Professor Ron Abbate

Jiu-Jitsu translates to “the gentle art,” and Ron holds that translation close to his heart — his whole philosophy is built on maximizing efficiency. A childhood wrestler, he found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2002 under Rodrigo Gracie, and was a blue belt when Master Alexandre “Soca” Freitas took over the academy and continued it under his own name. Soca gave Ron’s gentle approach its counterweight: a courageous competitor’s mindset, and a standing challenge to keep stepping up.

On the kids mat, Ron stands apart by putting community and team-building first — a fun approach to training that keeps kids engaged, safe, and hungry to learn more. His adult classes are built for the intellectuals: understanding concepts over memorizing techniques. And as an avid student of the sport himself, he’s endlessly curious about where Jiu-Jitsu evolves next — and ready to evolve with it.

“A desire to learn self-defense might be what brings you to Jiu-Jitsu — but it’s the community that makes you stay.”