CHRIS began training Jiu-Jitsu in 2003 while he was a sophomore at Rutgers University. Him and his friends joined the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club there, then, after the year ended, he began training at the famed Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan. There he was stunned to see men and women of all different ages meeting in the same room, day after day, some obviously on break from work. Cops, lawyers, ex-felons, mothers, doctors, college students, and retirees. It was obvious something important was going on there. He quickly became a regular, training with world class teachers and athletes. Years later, after receiving his brown belt, he left his job working at the Board of Education to teach Jiu-Jitsu. Soon after he received a black belt in 2010. Christopher grew up and still lives in Union City, NJ.