DAVENPORT, Fla. — Bill Mason discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu when his striking instructor wasn’t available one day. He tried a different class and found himself hooked.
Now 61 and a black belt, Mason says the training has given him much more than techniques.
“What keeps me going is a lot of things: the camaraderie, the sense of community, the trust you build with people, and the fact that you’re always evolving,” Mason said in written responses shared with Channel 9 by Gracie Barra Davenport.
Academy owner Fillipe Pascalicchio says that sense of connection is drawing people who have no plans to compete, including parents, children and adults trying martial arts for the first time.
A physical puzzle
Pascalicchio describes Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a martial art focused on leverage, positioning and technique. Much of the training takes place on the ground, with partners working to establish control and apply submissions such as joint locks or chokes.
Unlike boxing or kickboxing, the training he describes does not involve punches or kicks.
“In class it feels like solving a physical puzzle with a partner,” Pascalicchio said.
He estimates about 98% of his students are hobbyists rather than competitors. Some parents begin training after bringing their children to classes, while other adults arrive looking for exercise or self-defense instruction, he said.
A new class for women
Pascalicchio said the academy introduced a women-only class about a month ago after receiving more inquiries from women interested in training in a comfortable setting.
The academy now has more than 30 women training overall, he said.
For children, Pascalicchio emphasizes discipline, confidence and responding to bullying. For adults, he points to the physical challenge, concentration and friendships that develop through regular practice.
Classes are divided by age and experience level, he said. Beginners start with fundamentals and practice techniques slowly with a partner before progressing.
Adapting through setbacks
Mason said his path included recovering from a serious bike accident that left his left hand shattered.
“It took me a year before I could lift a gallon of milk,” he said. “It took me a long time to figure out how to do things again. It was a learning curve every single day.”
He said a separate hockey accident later cost him his thumb.
Mason began jiu-jitsu at 43. He described learning how to adapt his training and developing a growing interest in helping other students.
Earning his black belt, awarded just over a year ago according to Pascalicchio, fulfilled a longtime goal.
“I was totally surprised when I got my black belt. I wasn’t expecting it, and it was an amazing moment in my life,” Mason said. “It felt like a new beginning.”
What beginners can expect
Pascalicchio said a first class typically includes a warm-up, a coach explaining a basic technique and time to practice it step by step with a partner. Beginners are not immediately placed into hard sparring, he said.
For people considering a school, he recommends watching a class and paying attention to cleanliness, structured instruction and how experienced students treat newcomers.
Mason says the opportunity to keep learning is part of what brings him back.
“I’m excited to get better every day,” he said.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
