I have trained with Johnny Guerrero for nearly three years and have yet to find another teacher as poised and patient, who pays more attention to detail in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  The student population at Guerrero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is growing and Sensei Guerrero is the reason why.

Sensei Guerrero offers the students his years of experience in the martial arts and strives to bring in guest instructors as often as possible to share their teachings so all students have as many viewpoints as possible to better their game.  Sensei Guerrero sets the example of "Leaving your ego at the door" as he values every student's opinion and is constantly trying to better himself and his students both on and off the mat.  If you are looking to train to hurt someone, Guerrero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not your place.  However, if you are looking to learn how to defend yourself, gain self-confidence in your life both on and off the mat, and learn the technical art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu amongst great classmates, then Johnny Guerrero is the instructor for you.

Name Withheld, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service

I have attended many schools/clubs in my 48 years.  And what I look for in a school is a competitive atmosphere and the integrity of the person running the program.  I am glad to say that both have met my expectations at Guerrero BJJ Academy.  The atmosphere in the school is great!  I get a different training partner every night.  There are also a lot of students that enjoy competing and have many different martial arts backgrounds.  That makes every session different and challenging. 

What makes this school so successful and creates that atmosphere is Sensei Guerrero.  I'm sure his US Marine background has given him the discipline and hard work attributes that he displays daily to his students.  But what I see in him is that he cares for each individual student as a person.  He treats his students as a family.  He is also very open minded where not many instructors in his position are willing to listen and learn from others who are of a lower rank and with different martial arts backgrounds.  He does and is very enthusiastic to do so.  Hence, the school's motto "Leave your egos at the door".

If you are looking into schools for yourself or for your children let me tell you what I did.  When I went looking for a Wrestling club for my son, I looked for a coach who I would want around my son.  Not so much for wrestling, but for everyday life.  Sensei Guerrero is exactly that type of person that you and your child would benefit from by just being around him.

William Scully, Coach for Verona Young Wrestling Team

Sensei Guerrero and I met in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  One of the first things that I noticed was the humility and respect that he approaches martial arts with.  Although vastly more experienced that I am he is twice as eager to learn from me as he is to teach.  This contributes to the dynamic training philosophy that he has brought to his school.  After our deployment I was lucky enough to get stationed in NY and had the opportunity to continue training with Sensei Guerrero.  My son and daughter also began training. 

During the time I spent in NY he became another positive figure to my children and I, as well as a lifelong friend.  The students at his school are also a direct reflection of his teaching and leadership style.  He treats his students with the utmost respect (he even still calls me Gunny).  He has found a unique way to bring a team atmosphere to what is otherwise mostly an individual sport. 

I have recently been relocated to Virginia, and I am still searching for a school that compares to his.  As a matter of fact I often make the drive back to NJ to train at his academy. 

Paul H. Sowa Jr., GySgt  United States Marine Corp.

It was one year ago when I stepped into your academy. At that time I was 262 pounds, lazy, and out of shape. You and your staff convinced me to start training again. After a bad experience  I had in another school, I was very reluctant to try again. I would like to thank you and your staff for helping me stick with an art that I truly love.

I like the fact that you and your staff take their time teaching, as well as motivating me and the other students, no matter what size, shape, or rank. When we are at the school there is always good karma between the students and staff on and off the mat. I like that everyone is a team. Johnny you are a true professional. You helped me a great deal by getting my mind straight, and my body back into shape. Your net-working ability between all the students, whether they work for someone or are business owners, its all the same. You travel to bring in the top people in the mixed martial arts world so you can better yourself, your staff, and your students. That is a hard thing to find in the field today. That is a hard thing to find in this field today.

Furthermore, my family and I would like to thank you for your continuous efforts to support St. Jude Cancer Hospital. Also, training the men and women of our great military forces here in the United States, as well as Iraq. We would like to thank you for defending our country as a United States Marine.

It is also great that you take time to do seminars for our Federal as well as our state and local police departments.

Johnny and the Staff at Guerrero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, I would like to thank you for a superb job and running a topnotch operation. I hope in the future you will educate my kids and lead them through this great art. I also hope to achieve my black belt from your academy and guide fellow students on the path you have taken me.

Mike Citarella, Father of Two, Owner Of The Rock Cellar Bar & Grill

Welcome to The Rock Cellar Bar & Grille

My kids and I are students of the Guerrero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy.  I am a 38 year old, highly motivated, but extremely busy father of two, a business owner and youth leader.  Let me tell you a bit about us and our experiences.  My son is twelve and says he wants to be a “red belt” some day…  Watch out Helio!  My daughter, at only seven years old has a rear naked choke better than some adults I know and I blame Johnny and his team for the almost daily sparring sessions I have with both of my children.   My wife is considering the woman’s classes at this time and as soon as her schedule and life allow for it, I think she will be even more addicted to the training than any of us!  This is the first time we have ever joined as members of a jiu-jitsu school and there is a story behind that fact…

 I have personally trained on and off with some of the NJ and NY-metro area locals for years, but never submitted myself to someone’s leadership as a teacher as fully as I have with Sensei Johnny and his team.  The atmosphere in the school is like none I’ve experienced anywhere else.  Some of the teachers I’ve trained with elsewhere have great reputations and train individuals quite professionally, yet it is the combination of great training and an incredible atmosphere of support, motivation and positiveness that makes the Guerrero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy stand out above all the others…

I swore I would never “join” a school because of my busy schedule as a business owner and community volunteer.  I never thought I would have time to actually get into a school and train and thought I would simply be a huge waste of effort and money.  Yet the flexible and ever evolving class schedules make it easy for me to catch at least two training sessions most weeks.  I trained on and off for years all over the place and even promoted and hosted my own weekly training sessions for years at one point… I learned a lot of good stuff during that time but Johnny and his team are helping me put the pieces of the puzzle together for the first time so I can grown beyond the basics.

I also swore that I would never let my kids get involved in a school with a membership plan because many of the traditional schools out there are simply in it for the money when it comes to kids (and adults!).  I have personally sat in on many of the kids classes at the Guerrero Academy and have been impressed every single time by the energy level, the positive attitudes they share and pour into the kids and the level of training that these young people are exposed to.  After seeing three or four classes, I signed up *both* of my children on the spot.  No questions asked…  Both of them train two to three times a week and look forward to gaining more skills and discipline while getting into shape.

The bottom line is that the school offers a great atmosphere for my children and family as a whole.  It has brought us closer together and offered us some fun, energetic common ground to meet on when looking for a family activity.  My children are learning positive life attitudes and values that I believe in.  It is one of the core activities of our family. 

Johnny and his team of highly competent instructors bring a team approach to the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that I have not found anywhere else in over 14 years of on and off Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Grapping training.  This, along with top-notch training and a very flexible class schedule means that all of us have a blast while learning from some of the best that exist in the sport today.  My children sometimes walk into the school down and challenged by school or life and yet always leave with a huge smile on their face and new skills.  They come home and “do their chores without having to be asked.”

Whether you are a single guy, girl, man or woman or a family looking for a place to train, Johnny Guerrero and his team at the Guerrero Brazilian Ju-Jitsu Academy are the place I suggest you check out.  I’ll see *you* on the mat soon…

Joe AgroB

usiness owner – www.autodrill.com

Youth Leader – www.tlcc.org

Former owner of www.openmat.com