New Mahwah Business Will Teach People How To Defend Themselves

MAHWAH, N.J. — Gorilla Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy will open in the township next month.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial arts technique that teaches a smaller person how to defend himself or herself against a larger opponent using leverage.

Owner Mike Wilson, a black belt in the martial arts discipline, said he is opening the business to teach young adults how to properly defend themselves.

"I believe in this day and age it is absolutely necessary for young adults to learn self-defense with bullying in schools," Wilson said, noting that women should also learn "how to to properly defend themselves against an attacker."

The academy is located inside Apex Wrestling at 63 Ramapo Valley Road, building 63.

A grand opening is June 11 at 11 a.m. A two-hour jiu-jitsu seminar will be held with a special demonstration by third-degree black belt Karel Pravec.

For more information, visit the academy's website.

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Braulio Estima taking the back of Alexandre Ceconi at the World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup 2010 in Abu Dhabi. Used with permission from Wikimedia Commons via author Elijah Fayerman