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Gurgel gym has big impact on mixed martial arts
30-year-old has found success by helping other fighters, public.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
WEST CHESTER — When you walk into the Jorge Gurgel Mixed Martial Arts Academy there's Jorge Gurgel's symbol of a J and G inside a diamond painted on the wall. When Gurgel fights, the same symbol is easily visible on his upper back.
Overall, it's easy to say the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter is doing pretty well for himself. It may be hard to believe that at the beginning of the year, life was a struggle.
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"On my 30th birthday (Jan. 25), I was completely broke. I put everything I had into the gym because I wanted people to see what (mixed martial arts) was all about," said Gurgel. "Now its grown so fast that at 30 and a half my life has completely changed."
On Saturday, Gurgel opened his gym to the public. Hundreds of people filled the 13,000-square-foot facility. They were entertained by amateur and professional fighters in boxing rings and a fighting octagon.
To help showcase the gym, accomplished and up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters Rich Franklin, Dustin Hazelett and Marcus Davis were in attendance. They also train and teach in the gym.
"A lot of people have the misconception that this is just a fighting gym, and that's not true," Hazelett said. "A lot of the people who come here have no intentions of fighting. We are showing this (gym) is for recreational use, too."
Those who discovered it's recreational use before Saturday have expressed their appreciation for Gurgel opening the gym. Some say thanks while others go so far as to tattoo Gurgel's symbol on their backs.
"I never expected that I would make such an impact on someone's life," he said. "But I feel very happy and very accomplished because I know that I have changed someone's life for the better."
Contact this reporter at
rhehr@DaytonDailyNews.com.
