Submission Shark BJJ Article Interview: 

It's amazing how much jiu-jitsu can change someone's life. It's common to hear about how a practitioner's attitude completely changing for the better thanks to this art. Josh Melendez is someone that used to get into trouble a lot but thanks to his father's advice to try BJJ, he has become a better version of himself. Life can sometimes present you with difficult moments such as losing loved ones. Learn more about how Jiu-Jitsu helped Josh get through that experience and how he now wants to help inspire others to give this sport/art a try! 

Full Name: Josh Melendez

Age: 28

Belt Colour: Purple belt

Professor: Carlos Melo

Short Term Goals: Getting back to competing. I have been out of competition for almost a year due to injuries and my body finally feels healthy enough to get back into it.

How long have you been doing jiu-jitsu for?

I have been doing Jiu-jitsu for about four years now.

Where do you train out of?

Gilroy Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Do you prefer BJJ in the gi or no-gi?

I don't prefer one over the other. I love training in the kimono. It's really a beautiful thing to use your martial arts uniform as a tool to control and submit an opponent. Recently I have been training a lot of KimonoLess (No Gi). I love the fast-paced, high-intensity rolls. The danger of leg locks, getting caught, or catching someone in a submission gets me excited. 

Have your instructors helped you in other aspects of life other than jiu-jitsu? 

They helped in every aspect. Everything I have in my life today I owe to my academy and my Professors Carlos, Magoo, Morgan, Cantu, Val, Kiko and Jose. My professors, who I consider my family, helped me to become a more confident individual; they provided a platform for me to do what I love most and that is to share my knowledge of jiu-jitsu with others.

What are some lessons you learned from jiu-jitsu that apply to everyday life?

I learned that you have to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, like when your professor is smashing you and you have to recover guard... No matter what life throws at you nothing is forever, just keep pushing forward and making progress.

How often do you train? 

About 5 times a week and twice on Sundays.

What made you want to start training?

It was actually my dad. A few years ago, I was hanging out with a rough crowd and he thought it would help me out to train. So eventually I tried it and was literally dragged around the mats by my Professor Magoo. After that day I was hooked.

Do you plan on training your whole life?

Absolutely. I hope I'm the 80-year-old guy still competing and training one day.

What’s it about jiu-jitsu that makes it so addicting?

The people, the community that is created inside an academy. People from all walks of life brought together. You can find jiu-jitsu anywhere in the world but the people are what keeps me coming back.

What has jiu-jitsu done for your physical health?

Jiu-jitsu keeps me in great shape and therefore I skip the traditional gym. Instead, I train hard and honestly, I've never felt better.

Has jiu-jitsu benefited your mental health?

Yes, I am definitely now a more positive person. I feel like my mind was clouded by a lot of negativity in my life before jiu-jitsu. Now,  it feels really rewarding to have a clear mind.

Awesome training day with @hollywoodc95 and @ninjatortuga408yesterday. Got the opportunity to roll with one of the best in our sport @nathanmendelsohnbjj couldn't ask for a better day Ossss!!! 

If you could restart your jiu-jitsu journey, would you do anything different?  

No, I've enjoyed the ride. I think my journey led me to be the man I am today and I wouldn't change that for anything.

What’s your advice for someone that’s never tried jiu-jitsu before but is interested in trying it? 

Go for it, see if it's for you. I always encourage people to do it because 9 times out of ten, it will only benefit you.

Do you have any aspirations in jiu-jitsu?

My end goal is to become an adult black belt World Champion. I also recently started a Kimonoless (no gi) class with a good friend of mine called The KimonoLess Kartel. Our goal is to help promote healthy, positive lifestyles within our own community through jiu-jitsu, and to grow the movement on a global scale to further outreach to larger communities.

What’s your favourite move?

Arm Bar is my favourite.

If you didn’t discover jiu-jitsu, where do you think you’d be now?

I don't know to be honest because Jiu-jitsu is my life. So to imagine a life without it...

Would you like to see the sport become more mainstream?

Yes. I think that will create more money and opportunity for people in jiu-jitsu.

Have any of your training partners pushed you to reach your full potential?

Every day we all push each other to be better and push forward towards our goals. 

When you were first starting, what was the most difficult concept of jiu-jitsu that you had trouble getting?

The movement, I couldn't move my hips to save my life.

What makes you want to inspire and motivate others?

The quality of life that jiu-jitsu has given me makes me want to give back and help others achieve the same thing.

Was there a difficult moment in your life where jiu-jitsu helped you get through it?

My little brother passed away recently and it was really tough on me. I stopped training and didn't really care to start up again. My friend Art Cantu called me and said: "you need to train, it's everything."  He was persistent and made me promise him I would train. And eventually, I did.

All I could remember was stepping on to the mats and instantly feeling this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn't feel sad, I felt joy and I realized then how much I had missed that feeling. Without training, I don't know how I would have got through the loss of my brother. 

 

As someone who was constantly getting into all sorts of trouble, I suggest jiu-jitsu or any form of martial arts to the parents of any troubled youth.

 

I loved it! I wanted to train with the best and my friend, Art Cantu, helped me achieve that goal by sponsoring me to go train with one of my Idols, Master Terere, at The Terere Kids Project. I got to experience the culture from a different perspective by living and training alongside the locals in the Canta Galo Favela in Rio. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and it helped me improve so much in jiu-jitsu.

 

 

I think it's about all the moving parts and details necessary to perform jiu-jitsu. Constantly countering movement and angles against another body for the final dominate position or submission, is like watching an artist meticulously transform a blank canvas into an extraordinary piece of work over a period of time. It's about understanding and respecting the commitment to it.

 

Terere, his position and control are insane. I love how he forces reactions out of opponents to gain position. He's a genius.

 

I didn't have any guidance or structure in my life at the time, so I started running around in some rough groups and got into trouble. Now I see things in a more positive light. I want to do good things in life, and I want to help others accomplish their goals. 

 

When the journey is over, how would you like to be remembered?

As someone who impacted his community in a positive way.