Rolls at the Rec

If you take a walk to UD’s RecPlex on Sunday afternoons and head into one of the smaller gyms, you can find one of UD’s newest and most intriguing clubs: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Founded in 2021, the club has been growing steadily ever since. Started by president Anthony Re ’25 and his twin brother Matteo Re ’25 their freshman year, the club now has about 25 members. 

“I think the club is popular because of the environment we are able to create,” Anthony Re said.

The club has an even larger number of students who drop in occasionally for practices. Splitting their practice sessions between the S&G Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu facility in Moraine and student led “rolls” in RecPlex, the club has been a great way for students of all experience levels to learn the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which has exploded in popularity in the U.S. recently.

“Experienced members are happy to help beginners, and [this]this culture of giving back creates a welcoming atmosphere that carries over into life outside the mats,” said club member Justin Long, a higher education and student affairs graduate student.

Anthony Re said it’s the club’s strong sense of community and camaraderie that keeps members coming back. 

“That not only makes people feel welcomed and supported, but also helps facilitate a safe and fun learning environment for people to practice jiu-jitsu,” Anthony Re said.

Each semester, the Good Fight Jiu-Jitsu Tournament is hosted at the University of Dayton in RecPlex, where members compete and test their skills against other Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners from around Ohio. 

“For many of our participants, the Good Fight is their first experience competing. It is exciting to watch first-time competitors battle the nerves of stepping onto the mat for the first time,” Long said. “In recent years, multiple UD BJJ competitors have won their weight class or made the podium.”

Throughout the year, UD BJJ members also lend their skills to several UD community service projects. One of which is helping with the Sigma Kappa sorority fundraiser. UD BJJ provides a self-defense course to the sorority members using jiu-jitsu techniques. 

“This was a great experience for us to step out into the community and share a little bit of our passion for jiu-jitsu,” Anthony Re said.

This sport, which can be pretty grueling at times, is known for becoming a way of life for those that participate. 

“We see a lot of members learn how to stay calm in stressful situations and develop a confidence that carries over into life outside of jiu-jitsu,” Anthony Re said.