About Lock Down Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Our goal at Lockdown BJJ Academy is to help people reach their own personal goals. Whether that is to become a grappling champion, improve BJJ for MMA, learn self-defense or to have fun and get in the best shape of your life – Lockdown BJJ Academy is the place for you.
The Academy puts a strong emphasis on self-defense and on conditioning. In a hypothetical situation, if you were FORCED to defend yourself or your family against an attacker, do you think you have the skills? Are you in good enough condition that you do not gas out immediately? We believe that everyone – men, women and children – should train and always have the advantage if the situation ever arises. The confidence you build while training is another bi-product.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been proven to be the most effective form of self-defense on the planet.
At Lockdown BJJ Academy, we are dedicated to keeping a clean, safe, family friendly environment. We believe in structure and making sure everyone is treated with the same respect they would respect in return.
Our facility hosts:
- Separate weight training area containing ropes, free weights, dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls and more.
- Locker room with showers and changing area.
- Large lounge/viewing area with free WiFi and seating area.
- Large parking lot
Professor Joseph Thompson has been training one form of combative art or another since he was 14 years old. As a kid he boxed in PAL, he also tried his hand at wrestling in junior high and high school, then like most he found himself in Tae-Kwan-Doe. After bouncing around for some years Joe found himself in a traditional karate system American Combat. It was there after studying the stand up style for many years that he discovered the ground style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was than introduced to Renzo Gracie back in the mid 90's and that is when his jiu-jitsu journey began. Like most, Joe did the stop and go type training. One month on 3 months off...etc. until he eventually stopped training completely.
In 2001, when Joe was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease he felt the need to make changes to his diet and training habits. It was from that point on that he dedicated himself solely to training mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. That dedication drove him to compete professionally as a mixed martial artist in shows such as Ring of Combat. It wasn't until 2005 that Joe met Alexandre Soca, a Carlos Gracie, Jr. black belt since 1994 and member of the famed Gracie-Barra camp. Soca holds such prestigious titles as the Pan Ams, Mundials, and Abu Dhabi's.
It was under Soca's knowledge and teaching that he advanced to the level of Brown Belt and found himself winning or medaling in over 70 tournaments himself;
Here is a list of just some of his accomplishments:
5X - No-Gi Pan American Championship Medalist
2X - Gi Pan American Championship Medalist
6X - IBJJF New York Open Gi Championship Medalist
12X - NAGA Championship Medalist
9X - Grapplers Quest Championship Medalist
4X - Pride Championship Medalist
2017 IBJJF World Masters- Black Belt Bronze Medalist Weight Division
2017 IBJJF NY Open - Black Belt Division Silver Medalist
2016 IBJJF Worlds Masters – Black Belt Bronze Medalist Weight Division
2016 IBJJF Worlds NO-GI – Black Belt Bronze Medalist Weight Division
2016 IBJJF Houston Open - Black Belt Weight Division Silver Medalist
2016 IBJJF NY Open Weight - Black Belt Division Silver Medalist
2015 IBJJF NY OPEN – Black Belt Weight Division Gold Medalist
2013 IBJJF Worlds- Brown Belt Weight Division Gold Medalist
2013 IBJJF Worlds- Brown Belt Open Division Gold Medalist
2013 IBJJF NY OPEN Summer Invitational -1st Place Brown Belt Absolut
2012 IBJJ Gi World Championships - 2nd place Absolut Division
2012 Naga World Championships - 1st place - Expert Division
2011 Pan American Championships- 1st Place Weight Division - 1st Place Absolut Division
2010 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships - 2nd Place Weight Division
2009 Grapplers Quest North American Middleweight Champion
Joe is also a certified and registered IBJJF Referee, the most recognized and credible organization regarding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is also a certified referee for both the ADCC and NAGA organizations.