I have been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for almost 2 years. I initially started training at the home of a friend who is a student of Marco Alvan's. My friend asked me if I would be interested in trying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Because I believed I would submit (beat) my friend, I accepted. In one hour, my friend gave me one of my greatest lessons in humility. Despite years of intense weight training and aerobic conditioning (cycling, running), I realized on that day, how weak, out of shape and vunerable I was against an attack. I learned all this in one very frustrating and humiliating hour.

That day literally changed my life. I determined on that day, I need to learn Jiu Jitsu (or I need to get new friends.) While I continued to train with my friend, I joined Link BJJ and met Marco Alvan and his team of outstanding instructors. Honestly, had my friend not introduced me, I would have never had the guts to walk into Marco's school on my own.

My preconceived notion was that a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class would be me getting my ass kicked by steroid injected wrestlers and sociopaths. Needless to say, I could not have been more wrong. Marco, Gabriel Gonzaga and their instructors are literally world class. Despite their world renowned credentials, they teach as if you are part of their family. They will correct any detail in your grappling as if they are preparing you for the Olympics. In every class, I am impressed at their drive for perfection among their students. I believe Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Marco and Team Link is like medicine to me. I cannot explain why Marco Alvan, Gabriel Gonzaga and their team teach to this level of perfection to their students (especially to me), except to say that it is in their hearts to be the best instructors in the world.

I am 44 years old, have an extremely busy medical practice and 2 young children who are my first priority in life. I live the lifestyle I counsel my patients to live, including proper nutrition and exercise. I truly believe that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the perfect path for fitness, especially for those who say "I don't have time to exercise." Seriously, for those of you around my age who feel you are too old or too out of shape to even try a class, tell Marco that you want to team up with me, "Old Dr. Joe" for your first class, and I will meet you. That is how much I believe you should at least try it.

Joseph Breton, M.D.
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Member American College of Sports Medicine

 

More Testimonials

While Team Link boasts some of the best fighters alive today (including Napao Gonzaga, Paulo Filho, Gabriel “Gladiador” and endless others) the vast majority of the team members are working men and women who, like me, are looking for the right environment to get in shape and develop their skills. Marco has realized his goal of running one of the strongest BJJ teams in America by providing the very best coaches and the very best instruction in a friendly supportive environment. This environment has caused me to become addicted to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

I am a forty-four year old State Trooper who enjoyed sports when I was younger and did not want that part of my life to die. Marco’s team consists of men and women committed to helping each other improve. This outlook is a direct result of Marco’s commitment to supporting each member of the team as they develop. This support extends from the most gifted professional athlete to someone like me who can only train once an week.

Initially I came to Marco for a private class after becoming frustrated with my progress at another BJJ school. In one private class Marco opened a world of detail and subtlety in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu that I had not seen in the previous two years of training. I quit my old school and joined Team Link shortly thereafter.

In addition there are specific tangible rewards to training with Marco, last week my doctor measured my resting heart rate at 51 beats per minute and my total fasting cholesterol (good and bad cholesterol together) at 130.

That is not to say that Brazilian Jiu-jitsus is always easy. There are days when I am outclassed by friends who have been training only a fraction of the time that I have. However, if it was easy, then I would not enjoy the pride that I have at being part of Team Link.

I recommend Marco’s school and Team Link unequivocally.

Stephen Jones
Trooper - Massachusetts State Police