May 15, 2017

Meet Angela & Danny Morera of North Shore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela & Danny Morera.

Danny Morera earned his black belt in Karate at the age of 17, at that time he began teaching Karate to kids for another local Dojo. Shortly after that in 1997 he was introduced by his long time mentor and friend, Jack Ellis, to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the infamous Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy at the time in Watertown. Danny instantly fell in love with (BJJ). He began training under Roberto Maia. Danny and Angela met in 2002 when Angela started training Kickboxing with Danny, who at the time was still teaching at a local Dojo in Peabody. After earning his Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2005, Angela and friend/training partner Jake Healey convinced Danny to open up his own Academy in the North Shore. At the time there were no other Jiu-Jitsu Schools in the North Shore. Jake and Danny opened up North Shore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in 2005 as partners in a small location in Danvers, MA. One year later after partner Jake Healey moved out of the state, then husband and wife Danny and Angela became partners and decided to move the Academy to Salem. After 2 expansions and 100 students later they are in the same location right outside of the downtown area of Salem. Danny earned his black belt in 2008 after 10 years of training and teaching, in 2014 he received his 2nd degree expanding his rank to professor. Angela earner her Blue Belt from Danny in 2014 while fitting in training after her full time banking career. Angela left the corporate world in 2015 to become an assistant instructor and full time operations manager at their Academy. They focus a lot of their attention on their Kids Jiu-Jitsu Programs, they are very proud and grateful for all of their little warriors. They specialize in their Beginner Adult Programs, and Kids Programs, making sure they provide a family friendly and NO EGO atmosphere. They welcome everyone and believe that Jiu-Jitsu can truly be for anyone.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I believe our biggest struggle has been advertising, something neither of us had any experience in. Letting people know where are here. Social Media has made it a lot easier for us, and with Angela being on full time coming from a management, coaching and customer service background has helped a great deal. I think competition with Karate and other forms of Martial Arts people are more familiar with has also been a struggle. However with the UFC and the infamous Gracie Family Jiu-Jitsu is becoming more mainstream and popular.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with North Shore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to kids, adults, women, everyone! We specialize in Kids and Beginner Programs. In our kids program we teach children how to intelligently cope with Bullying and Peer Pressure in a non-violent manor. Jiu-Jitsu differs from Karate or other Striking Forms of martial arts, as we do not teach kicking or punching to children, Jiu-Jitsu is the art of leverage, children are taught how to first use “verbal Jiu-Jitsu” using self-confidence to stand up to a potential Bully, and if physically provoked using Jiu-Jitsu technique to control and subdue the Bully with never throwing a punch or without having to physically harm the bully. Children and Adults are both taught Jiu-Jitsu self defense first and foremost, so they have confidence in knowing they can defend themselves from an attacker. Jiu-Jitsu, specifically Brazilian or “Gracie” Jiu-Jitsu, is most important for the smaller martial artist, like women, as it is an art of technique and leverage, not brute force or strength, I think what sets us apart from others is pure experience that Danny brings to the Academy, he has been teaching Martial Arts now for over 20 years with most of his experience in teaching children. Our kids program is first and foremost fun! However we do believe in teaching respect, manners, caring and a healthy lifestyle to our kids, hoping to have a hand in molding them into great citizens of the world. We are truly grateful and blessed to be part of that.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We continue to expand our kids program, and will be offering Jiu-Jitsu summer camps for the first time this year! We have added a STORM Team program recently, (Special Team of Role Models), which is a leadership program for some of our more experienced and stand out students, We have recently also added a “Black Belt” Program for our more advanced kids who may want to compete in Jiu-Jitsu in the future. We continue to improve on our already proven curriculum for beginners and hope to continue bringing awareness of Jiu-Jitsu to the public.

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