I’ve trained in martial arts since the age of 14, holding black belts in multiple styles. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu became a major part of my journey at 40, when I began training under Professor Marcelo Yougui. He guided me from white to purple belt and laid a strong foundation. As I began running a BJJ program in Kristiansand, Norway—without a resident black belt—I transitioned to studying under Professor Roy Dean, a black belt under Roy Harris, one of the original “Dirty Dozen,” the first 12 non-Brazilians to earn a BJJ black belt. The shift to Roy Dean was driven by his highly structured curriculum, which provided the clarity and consistency I needed to build a successful program. His system offered a clear path for students and made it easier to maintain a high technical standard—especially at the blue belt level. Today, I run a martial arts academies in Kristiansand with around 600 active members across various disciplines, including a thriving BJJ program with more than 200 students. My focus is on making BJJ accessible—especially for practitioners over 40—helping them train smarter, safer, and longer.