Name: Jordon Wallace Schultz
Nickname: Dexter
Age: 25
Rank: Brown
Gym: Lloyd Irvin
Length of time training: 5 years

Website, blog, or twitter or facebook links:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=24416879

Summary about yourself:
I have a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and I am currently training jiu jitsu full-time at the Alliance head quarters in Atlanta, GA. I don’t have many hobbies because I spend most of my free time improving myself for jiu jitsu. I grew up in Buffalo New York and I spent years in high school getting picked on because I was a late bloomer. I didn’t go through puberty until I was 18. My teen years were filled with social anxiety and awkwardness, and that drives and motivates me to this day. I have a strong work ethic because of that time, and I continue to set more challenging goals.

I live a jiu jitsu life-style, but not the lazy type. It’s easy to fall into a lazy routine of training, napping and sleeping in until noon when you train jiu jitsu full time. I fell into this at first, but now I get up early to do strength and conditioning. Following that I train and teach beginners until about 3pm. I study and work from home, and then I go back to the gym at 6-7pm to train again. On weekdays I’m working and training from 7am till 10pm.

I survive financially through teaching and working for Alliance, and I also teach at another school in Georgia. It’s difficult to afford travel costs and living expenses when you train full time. Sponsors in the US don’t want to pay you a monthly salary, or help with travel costs for tournaments. So you have to get creative, hold fundraisers, teach private lessons, referee for tournaments and struggle everyday to make ends meet while traveling to compete as much as possible. In Brazil, most of the brown and black belts that have won the worlds have sponsors that give them monthly salaries, 30-40 gis per year as well as full reimbursement of their travel costs. Hopefully one day the Sport will reach a level in the US where this is possible.

List of titles or accomplishments:

2011 European 2nd place
2010 World Champion
2010 Pan Champion, 3rd in Open Class
2009 No gi Pans Champion
Abu Dhabi Trials 2009 Champion Purple

How did you get involved in bjj?

I got into jiu jitsu because it is the only sport I found where natural talent and attributes mean very little. Hard work, determination and technique will surpass talent. I see it everyday at our gym. The transformation people go through is astounding. Intelligent people progress and their bodies find a way to make the jiu jitsu work even if they are not physically gifted.

What is you favorite bjj story?

I have so many! Here is a funny one: I recently shit my pants while walking from my hotel to the venue at the 2011 European Championships. When I get back to the hotel it was like I had a waterfall coming out of my ass because I shit all over the back of the toilet and the wall. I was too tired to clean it up so I just let the shit dry overnight. My roommates couldn’t even use our bathroom after that. I think it was the Japanese buffet that did that got me sick.

Who are some of the people who have influenced you bjj?

Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Bernardo Faria, Fabio Gurgel. I try to look at the best guys and copy them. Everything from their diet, to how they live life in general.

What is your favorite position and why?

I have been really into passing the guard lately. We have some awesome guard players at our school so I have been enjoying trying to pass the guard.

If you could start training all over again, what would you change in training routine and why?

I wish I had started at Alliance. I started at a small school in my hometown and I have so many bad habits that I work on breaking constantly. One thing that stands out is self-defense. I never knew any self-defense until I came to Alliance, and I was a purple belt. I believe it’s more important than anything else in Jiu Jitsu, and if you’re not doing it you will never experience jiu jitsu fully. Last summer I went to train at Fabio Gurgel’s school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He teaches thinks like the punch defense and head lock defense in his advanced class. I was shocked, but also enlightened when I saw 15 world champion black belts practicing how to defend a punch. A few months later Fabio came to our school in Atlanta and taught a 3-day instructors course. I was blown away. Beginners in jiu jitsu shouldn’t be doing the triangle, or oma plata. They need self-defense and they don’t realize it. Hip throws, how to defend the head lock, guillotine, grab defense, its all so important. Jiu Jitsu was designed for self defense originally, and Fabio Gurgel and Romero Cavalcanti have not changed their teaching methods from the beginning. That is part of the reason Alliance is so successful. Having the integrity to not appease the students by showing them complex sport jiu jitsu moves, but teaching self defense, that is the key. They will evolve by themselves and find their own games, creating their own moves.

How do you think competition helps your jiujitsu?

After a competition I notice I am sharper mentally an my timing is better. I usually stay all day and watch the black belts, and that helps me the most.

Who are some people you have beat in competition in the past, in which you are proud of and why?

Ronis Gracie, only because he is a Gracie, and I’m a gringo white boy.

How has bjj helped and changed your life?

Really in every aspect, but patience is number one.

What do you think is not stressed enough in order to better your game in grappling?

What are your plans for the next 5-10 year?

I want to win every tournament. It’s really the journey that I’m looking forward to. Winning the tournament is anti-climatic, and sometimes you can lose even if you are better than your opponent. The process of training and preparing is what I’m looking forward to. Some day I’d like to own my own school as well.

What are three things people may not know about you?

I like Justin Bieber.
I think I have an undiagnosed form of Autism.
I don’t wear a cup when I train.

Any shout outs?
Thanks to Vince from Shoyoroll for supporting me, helping with registration fee’s and giving me a few kimonos and shirts. I’d like to thank Romero “Jacare” my main instructor. I learn so much from him. Thanks to Cobrinha who recently moved to L.A. Check out his school if you have a chance cobrinhabjj.com. His game is really unique and technical. Also all my training partners who try to take my head off during training. Without them I’d be lost. Also, to my girlfriend who puts up with my mood swings when I’m cutting weight and training like a mad man.