Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructor Minneapolis - St Paul MN - St. Paul Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy

Coach Brandon Began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training in April of 2007 when he was a Junior in High School. During his time training, he has competed in hundreds of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions winning several medals, trophies, and awards both locally and nationally. He also boasts an impressive MMA Record of 14 wins and only 3 losses with most of his wins coming from submissions he learned in Jiu Jitsu classes.

Prior to learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he also wrestled for 7 years in High School. He earned an AA degree in Law Enforcement in 2014 and is a former law enforcement officer. Brandon’s unique understanding of the intersection of sport, self-defense/tactical control, and MMA set him apart from the crowd of jiu-jitsu coaches in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. He a was awarded his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt in January of 2017 from Professor Greg Nelson.

When it comes to practical self defense application of BJJ and martial arts, Coach Brandon’s knowledge is second to none with a history of using Jiu Jitsu to protect himself and others while working as loss prevention, as security, and as a police officer.

Several Years of experience teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Applied Self Defense experience as a police officer, security officer, and loss prevention officer
Pro MMA Record of 14-3 with 8 fights being won by submission
Named Minnesota’s 2010 Pro MMA Fighter of the Year
Minnesota’s youngest BJJ Black Belt
During his MMA career, achieved ranks as high as 2nd in the state and 43rd in the Nation at his weight class.
Hundreds of Jiu Jitsu matches
IBJJF Chicago Open 2013 Purple Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
Five Grappling Fall 2014 Chicago Brown Belt Middleweight Champion
2015 Metamoris Challenger – Los Angeles Middleweight 3rd place
NAGA Madison 2016 Advanced No Gi Middleweight Champion
NAGA Madison 2016 Brown Belt Light Heavyweight 2nd Place
IBJJF Chicago Open 2016 Brown Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
IBJJF Chicago Open 2016 Brown Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
2017 & 2018 Fight 2 Win Pro MN – Main Event
2018 – TCI Black Belt Superfight Champion
2022 Gold Medalist Twin Cities International Open IBJJF No-Gi Black Belt
2022 Silver Medalist Twin Cities International Open IBJJF No-Gi Black Belt
2022 Bronze Medalist Twin Cities International Open IBJJF Black Black
2024 Sub Spectrum 189 lbs Advanced No-GI Champion
2024 Sub Spectrum Absolute N0–Gi Champion
Truly passionate about training and improving people’s lives through jiu-jitsu!