Instructor
Our instructor of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class is Tim Morrissey. Tim is a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo Jiu Jitsu, 1st degree in Shehokarono Jiu Jitsu and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has been studying martial arts for the majority of his life.
An athlete and wrestler in his youth, Tim returned to training in the martial arts after his time in the military. He trained under Dr. Brownridge, a traditional and hardened martial arts master with over 40 years of teaching experience in Karate, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Tim started with Karate and Kung Fu, two tough ‘stand up’ styles where points were judged by techniques delivered so hard that your opponent would not to be able to or want to continue the match! Tim enjoyed the stand up styles but realized his disadvantage to the taller and bigger opponents in sparring competitions.
From his military martial arts experience,Tim knew he could take advantage by getting in close and using Jiu Jitsu and Judo techniques to take his opponent to the ground, control them, and remove most of their size advantage. This was proven by the Gracies since the beginning of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu system and shown first hand to the world at the their Ultimate Fighting Championships.
But there were only Japanese Jiu Jitsu schools available so he started with Kenpo Jiu Jitsu, a reality based self-defense system where throws, arm and wrist locks, chokes and pressure points were commonly used. Unfortunately, sport ground fighting was not allowed because Dr. Brownridge considered it “unrealistic” with multiple attackers, the ground fighting we did was just that: “fighting”. There was no rules, ANYTHING that made the opponent tap out or want to stop – using pressure points around the eyes, nose or throat, collar bone grabs, groin shots, finger locks, etc. was not only acceptable but ENCOURAGED. Students were also expected to learn how to get thrown and land correctly on the cement floor from any standing position or while sparring and do dive rolls over a row of chairs on the concrete parking lot!
After several years, Tim eventually found a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school 50 miles away in Decatur and another in Springfield Illinois. After visiting the schools and signing up they accepted him and his son into the Gracie Barra family.
Dr. Brownridge has been retired for 5 years now and Tim now has his own Gracie Barra school in Champaign, Illinois and can offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes to all that are interested and want to be a part of the Gracie Barra family and team!