Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

At 51 years old, the prospect of training in such a physically demanding sport left me wondering if it was a good idea compared to just going to the gym. Once I got started at Easton, I realized very quickly that I had made one of the best decisions of my life. The instructors have the ability to teach students at all levels in a way that tests me mentally and physically in a high-​energy and fun environment. Being able to train along side my 16 yr old daughter and share much of this together is priceless.

Easton’s Centennial is hands down the best Jiujitsu program in Colorado. I consider this place a second home for my son and myself. All of the Professors and coaches absolutely love Jiujitsu and the really go out of there way to provide a safe and non-​intimidating atmosphere to learn in. Once you walk through the doors you are automatically treated as family which is very important when looking for an environment to raise your kids in.
The kids program is second to none with multiple high level competitors that compete on the national level and win. Professor Vellore dedicates himself to the kids program as if all the students were his own children and has a vested interest in each and every one of them. He is truly an irreplaceable asset when looking for a coach for your kids sports and life development.
Professor Ethan and Rossie Snow head up the adult program which provides a safe and competitive learning environment that focuses on technique over strength. The two of them are consistent competitors on the national level and know what works and what doesn’t and have ability to help you implement a winning game while providing a safe, fun and family type atmosphere.
There are anywhere from 2 – 5 Black belts and several high level brown belts on the mats at any given time to help dial in technique and theory. At anytime you can find serious competitors to your casual hobbyist on the mat to train with depending on what your goals are for the day. I truly cannot sing enough praise about not only the level of instruction, but the environment in which it is taught in. I have had the fortune to train at many gyms across the nation and rarely do you find a friendly place with high-​level instruction.

When I came to Easton BJJ I hadn’t really done any form of martial arts, and for the first several months, the idea of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scared me. My fears of any type of contact martial arts were compounded by the horrible physical condition I was in when I first became a member. I’m a computer guy, I’d spent several years sitting at a desk for several hours a day, and avoided any type of physical activity because I had horrible back pain. I felt so fragile and was so sore after nearly every class I took that many times, sometimes every week, I went to the coaches to explain how I wanted to quit and that I didn’t think my body could take this type of training. At no time did any of the coaches make me feel that was the case; they consistently offered nothing but words of encouragement and never made me feel they wouldn’t do anything other than motivate me to continue training and improve my physical and mental fitness.
Five years later, I can’t say enough about Professor Vellore Caballero, the facility he manages, and the coaches and staff at Easton BJJ. Above all, the facility is very clean and well maintained; training space and equipment is cleaned and sanitized daily. They have a phenomenal program for children, which ranges from imparting core values of respect, discipline, self control, and confidence, up to and including training and coaching state, national, and world champions, of which they have many. While my kids don’t yet attend Easton BJJ, they’ve already fallen in love with Coach Isiah, and despite only infrequently accompanying me to the gym, they recognize and hug him as soon as they see him. I wouldn’t hesitate to confidently enroll them in the kids program here in the future. Professor Vellore and all the coaches of the kids program love each of those kids like their own, and they tirelessly commit to their development.
Head Instructor, Professor Ethan Snow, brings a vast amount of knowledge, energy, motivation, humor, and discipline to every class he teaches. I certainly appreciate the amount of preparation and motivation it takes to successfully plan the content of every class — including warm up, stand up technique, and BJJ — then impart that material every day, every class, over and over again. Despite having seen certain techniques many, many times over the years, I feel that I’m constantly gleaning small details through his meticulous instruction that tighten up my game and continually make it more effective.
Above all, I feel safe when I train here. I’m a computer guy by trade, a father, and a husband. I’m not a fighter, and it’s likely I never will be one, although I feel if I ever told any of my coaches that I wanted to be a fighter, none of them would tell me that I couldn’t do it, they would instead do everything they could to make that happen. The same is true for a number of other people that train here as well. Regardless of whether the person is a man, woman, older, younger, weak, strong, timid, or bold, Professor Vellore, Professor Ethan, and all the coaches have cultivated a family of martial artists who care about each other and make each other better. I’m very passionate about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I truly feel that there aren’t any restrictions on who it’s for, who can study it, and that everybody should be given the opportunity to enjoy it and have it change their lives the way it’s changed mine. If you come to even one or two classes here, you’ll get a chance to see for yourself what I’m talking about, and you’ll be happy you did!

