After its open house on Dec. 16, Cochrane's first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Studio is now ready for people interested in the combat sport. Professor and owner Benjamin Whalley, a black belt under third degree black belt Josh Russell, will run the classes.
After its open house on Dec. 16, Cochrane's first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Studio is now ready for people interested in the combat sport.
Professor and owner Benjamin Whalley, a black belt under third degree black belt Josh Russell, will run the classes. Whalley's passion for the grappling arts led him to Gracie Barra in Calgary in 2007 to learn Jiu Jitsu. While he was studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Whalley also graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in education and has worked in Alberta as a public school teacher. The Cochrane instructor says the sport helped him become the best version of himself.
“I was in University and I had a little bit more time on my hands than I thought. I wasn't living the best version of my life, so I decided to try something new… and it really changed my life. I was more fit, happier, gained more positive habits and made a lot of friends. Coming from a small town, it was a lot harder to make friends and Jiu Jitsu helped give me that sense of community. Some of my best friends now are people I met through the sport 10 to 12 years ago, ” Whalley said.
“I also had an unfortunate event happen to me in my past, where I was put in a situation where I was in a lot of danger … I was attacked by a group of people and it did a lot of damage on me and my mental health. Jiu Jitsu was able to give me some confidence back and feel confident about being able to defend myself. It's ironic, one of the worst things that ever happened in my life, turned into one of the best things that ever happened to me. ”
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport and self-defence system that focuses on grappling skills such as throws, take downs and ground fighting. It was built on the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger opponent.
Whalley said opening a studio in Cochrane was a decision he'd thought a lot about, but says it was the right decision because it brings his two passions of teaching and Jiu Jitsu together.
“I was pretty fortunate because I was working in the Rocky View School Division, and I really enjoyed my career in teaching, and I still get to do a lot of teaching here at the studio. But I wanted a change and wanted to teach something I was really passionate about, ” Whalley said.
“I was a social studies and English teacher, and don't get me wrong I like teaching that stuff but it wasn't as fulfilling as I thought it would be. This way I'm taking a big risk by leaving that career, but I feel like I can change so many lives in a positive way through Jiu Jitsu. ”
Whalley also said people who know nothing about the sport are more than welcome to come give it a try, the studio welcomes everyone.
“I want to teach very technical, high level Jiu Jitsu, but I also want to build a place for the community, ” Whalley said.
“Where people can come here and de-stress from their lives, they can rebuild their lives if they need to, they can come here for fitness, just to have fun, to make friends and just create a community when people come here it's a home away from home. ”
For those interested in trying out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can contact Whalley through his website: www.cochranebjj.com or call him at 403-473-1600.
