The Spark Behind the #1 Jiu-Jitsu Gym in Austin

Like many jiu-jitsu stories, this one begins not as a business, but as a convergence of passion, community, and adversity. James Villa, Ben Barbosa, and their cohort didn’t set out to simply own a gym—they wanted to build something uniquely transformative, rooted in their love of training and motivation to bring something new to Austin’s martial arts scene.

“Behind every gym there’s a story, a mission, a spark of passion that started it all,” James reflected as he introduced a visiting crew to the vibrant, sun-lit floors of East Austin Jiu Jitsu Parlor.

From Closure to Collaboration: A Shared Dream

The idea for the gym first took shape during the difficult days of COVID. The original gym where many of the founders had trained closed permanently, and the future seemed full of uncertainty. For some, that might have been the end—but for James, Ben, and their friends, it was the first page in a new chapter.

“We were talking about opening a gym, COVID times. Vince was living in Reno, training at Enzo Gracie Reno. And we, the gym that a few of us were affiliated with previously had closed, and we wanted to open a gym,” James Villa explained. “I was like, let’s get a new small space. And Vince was like, nope, let’s do a bigger space. Let’s find the best space we can.”

Reluctance gave way to boldness, thanks to Vince’s insistence: “We’re gonna go big or we’re gonna go home.” The team toured east Austin, balancing dreams with logistics, finally settling on a spacious 3,000 square foot building that would serve as a blank canvas for their vision.

Building Something Different

With space secured, the shape of the gym followed their sense of what was missing from the Austin martial arts community: a place that rivaled others not only in technical acumen, but as a true hub for fitness, social connection, and innovation. They wanted to build a facility that checked every box on the martial artist’s want-list.

“So the things we wanted to create were a facility that’s superior. In addition, we’re including curriculum that’s cutting edge and innovative and informal,” Ben stressed. “So many places you go, it’s like bow to your sensei and bow to the picture on the wall. We wanted to disintegrate that so that folks would have more fun training. And when you’re having fun training, I think you learn faster.”

This is what set East Austin Jiu Jitsu Parlor apart: not just top-tier coaching but a lounge space, beer and Gatorade on tap, recovery sauna, and a welcoming, unpretentious vibe that encouraged everyone to hang out and build friendships off the mat.

Growth Through Community

The team applied experience from other fields—James had opened health and wellness studios, Ben drew on his military background, and Sean, another partner, was a physical therapist and strength coach—to build not just a facility, but a community from the ground up. Pre-sales for memberships began with offers of limited “founder” rates, generating both excitement and early buy-in.

“And then we gave all the founders like a price that no one else will get and we’ll honor that price for the duration of our business’s existence. No price never changes. Is like thank you to them. And it worked,” James said.

On opening, the gym was full—open mats drew 20-40 people before classes even started, and attendance in both morning and night classes surpassed all expectations. Where other jiu-jitsu schools had 3 to 10 students per class, they quickly filled their larger mats with double that, or more.

Facing the Real Struggles

But building a thriving gym required more than just jiu-jitsu skill or business acumen. The founders had to honestly confront the unique challenges of working with friends, managing unfamiliar responsibilities, and maintaining a flexible, growth-oriented team dynamic.

“Every problem is a people problem. That’s it,” James asserted. “Like if something’s not getting done, you got the wrong person trying to do it. That’s it, you know. And with people problems sometimes there’s going to be like communication problems. But if you have the right person, you guys can solve through that just by talking.”

When evaluating team members’ fit for different roles, the founders leveraged each other’s strengths, empowering everyone to find their niche, even if it meant shifting responsibilities as they went. This humility and adaptability became the backbone of their leadership style.

“If you like them and they’re cool, like, figure out something that is favorable to their skill set so that they can continue to grow,” James explained.

A Vision for the Future

Only one year after opening, East Austin Jiu Jitsu Parlor wasn’t just another gym. It was named “Best Gym in Austin” by the Austin Chronicle and featured on Flow Grappling. They continued to innovate: launching a kids program, refining strength and conditioning regimens, and even developing resources to help others open gyms.

As Ben summarized, “We’re attracting attention, garnering interest, improving our athletes and just kind of kicking ass with our—the rate at which we’re gaining participants.”

And yet, the heart of their journey was always community, transformation, and the thrill of overcoming struggle together. In Ben’s words: “It’s really a privilege to host and show people what we build here… It’s just so fulfilling. It’s the best thing to share with people.”

Conclusion

East Austin Jiu Jitsu Parlor is more than a studio; it is an ongoing story of people who had to rebuild everything they once lost. Through vision, teamwork, humility, and a passion for the art, they built the kind of place they all wish they could have had as students—and became the #1 jiu jitsu gym in Austin in under a year.