and losing his next by a slim points margin, he learned a lot from the experience.

More valuable lessons came from the 2013 NY Open, as Casey would come away with two silver medals (weight class and open division).

“It’s sort of a bracketing process. Every event and every match, is showing you what needs work once you get back to Greensburg. Little adjustments, and even some big ones, are what’s happening between tournaments. Always thinking about how to implement the new tweeks to my game and earn the win.”

The real secret to success, according to the BJJ coach, is having quality coaches and training partners who share the same goals and mindset.

“Right now it’s a really exciting place (Pennsylvania Combat Sports) to be for competitors. There are folks hungry to get on the top of the podium and represent the academy. The energy is awesome and people are focused. Having VJ (Professor Vicente Junior) as our lead instructor has also played a huge role in the development of our team ”

While this recent double gold showing was a great boost to morale, the overall scheme for 2013 IBJJF competition remains unchanged. A fairly busy event schedule still lays ahead with late summer and fall being the peak.

“The time for enjoying these wins will end once I get back on the mats this week. There’s really no time for all that. It’s about preparing my students and myself for the next event, and developing our BJJ game.” Essentially, its back to the grind on Monday.

Pennsylvania Combat Sports Offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training In Westmoreland County, Pa.

First off, lets explain how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu first found its way to Greensburg, Pa...

The roots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began in the 1920's with members of the Gracie family. Over time this martial art would take shape and eventually make its way to the United States, debuting for the public in the first ever UFC event held in 1993. 

In 1998, Casey Leonard discovered BJJ while serving in the US Marine Corps. Upon moving back to Pennsylvania (from California), he would eventually start Westmoreland County's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in 2001.

Casey would continue competing in tournaments and MMA events across the country, while still serving in the military (now in the Army National Guard). For several years, as the sport continued to grow globally, so did his school (then known as Combative Grappling Systems).

In 2009 the idea of creating Pennsylvania Combat Sports would begin to take shape. With a new location right in the heart of downtown Greensburg, this facility would be like no other martial arts academy in the area.

 

 

 

So now you're saying, "Thanks for the brief history lesson, but why should I be training in BJJ?"

 

Well the verdict has been in for a long time about the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a martial arts style. Just look at the long history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the TOTAL number of submission finishes (several hundred to date) along with the legendary BJJ practitioners who have stepped into the cage to do battle...sooo, yeah this stuff works.

In fact, it works so well that many organizations including our own US Army (Modern Army Combatives Program MACP) utilize BJJ training as part of their Close Quarters Combat Training. Every new soldier will learn key Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu based techniques as part of their basic training, with more advanced courses available later in their career.

The ability to learn, apply, and "tap" (which signals the effectiveness of the submission) is one of the major reasons why BJJ training is effective in quickly developing ground combat skills. This same methodology is used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies across the world!

Life Is Uncertain & Preparation Is Your Closest Guarantee

While all that may impress upon you the value of BJJ for actual combat, competition or MMA fighting, what about those who doubt they will be doing any of those things?

First, let me say that you should never say never. Anyone who has ever fought off an attacker will tell you - it's stressful, intense and basically COMBAT!

Out there everyone has a "punchers chance" in a street fight, but you can't fake the ground game or "luck" your way through it. The skilled ground fighter owns that battle.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fixes Stuff You Didn't Know Was Broken

The fact is, growing up is hard. For kids and even adults. There's a lot of baggage that may come from being picked on, bullied or just feelings of low (or even zero) self-esteem. No examples are needed here, as all of us have experienced this at some point. 

The misconception is that all the baggage some how goes away when you become an adult, and thats just not so. Many new students here at Pa Combat Sports have told me how BJJ training has helped them "let go" of the stuff that had been bothering them for years!

After more than a decade of training and teaching this amazing art, I can say that this "phenomenon" happens a lot. It happened for me as well. The secret is in the self confidence that comes from learning, understanding, and applying something that is HIGHLY EFFECTIVE in its purpose. In this case its dominating the ground arena...the ability to incapacitate through joint locks or chokes, another fully RESISTING and SKILLED opponent. Anytime you can master something thats a challenge, it creates a positive change in you as a person.

