“This is a Black Belt School”

Did you know that in Playa Venao there is a “black belt” martial arts school? 

Playa Venao Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the force of John Boyle, founder and head coach of the academy located in Playa Venao, at the Beach Break Surf camp gymnasium.

Having nothing less than worldwide recognition, this mat is a space where not only are given personalized and group Jiu Jitsu classes. They also teach muay Thai, kickboxing, and boxing classes, all for visitors and residents of the area.

 This academy has become a point of reference for the community due to the large number of children, and adults, who attend their practice every afternoon from 3:00 p.m. 

With effort and dedication, the academy’s students also get to participate in national tournaments, finishing in the first positions. This black belt school is the host of special events, training, and retreats with international athletes, bringing the best knowledge in the field to the heart of Playa Venao. 

Get to know Jhons life  journey

John grew up in South Jersey, surfing the Atlantic Ocean. He started BJJ training in 2007, moved to Panama in 2013, and co-founded AlleyCat Fitness Foundation in Casco Viejo (Panama City). He took Panama’s first fighter to the UFC. He fought and won pro-MMA in early 2015 and was awarded a Black belt in 2016. It was in 2017 that he moved to Playa Venao and started Playa Venao BJJ, and became manager of BeachBreak Surf Camp in 2018. 

If you are planning to visit and try the wonderful waves of Playa Venao, here are the 5 best reasons to practice jiu-jitsu during your stay:

-Improves balance (good for surfing!)

-Improves general performance during surf training

-Meet new people 

-Strengthen your mind’s resiliency

-Stress relief

Want to start training for BJJ? Simply have a look at the updated Venao Guide class calendar to find the next group or personalized class for you.