I started Muay Thai while living in Brazil for a couple of years and fell in love! Moved back to Colorado and I tried out a couple of different gyms. I didn’t find what I was looking for until I walked into Easton! It felt like family immediately a family that pushes you to be your best! I love all the professors and coaches! You can’t go wrong here! They have a free all women’s BJJ class that you must try out!
Also the kids classes are amazing you never see a kid not having fun while learning all these great disciplines!
Don’t miss out on being apart of this amazing family!

We’ve discovered that when it comes to martial arts training, like the movie Karate Kid, there are two types of coaching. Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu uses the «Mr Miyagi» style of coaching. We’ve seen the «Coach Sensei» style, and trust me you don’t want to put your child through that. Every single coach I’ve seen does an amazing job with the kids.

This summer I found myself traveling to Centennial, CO. Wanting to continue my training on the road, I Googled «BJJ» and located two clubs which seemed promising. Due to a family conflict, I was not able to visit the first club I contacted. However, I was pleased with my trip to the Easton Training Center in Centennial.
The ETC just moved into a huge new facility, conveniently located off of Arapahoe, a major street. The club — which is divided into separate spaces — allows for simultaneous classes, including Kickboxing (conditioning), Muay Thai, BJJ, and Kid’s Martial Arts.
The atmosphere at ETC is friendly. When I contacted them on my trip and told them that I was visiting the area, they just asked me to come in early enough to sign a waiver. Unlike the one other club I’ve visited so far on my travels, they did not charge me a floor fee (yeah!), and they even lent me some boxing gloves for my Muay Thai class (I HAD brought shin guards, wraps and a mouth piece on my trip, so I was not totally unprepared.)
ETC has a few black belts, with Professor Amal Easton receiving his black belt from legendary master Renzo Gracie. The two nights I attended, I was taught by Coach Max Madorsky, a young amateur mixed martial arts fighter who trains out of Easton Training Center Centennial, and Coach Isiah Wright, who teaches both Gi and No-​Gi BJJ.
My first class was taught by Coach Max, who has his own interesting story (
.) Despite his youth, Coach Max was organized and taught with confidence. During our Muay Thai class, we worked on some combos, and then focused on the «Hoost», a movement made famous by the Dutch fighter Ernesto Fritz «Mr. Perfect» Hoost (99−21−1 record.). The Hoost is executed by making a forward jab with forward only footwork, a cross (with no footwork), a shovel uppercut to the flank (made while bringing the rear foot forward to come into a normal stance), and finally finishing with a rear round kick. Finally we did some open rounds in which I took the opportunity to spar with everyone in the class. My most nervous moments were my two rounds with a huge German guy named «Arno», who was a good boxer despite having done it only for a few months (he had however done Tae Kwan Do for 30 years.). Despite some good hits to the face, I didn’t wake up the next day with a headache, so «Arno» didn’t hit too hard. Good job and I mean that.
I returned the next day, in time for the No-​Gi class. Coach Isiah Wright was the friendly instructor who taught us a hip throw, simplified for the white belts on the one side of the room, and then with some extra details for the colored belts on the other side of the room. We also worked on side control ending in an armbar. Then we divided for some rounds of open sparring, and Coach Wright was my patient partner. Whether that was because I was the newcomer, or the only woman white belt, or because I was the oldest person in the class, I am still not quite sure. Coach Wright gave me some reminders about using technique rather than strength, and then I managed to eke out an armbar from triple threat (still not quite sure if he allowed that to happen.) Then I had some other rounds with some young men in their teens and it was time to go.
All in all, very friendly staff and students, and nice facility. I will be back the next time I am in Centennial. The club is located at 5170 E. Arapahoe Rd., Centennial, CO 80 122 (720) 998‑5795.