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Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Diego Goldner

Diego Goldner helped plan a virtual school linking athletes’ ambitions with entrepreneurship from kindergarten.

Biography

Diego Goldner took up jiu-jitsu at eight on a family friend’s recommendation. He liked grappling without strikes: takedowns were difficult, but fighting from guard on his back suited him. La Prensa’s 2016 portrait found him balancing school and surfing, training with David Beluche and winning NAGA youth titles. Competition brought adrenaline and emotional commitment; passing opponents’ legs and competing in California were goals. By July 2020, four months stranded at Playa Venao during lockdown had led Goldner and fellow athletes to develop a different project: Líderes del Futuro, a planned virtual school from kindergarten through grade twelve. As a cofounder, he connected their ambitions to compete professionally and travel with learning business skills. Entrepreneurship, he argued, should begin in kindergarten, while school should accommodate the life its students wanted to pursue. La Prensa reported an August opening plan.

Sources for this profile

  • López, 2016.(opens in a new tab)

    • 2016: Balboa schoolboy and surfer recalled starting at eight, preferring grappling without strikes, difficult takedowns, strong guard and passing goals; Beluche-guided preparation brought reported NAGA youth wins, competition’s adrenaline, emotional commitment and California plans.

      Where in the source: Learning and plans.

      Accessed:

  • Calvo, 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • July 2020: four months stranded at Playa Venao led to cofounding planned virtual K–12 school Líderes del Futuro; Goldner connected sport, travel and business learning, entrepreneurship from kindergarten and schooling suited to chosen lives.

      Where in the source: School and Goldner’s account.

      Accessed:

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