That is powerful stuff when you think about it, and it oftentimes works behind the scenes in a persons subconscious mind. The self-esteem and respect that comes from learning BJJ is unlike anything found in other martial arts because Jiu-Jitsu REALLY DOES WORK! It doesn't exist on the shelf of theory and possibility.

Professor Casey Leonard Winning at Las Vegas Jiu-Jitsu World League Event

 Why Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu > Other Martial Arts

Now don't get me wrong, other styles like Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Shotokan, etc. have benefited many people but they don't offer the "goods" when it comes to real proof of their effectiveness (in even a 1 vs 1 encounter, let alone multiple opponents). I've personally seen many a TKD black belt get "schooled" by a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu white belt with only 6 months training. Some would later don the white belt again to start training BJJ, others would continue to believe in what they have spent years (and thousands of dollars on!) learning, and dismiss the encounter as merely a fluke.

The #1 Thing That Stops People From Discovering Their "Inner Awesomeness"

"So if BJJ training is so great, why isn't everyone out there doing it?" 

Quite honestly, its because of one simple hurdle that many just won't attempt to cross. Making that initial contact and getting more information. I know that sounds like an extraordinary effort (haha) but it really is the FIRST step in training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So what we've done at Pennsylvania Combat Sports is simplified everything to make this process as easy as possible. 

Contacting us is pain free, we promise, and at that time we can schedule you for a 1-on-1 training consultation with one of our experienced staffers who can go over all the details of our BJJ program. 

Call us at (724) 420-5199 or use the contact box below 

The focus of every consultation we do is to better isolate what your personal goals are, and determine if what we offer here at Pa Combat Sports will make that happen for you. Its completely free, and there are no obligations whatsoever to train with us afterwards.

Here's some more about the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes offered at Pennsylvania Combat Sports in Greensburg, Pa.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brings people to our doors, from all walks of life...we train high school students, accountants, lawyers, teachers, military, plumbers, laborers, police, special operations personnel, corrections officers, house wives, sales associates, engineers, fire-fighters...you get the point. This can be for everyone!

Pennsylvania Combat Sports is an Official Vicente Junior BJJ Academy. Get exclusive training with Professor Vicente Junior, 5th Degree Black Belt (under Master Ricardo De La Riva).

 

 

Along with Professor "VJ", is our resident BJJ Black Belt, Professor Casey Leonard. As the founder of Combative Grappling Systems in 2001, he would be responsible for bringing the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school to Westmoreland County. Having started his BJJ training in California while stationed as a Marine at Camp Pendleton, Casey would continue to train and develop Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champions right here in Pennsylvania.

 

 Interested In Trying BJJ Out For Yourself?

 

Call (724) 420-5199

or use the contact box on the upper right of your screen.

 

Coach Casey Promote to BJJ Black Belt in Brazil 

 

Casey American Nationals Champion

 

#1 Ranked Brown Belt in IBJJF

 

Here are some more things to consider... "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a proven Martial Art that uses leverage and positioning to effectively defeat a much larger opponent. A fact that has been demonstrated in hundreds of UFC fights since the early 1990′s. For this reason it is also the basis of the Modern Army Combatives Program, which has been taught to all Soldiers in the US Army since 2002."

Our curriculum based beginners program is extremely effective in teaching peoplewith ZERO experience, the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! 

See what you can Learn in just 30 Days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training (older video but still a great example from two students with zero prior experience) …

 

MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

 

 

”Casey Leonard was the Coach of CGS where I got my start in Jiu-Jitsu around 2002. I competed after about 2 months training, against students of a Black Belt from Brazil! I took Gold in 2 seperate divisions that day. 

Dustin Takes 1st at No-Gi Worlds

I trained with CGS for 3 years before moving to the west coast, the Meca for BJJ. In that time I competed every month or so, I got all my fundamentals from Casey and Team CGS. Casey inspired me to do somthing I didn’t know I possessed & is a great mentor. He never held back his knowledge which is hard to find. 

Gladiator Challenge Win

Our doors are open here City Of Champions to the Pennsylvania Combat Sports crew, from The west coast family to the east coast family,see you on the MAT!”

Dustin Thornton

Owner/Head Instructor at City Of Champions (San Diego, Ca.)

NAGA World Champion

No-Gi Worlds Champion

Gladiator Challenge Winner

 

Join the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Movement in Westmoreland County!

 

Call today (724) 420-5199, to schedule your Free BJJ Training Consultation!