Gordon Emery’s martial arts background

• 3rd Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt
• Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu consistently since 2004
• Owner/Chief Instructor & Program Director of Charlottesville BJJ - 2007
• Voted “Best Martial arts school in Charlottesville” - 2015-2019
• Extreme Close Quarters Concepts / Shivworks - Craig Douglas - 2013
• Krav Maga Graduate / Instructors diploma / Krav Maga Global - Eyal Yanilov - 2015
• Co-founded Albemarle County Police Department / Cville BJJ partnership - 2018
• Community Relations, Crime Prevention and Safety award presented by Albemarle County Police Department Foundation - 2018
• Gracie Survival Tactics certified - 2019
• Subject Matter Expert - Clinch and Ground Control for LE / Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy - 2020
• Other notable training:
  • Wing Chun Kung Fu - Sifu Barry Walton
  • Judo Brown Belt - Sensei Tim Redden
  • Muay Thai - Jun Ortega
  • Dog Brothers stick fighting / Kali - War Dog / Michael Barredo
  • MMA - Jake McLean / Chris Rollins / Zak Dreago

The opportunity of training and teaching martial arts in my life has afforded me some amazing opportunities to challenge myself. It has provided me with an avenue to develop self-confidence and to stand up against bullies. It has shown me that hard work does pay off and people can transform their lives on this path. The challenge of teaching has given me the opportunity to help others in the same way that this journey has helped me.

A little about my martial arts journey: I was a small shy kid growing up in Charlottesville and often the target of bullying; as a lot of us have been. I backed down when bullied because I didn’t believe I could do anything about it. When I got older I wanted to know how to stand up for myself. I was watching Bruce Lee movies and enjoyed the action scenes but also the philosophy about fighting and life that he conveyed in his films. It led me to study his work and the martial art styles he practiced. At age 20 I started learning Wing Chun Kung Fu with a coworker, which was one of Bruce Lee's first disciplines. At the time I didn’t have much of a direction in life and training offered me a constructive path. The training was empowering and I wanted to see what else I could accomplish with it. I started to pay more attention to my health by creating a lifestyle that allowed me to feel better when I trained. Training became a happy place where all the worries of life were gone. Needless to say, I had found my passion.

In 2004, I attended a Royce Gracie seminar at a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club here in Charlottesville and I was instantly hooked. I began training as much as possible and even took up Judo at the same facility to get more training days. After I earned my purple belt in 2007 my instructor, Lamonte Tyler, moved away and honored me with the responsibilities of running the BJJ club. I began training with my friend Andrew Smith (a BJJ brown belt at the time, now 3rd Degree black belt) at his school in Richmond, VA.

In 2008, I opened the doors of Charlottesville BJJ with a full schedule of classes throughout the week. I wanted to provide Charlottesville with the best jiu-jitsu school I could. I developed a curriculum, taught classes every day, and created an environment where students earned their rank instead of just paying for it. I am a stickler for fundamentals, attention to detail and investing in the learning process. I teach my students to get out and challenge themselves to evolve. Through that process, my team has and still does compete very well in local and international competitions.

Nowadays I continue to learn and grow with my students. I am forever grateful to my current and past instructors as well as all my training partners and students who have forged me into the person I am today. I enjoy the journey with all its ups and downs and hope to shed some light on positive paths to others along the way.

How did you first hear about martial arts?
I don’t remember not knowing about martial arts but I took my first karate class when I was 9.

What do you enjoy about teaching?
I love teaching because I like knowing that I’ve contributed to the next generation of martial artists. It also helps me to improve my own techniques.

Favorite submission:
My fave sub is the paper cutter choke.

What do you do outside of the gym?
When I’m not at the gym or work I chill with my dog.

What's the most important thing you have learned from martial arts?
The most important thing I’ve learned is that if you make a plan and embrace the grind you can achieve things you never thought you could.

How did you first hear about martial arts?
I did general martial arts when I was younger, but I never was too interested. I became interested in Jiu-jitsu after seeing people do it on The Ultimate Fighter show. I immediately looked up a move and tried it on my brother. We both were hooked from that moment on.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
There are so many things I enjoy about teaching. Teaching makes you fully understand how a technique works. You watch other people do it, and their failures actually improves your understanding. You learn why it wasn't working for them, realize how to fix their issue, then you understand what was missing in your demonstration. Teaching has helped me grow as a grappler.

Favorite submission:
The guillotine. It must always be respected.

What do you do outside of the gym?
I am a Registered Nurse who is currently in school pursuing a higher degree. I play video games, study Jiu-Jitsu instructionals, and spend time with my wife and German Shorthaired Pointer named Bruno

What's the most important thing you have learned from martial arts?
That you are not set in a certain way. You can improve in anything as long as you strive to do so. Martial arts helped me realize this concept, and I have improved in all aspects of my life thanks to it.

When I walked into my first basics class six years ago, I didn't even know what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was. My lifelong love for action movies had conditioned me to believe that all martial arts involved karate chops and roundhouse kicks, so I was pretty confused when I was told to lie down and have a stranger sit on top of me. It goes without saying that I was not a natural talent. I was shy, unathletic, uncoordinated, and was fairly certain I didn't belong, but I kept showing up. After a few months of being surrounded by some of the most supportive, kind, and inspiring people I’ve ever met, I was hooked for life. Since then, I’ve dabbled in a handful of other martial arts, including Judo, Muay Thai, and Filipino Martial Arts, but I still haven’t learned to karate chop or throw a roundhouse kick.

Aside from jiu-jitsu, I like to play classical piano, watch terrible movies (and the occasional arthouse joint) with friends, and tinker with electronics.

My name is Tony Ragosta and I have over 20 years of experience in Judo, reaching the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) and competing in numerous national and international tournaments. Despite my successful competition career, I’ve always enjoyed teaching, training, and coaching more than playing in the spotlight. Watching my teammates succeed always gave me more joy than standing on the podium. This is my first opportunity to create and run a program of my own and I’m very excited to have this opportunity.

A little about myself: I’m a Charlottesville native, graduating from Western Albemarle High School in 2010 before pursuing higher education at Virginia Tech and then earning my DPT at VCU. I work as a physical therapist in sub-acute rehabilitation, primarily with our elderly population. My career decision was heavily influenced from what I learned from Judo: discipline, patience, and mastery of human moment. Besides Judo, I enjoy spending time outside, especially near the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am engaged to a wonderful young lady who works in the wine industry and we are planning on starting a family in the not so distant future!

How did you first hear about martial arts?
Bruce Lee / Chuck Norris movies on Cable TV

What do you enjoy about teaching?
I like teaching because sometimes I can be a part of a kid getting more confidence or on the other side, getting more control

Favorite submission:
My favorite sub is getting a DARCE on Tyler

What do you do outside of the gym?
I focus on trying to make my kids go outside when I am not in the gym.

What's the most important thing you have learned from martial arts?
the big thing I have learned from martial arts is not to rush or spaz. That really applies to a lot of stuff.

Gordon Emery, Jack Delany, Emily Pananas, Jack Murphy, Joel Lothamer, Brian Moon, Andrew Cass, Madison Furgurson, Jacob Pavlansky, Michael Downing, Anna Emery