Instructor/Owner Bruce Belfield

My name is Bruce Belfield, and I am the owner and head instructor at Fort Lauderdale Jiu-Jitsu. I want to personally thank you for taking an interest in our school and tell you a little bit about myself and my background.

I was born in Huntington, WV and started my martial arts training at the early age of 7 in 1985. I earned black belts in the arts of karate and judo from the world renowned instructor, "Hanshi" (Japanese for Model Instructor) Roger Jarrett of the USA Martial Arts Organization. Hanshi Jarrett continues to be one of my mentors and in 2023 promoted me to the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt in Judo / Jiu-Jitsu.

In 1993, the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu was introduced to the United States in the first ever televised event where martial artists of different styles were paired against each other to determine how they measured up against each other in actual combat. The effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu as demonstrated by the famed Gracie family of Brazil who brought the art to the United States impressed me greatly. I immediately sought out this family and began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu from them. Each Gracie family member I trained with: Helio, Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Royce, and Royler taught me a unique perspective of Brazilian jiu-jitsu which I incorporated into my own understanding of the art. In 2008, I earned the coveted Black Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

At the same time I was pursuing my study in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I was earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University. Although I enjoy math and science, sitting at a desk all day did not satisfy my youthful sense of adventure. In 2001, I got a job as a police officer at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Because of my previous experience in teaching the martial arts, doors of opportunity kept opening for me in the police department. During my career, I held the positions of patrol officer, field training officer, detective, SWAT entry operator, SWAT Instructor, firearms instructor, and self-defense instructor.

In 2007, I decided to open Fort Lauderdale Jiu-Jitsu Academy. I wanted to share with the community all that the martial arts had given to me. At first, it was a part-time school because I was an active police officer; however, the school grew to the point that it required much more of my time. So I made the decision in 2012 to retire from the police department and teach martial arts full time.

When a person trains at Fort Lauderdale Jiu-Jitsu, they are going to learn the two very valuable aspects of the martial arts. First, they are going to learn to defend themselves and their loved ones. This brings with it a healthy mind and body as well as confidence that transfers into everything they do. The second aspect they are going to learn is the life success component. Although a person may never be forced to defend themselves against an attack, we will all face challenges in life that require the focus, self-discipline, respect, leadership, and character qualities that are taught at our school.

I hope this brief bio gives you some sense of my background, and I sincerely hope that I have a chance to meet you in person to see how Fort Lauderdale Jiu-Jitsu can be of service to you or your family. Please give us a call now or input your information into the website and we would be happy to give you a call to answer any further questions you may have.