They say the older you get, the more wisdom you have. Well, we want you to meet Gyno.
He looks young but he is wise beyond his years. He is one of our Black Belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
He is one of the most humble guys you'll ever meet, but don't let that fool you. He is so positive and so much fun that it's contagious. We had a chance to sit down with Gyno and ask him a few questions, and here is what he had to share with us:
I teach the Adult Brazilian jiu-jitsu and I also teach the jiu-jitsu Circuit Class. And I do a mean Hokey Pokey!
For me, it is just so much fun. I come out all the time and I do it, and I have a great time, every time. I haven't found anything that is more fun. So I just keep coming out.
People compare it to a chess match because of the thinking that goes into it. You are always thinking about the next move.
I think that the mind, combined with the physical part, is what I find most interesting. You don’t just get one or the other, you have to have both.
You are always challenging yourself, not just on a physical level, but also an intellectual one. One of the things I love is the challenge of developing an ever-changing strategy for every match.
(He laughs a little.) This is hard to narrow down to just one because your moves change all the time, depending on what you're working on.
I will work on one and then switch it up. For a while I was into triangles. Then I switched to rubber guard techniques, and lately I like to do Omoplatas. (No that's not Umpaloompas, it's Omoplatas. Doesn't it sound like something fun to learn?)
You know what they say… if I tell you, I will have to keep you after class!
That gives you just a small glimpse into Gyno. Here is what Coach Brian Bird had to say:
Gyno is a big family man and one of the most positive people I have ever encountered. Gyno had a serious genetic eye complication, the kind that might keep a person from ever returning to the sport, but not Gyno.
This guy is tough as nails. He used his positivity and sheer mental stamina, and fought to come back.
We are so happy he did, as Gyno is one of the Pioneers of bringing Brazilian jiu-jitsu here to Champion's Creed. He had been laying down mats and training in his brother's garage in 1998 with buddies, long before anyone had even known what Brazilian jiu-jitsu was.
He is an overall awesome guy, and we are so proud that he is at Champion's Creed. Come on in and meet him in person. Sometimes awesomeness just has to be experienced.
- Coach Brian Bird