By: Ramona Villegas
From 5-6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Aggie Rec Center mat room, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club meets, with Dana Winters as the advisor and instructor.
Winters has been practicing jiu jitsu on and off for the last 15 years, with ten consecutive years under her belt, and she wants to continue learning and growing as a student too.
“I think especially some people may get to a certain place in their life where they’re like, I no longer want to be a student,” Winters said. “I think whenever that happens, we kind of fester. You stop progressing as a person. You stop progressing socially, mentally, emotionally— you become stagnant. And jiu jitsu is one of those things where I always feel challenged. I am always trying to learn and get better.”
Winters finds several aspects of jiu jitsu beneficial, having gained confidence, empowerment, lifelong friendships and being a part of a supportive community.
“I wanted to be able to bring that to not just students at Cameron but also faculty and staff,” Winters said. “While the class is great because, of course, students are enrolling in it, the club is great because we are also able to reach faculty, staff and some alumni.”
Junior Sports and Exercise Science major Jesus Rojo is the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club President.
During his four years of service in the U.S. Army, Rojo encountered a form of martial arts known as “combatives.” This experience sparked his interest, so after completing his enlistment, Rojo actively sought an outlet for his newfound passion.
Rojo discovered both a fulfilling activity and a supportive community within jiu jitsu.
“In 2022, I started under Professor Virgil Allen here at Dreadnought gym in Lawton,” Rojo said. “So, in jiu jitsu, you start off as a white belt, as you gain experience you get promoted to like different belts. You eventually go from white to blue, purple to brown, then black. Dana is a brown belt herself, and I’m a purple belt.”
One of the club’s primary goals is to increase physical competency, whether on or off campus, which is important to the club’s advisor.
“To essentially keep our campus safe, right? Through having people able to carry themselves in a different way and be able to fend off an attacker,” Winters said. “Again, we are also promoting self-defense.”
Safety is a priority for any physical activity, and jiu jitsu is no exception, so the club takes certain precautions. Rojo explained their protocol and teaching techniques.
“Try to be as fair and firm as you can be so they can learn properly,” Rojo said. “Cause, at the end of the day, its still a martial art. And I want them to get the best out of it, you know? We actually encourage for people that are not experienced to join—we believe that we provide enough instruction that we can teach just about anyone.”
For more information, email Dana Winters, at dwinters@cameron.edu or visit their Facebook page at Cameron University Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club.