Today we’d like to introduce you to Brock Larson.
Hi Brock, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, I started off as a wrestler as a farm kid and then went to college to wrestle. The college thing did not work out for me so I started assistant coaching wrestling at Brainerd Highschool while I was working at Anderson Brothers. I then got interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA so a buddy and I rented some VHS to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I then did some Jiu Jitsu tournaments and realized that I had to actually train at a legitimate gym so I went down to the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy (The Academy) and trained under Greg Nelson alongside Sean Sherk and they told me I should take an MMA fight. I took the fight and won. That fight started my passion for fighting and jiu-jitsu, I then signed a contract with UFC after being undefeated for 15 fights, I then continued my career and moved from UFC to WEC and ONE FC, I fought all over the world and then after 51 fights decided to move into a coaching role, my retirement fight was with Legacy. After that retirement fight, I taught Brazilian Jiu jitsu while working full time as a construction worker. My passion grew and I was offered an opportunity to teach full time as a Brazilian Jiu-Jistu Professor under START BJJ and that leads us to where I am now, a full time Martial Arts Instructor, part time unqualified therapist and life coach- just kidding, I love what I do and am Lucky to do it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No it has not been a smooth road, this business is not an easy one to run because there is a lot of ups and downs mentally and financially. I’ve had many partners in gyms through my coaching career, there’s been times where I was not sure if we could keep the doors open, especially during the pandemic and until now where it is just mine and my beautiful wives family business, Its been really uncertain and unstable. Any martial arts gym has its trials and tribulations, I feel we are lucky in the community we have now but there are times where its hard to keep people in a physical sport such as BJJ and MMA as long as a business needs to survive, it is a rotating door of students, injuries, hardships and successes. I honestly have to say I would not have it any other way though, I love our students and they become family to me and it is a very rewarding job.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu, no it is not karate, it is a grappling Martial art refined by the Gracie Brothers in Brazil. It was brought to the united states as proof that the smaller man can be more technical and lethal versus any opponent purely due to leverage and technique, which brings a big emphasis on self defense. I’m known for my MMA career and my grappling heavy fight style, I also love Kimura’s (a shoulder lock). I enjoy helping people find themselves on the mats and getting to know new people while teaching them skills that they can use in real life or as I say, ‘The streets of Saint Cloud (SOS)’ I also enjoy teaching people from every walk of life, we have police officers, financial advisors, anesthesiologist, nurses, construction workers, you name it and they’re all on the mats learning from a knuckle head like me. Its a privilege to teach them and to teach the kids we have in our kids program too, I get the opportunity to help parents instill morals and ethics into their kid’s lives while having fun and learning self defense. It sounds cliche but I am living my dream, I love my job and I hope it shows.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I honestly do not have time to listen to any podcasts, read books or read blogs. I do listen to KFAN on my way to the gym but that’s only during football season.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://startbjjminnesota.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/startbjjmn
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/startbjjmn
