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Chris Jones

Chris Jones encouraged an older beginner to relax and keep learning.

Biography

Durango Martial Arts Academy dates Chris Jones’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu training with Jorge Gurgel in Dayton to 1999 and describes a month in Fortaleza. Jeff Brown appointed him head instructor (2001–04). He moved to Durango (2005), opening DMAA (2006). It records a brown belt under Helio “Soneca” in 2007 and black under Amal Easton in 2011, after training with Easton and Gokor Chivichyan. At DMAA, his blue-belt student Matt Young led children’s classes; Shiann Swapp moved from Jones’s kickboxing teaching to BJJ promotions under him. January 2025 reporting identified Cecilia Hathcock as Jones’s BJJ black-belt student. Ormond Morford’s 2012 account shows what Jones’s encouragement meant to one older beginner. Discouraged and considering quitting, Morford was urged by Jones to relax rather than force the techniques. He credited Jones with encouraging him to persist, while describing a different contribution from Matt Young: private lessons working systematically through fundamentals. In September 2020, Jones and Matt Young trained with returning wrestler Nick Tarpley. Jones welcomed former youngsters returning as adults despite the academy’s pandemic struggles. For him, getting thrown and trying again illustrated perseverance. Jones also sought other teachers for the academy. In a testimonial on Dustin Denes’s site, he described inviting Denes to teach and wanting repeat seminars. He thanked Denes for buying a membership during the pandemic.

Sources for this profile

  • DMAA, instructors.(opens in a new tab)

    • DMAA: Jones began BJJ with Jorge Gurgel in Dayton (1999); spent an undated month in Fortaleza; Jeff Brown appointed him head instructor (2001–04); he moved to Durango (2005), opened DMAA (2006), received brown from Helio “Soneca” (2007), black from Amal Easton (2011) after Easton/Gokor Chivichyan training.

      Where in the source: Chronology.

      Accessed:

    • The academy describes Jones teaching BJJ and Muay Thai. His blue-belt student Matt Young subsequently led children’s classes; Shiann Swapp began with his kickboxing instruction and later received BJJ promotions from him.

      Where in the source: Teaching.

      Accessed:

  • Tri-City Record, January 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • A January 2025 profile identifies Jones as Cecilia Hathcock’s BJJ teacher at Durango Martial Arts Academy, where she earned her black belt.

      Where in the source: Hathcock’s Durango teaching years.

      Accessed:

  • Grapplearts, March 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • Writing in 2012, Ormond Morford credited Jones with urging him to relax rather than force techniques. When discouraged, the older beginner considered quitting; Jones kept encouraging him to persist. Morford separately credited Matt Young’s private lessons with systematic work on fundamentals.

      Where in the source: Morford’s account of encouragement.

      Accessed:

  • Dustin Denes, testimonials.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a named testimonial, Jones described inviting Dustin Denes to teach at his academy and seeking repeat seminars. He also thanked Denes for buying an academy membership during the pandemic.

      Where in the source: Jones’s signed testimonial.

      Accessed:

  • Durango Herald, September 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • In September 2020, Jones and Matt Young were training partners for returning wrestler Nick Tarpley. Jones valued seeing former youngsters return as adults, described the academy’s pandemic difficulties and welcomed resumed classes. He presented being thrown and trying again as a lesson in perseverance.

      Where in the source: Jones’s comments across report.

      Accessed:

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