Episode 26. Marine, Black Belt, Academy Owner
The conversation
About Teddy Johnston.
Teddy Johnston sat down for Kumite Lifestyle. That conversation is episode 26, “Marine, Black Belt, Academy Owner”.
Teddy is a retired Marine and the owner of Twisted Kraken Jiu-Jitsu in Jacksonville, North Carolina. His academy opened in November 2020 and recently celebrated five years.
He started out wrestling in Kansas City, traveled the world with the Marine Corps, and discovered judo and jiu-jitsu in Japan. He later served as an assistant instructor in Colorado under Tony Debelak, and he was Nick's partner during Nick's combatives test at Gracie University.
Teddy opens up about running an academy, building confidence in kids, creating a family feel for adults, and rebuilding his life through jiu-jitsu after a TBI and a stroke.
“I'm a retired Marine”
“we've been open now since November, 2020”
From the episode
- Students have been critiqued all day, so don't greet them with a list of everything they did wrong.
- Build a family environment where people want to be.
- Jiu-jitsu can help you rebuild after life knocks you down.
- Discipline
- Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
- Gym or dojo
- Twisted Kraken Jiu-Jitsu
- Location
- Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Rank
- Black belt, Marine veteran
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