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This weeks Student of the Week is Amberlynne VanDusen she is a Graduate Student at East Carolina University, and receiving her Masters of Science in Environmental Health next month. She just recently received her Blue Belt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And have taken to the Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle. There are very few days in the week she does’t make it to the academy to train.Here is what she had to say about training with us.

“Learning a self-defense martial art had been on the “to-do” list for some time. Growing up I watched my brother train in karate, where he learned a lot of rote forms, but fewer flexible, practical techniques. Sparring in his classes was saved for special occasions and the sparring was what interested me. I wanted the ability and confidence to practically defend myself in an altercation. So, I signed up for a handful of various women’s self-defense classes, only to find that they focused on textbook material and spent more time talking about, rather than engaging in the techniques. Moreover, instructors never offered a satisfying answer to my concern about a confrontation being taken to the ground, as if this wasn’t a realistic possibility. From karate to women’s classes, none seemed to both address realistic situations and still be fun.”

“Fast-forward to spring 2013, I happened by the All-American Martial Arts Academy in Greenville, NC. On a whim, I showed up to a try a class in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I had no clue that I’d get hooked on such an enjoyable, practical, and accessible self-defense art. I was warmly welcomed to the mats, outfitted with a GI, and included in all class activities. It was phenomenal; not only did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exceed everything I was looking for in a self-defense martial art, but the family-run gym is what really sealed the deal. The atmosphere I have experienced at All-American Martial Arts Academy is friendly, relaxed, and focused on learning what really works. Toward the end of every class, there is an opportunity to roll, which I would equate to as “ground sparring.” It is the time to apply the techniques, find out they really work, and have a ton of active fun. It is a satisfying workout and significantly more enjoyable than traditional exercising. True, at just 5ft, I’m typically the smallest on the mat, but this has only allowed me to be more focused on the technique; because unlike my training partner, I’m unlikely to muscle my way through a move. As such, I’m more confident in what I’m learning at All-American Martial Arts Academy because it really works. My one regret? That I didn’t start training sooner…”