When Ron Pizarro was laid off from his cyber security job at the Department of Defense it was a stressful time for him.
Pizarro, 38, had supported his family of four through the independent contracting job for nearly two-years before he was pink-slipped.
Needing to provide for his family, Pizarro did not know what his next move would be.
Would he be able to find another job? Should he go back to school and pick up new skills?
Not having a full plan in sight, his wife of 13 years, had suggested he follow his passion and open a Brazilian jiujitsu academy.
Brazilian jiujitsu is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting.
“It’s the most effective martial art,” Pizarro said.
Pizarro’s wife, a business woman who owns a transportation company, helped Pizarro get funding to open Chula Vista Jiu-Jitsu Club in the heart of downtown Chula Vista, 315 ½ Third Ave.
Pizarro picked the Third Avenue location for his business because he said it was near the area he grew up in, attending high school just a few blocks from downtown Chula Vista.
His first job out of high school was at Fuddruckers, a few buildings down from his jiujitsu center.
“I’m from this neighborhood,” he said. The Hilltop High School graduate has former classmates and their children as students.
Pizarro co-owns the center with Jorge Farfan, both black belts.
Pizarro has been practicing jiujitsu since he was 21 years-old and has been to many gyms he said were not welcoming.
He said Chula Vista Jiu-Jitsu Club, which is part of the Elias Gallegos Association from Alliance Eastlake, is different from other gyms in that the instructors actually develop a relationship with their students.
“My gym is more of a family gym, that’s how we run it here,” he said. “I’ve been to gyms where (the student) is just a number. Lots of gyms are not personable, they just care that you pay your membership and if you’re not good no one pays attention to you. I’ve been in gyms where I’ve trained for more than a year and (instructors) didn’t really know me. They didn’t know my name. Over here, I know everybody’s name.”
Chula Vista Jiu-Jitsu Club has been open for about four months and has about 60-students. The academy has about 1,000 square-feet in mat space and 2,000 total square-feet.
A membership cost $125 per month for an unlimited amount off classes.
The academy teaches children as young as 4 years old and the club has adults as old as 61 years of age.
“Really, jiujitsu is for anybody,” he said. “You just have to find the right school.”
