Welcome to our newest member of the month interview! When selecting a member of the month for Academic Grappling, we look for effort, empathy, personal improvement, and someone who inspires others through their authentic interactions. We are thrilled to have Brandon Zimmerman this month! As member of the month, Brandon was allowed to wear the much-coveted AG Belt, sign the back of it, and have a polaroid printed and hung on the wall of the gym. Learn more about our friend Brandon and his BJJ journey below:

• How long have you been training BJJ?

Almost 12 years

• Why did you join Academic Grappling?

Good community and lots of great training partners

• What’s your favorite submission?

Probably the darce choke. Mostly because it's my most successful move ha ha

• What is currently your favorite technique in Jiu-Jitsu?

Probably anything to do with half guard.

• How do you define success?

Getting to do the things that I want on a regular basis and less of the things that I don't like.

• Who inspires you, in Jiu-Jitsu or any other aspect of your life?

How much easier everything else seems after training keeps me motivated to keep training. BJJ is really hard!

• What advice would you give to someone who wants to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Take it a day at a time. Don't rush it or you'll get burnt out fast.

• Do you have any fun/funny stories from your time training BJJ?

Oh jeez! When coach Jared and I were blue belts and shared a hotel room together at the Chicago Open. We probably walked 10 miles before no gi the next day or the time I got what I thought was a nice motel for my wife and I also in Chicago and it ended up being a love shack with a heart shaped tub! I have more stories I'm sure!

• What is your current occupation? How did you get into it? Do you enjoy it?

I work for local government filing potholes and another BJJ practitioner got me involved. It's a good place to work but no I don't wanna do it. What I define as success isn't doing work for someone else. It's doing the things I love and it's kind of mid ha ha

• What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

I'm an open book so I'm not really sure.

• What’s the last book you read?

John Stamos "If You Would Have Told Me"

• What’s something you love to do outside of work or training?

Hiking/camping with my wife, taking my dogs for walks, podcasting with my wife

• If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ha ha tacos for life!

• What’s one thing about you that you feel really sums up who you are as a person?

I do my best to be good to others. Even when it's hard.

• Anything else you feel we should know about you?

Not off the top of my head but like I said, I'm an open book. Feel free to ask!