Defending Star Valley Since 2020

Peak Fitness Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was established in November 2020 to introduce the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Star Valley. We are located at downtown Afton, WY, and are currently the only martial arts academy in Star Valley.

Peak Fitness Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a family-friendly martial arts academy that focuses on team, community, and character. We teach self-defense, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu based on the Gracie family art, Sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, submission wrestling, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. We learn Jiu Jitsu to help strengthen our bodies, mind, and spirit and teach anti-bullying.

We aim to teach self-defense, honor, respect, teamwork, and self-discipline. There are many benefits to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and the martial arts that fall outside of self-defense and are applicable in everyday life. Some of these benefits include learning how to overcome obstacles, finding solutions to challenges, doing hard things, staying calm under pressure, and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. We at Peak Fitness Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aim to teach our students these important lessons and because we feel these lessons are so important, we charge a fraction of the costs of other BJJ academies and are the most affordable activity in the valley.

We offer kids, women, and adult classes and provide a family and friendly environment so that parents may feel secure that their kids are in safe hands. Couples can also visit and learn martial arts and indulge themselves in other fitness programs.

We offer traditional Gi and No Gi classes that allow people to learn and practice techniques using a BJJ Gi. No-Gi BJJ is also known as submission wrestling. Which uses different techniques of holding and helps you learn several strategies in self-defense.

We are affiliated with Excel Jiu-jitsu in San Diego, CA, under Professor Michio Grubbs. Our BJJ lineage is through Chris Hauter, one of the first 12 Americans to receive their BJJ Black Belt.

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About our Instructors

Professor Eric

Professor Eric is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black belt under Professor Michio Grubbs and Chris Hauter. Eric has been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 23 years and teaching for 15 years.

Professor Eric started martial arts when he was 15 years old after he was caught in the middle of a gang fight. Realizing he needed to learn how to defend himself, Professor Eric joined the closest martial arts academy. Here, he learned Kempo Karate and then shortly switched to studying Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu. Professor Eric trained in Choy Lay Fut until he left on his mission in 1996. Before he left on his mission, Eric was introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when Royce Gracie won the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Seeing BJJ for the first time piqued Professor Eric's interest.

When Professor Eric returned from his mission, he picked back up his training in Chop Lay Fut for another two years, earning his brown belt. During this time, a friend introduced Eric to Michio Grubbs, who practiced and taught Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His first experience with BJJ, Eric realized all his years of martial arts experience was not effective against BJJ. Eric quickly fell in love with BJJ and realized how practical and effective it was, and has been training in BJJ ever since. Professor Eric has also trained in boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and various other industry experts like Tony Blauer.

Professor Eric is also an avid fitness practitioner. He is married to his high school sweetheart and they have seven children.

Coach Reegin

Coach Reegin has been practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for five years. He helps teach the kids classes. Coach Reegin also wrestles in school and has won multiple gold medals in BJJ tournaments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coach Mike

Coach Mike is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt under Prof. Eric Rivard and life long martial artist.
 
Coach Mike began his martial arts journey at the age of 7 studying traditional Korean and Japanese systems.  At the age of 16, Coach Mike watched Royce Gracie win the inaugural UFC and was hooked.  Since there was no formal BJJ training available in his area at the time, Coach Mike continued his traditional martial arts training while also pursuing kickboxing, Muay Thai, and submission grappling.
 
At the age of 36, Coach Mike was introduced to Prof. Jordan Damon and began his formal study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mixed martial arts, and continued his study of Muay Thai.
 
In late 2021 Coach Mike met and began training with Prof. Eric and has never looked back.
 
Today Coach Mike holds advanced belts in both Korean and Japanese martial arts as well as instructor certification in various Filipino systems, Krav Maga, and Muay Thai in addition to his BJJ brown belt under Prof. Eric.  Coach Mike is also recognized by the state of Wyoming as a defensive tactics subject matter expert.
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