He Opened a Door in the Bronx. Thousands Walked Through It.
Built from the ground up by a kid from the Bronx who believed martial arts could change lives.
From the Bronx, For the Bronx
Justin "Master Chim" Garcia grew up on the streets of the Bronx. Like a lot of kids in the neighborhood, he could have gone in any direction. Martial arts pulled him toward something better.
He started training young and never stopped. He earned his BJJ Black Belt under Royce Gracie Black Belt Rob Kahn, training alongside UFC legends Royce Gracie, Glover Teixeira, Kenny Florian, and others. Along the way, he built a reputation of hard work, high skill, and a tenacity for success that earned him respect from some of the most accomplished members of the martial arts community in the MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu worlds, and beyond. He competed at the Abu Dhabi Championships, was featured in Full Contact Fighter and Grappling magazines, and in 2005, Jungle Gym even hosted Marcelo Garcia, one of the greatest BJJ competitors of all time, for one of his first New York seminars ever.
But none of that was the point. Teaching was.
Master Chim opened Jungle Gym Martial Arts to bring that world-class martial arts pedigree to the Bronx. A place where working-class families could access the same caliber of instruction that existed anywhere in the world. A place where kids could learn discipline, adults could find purpose, and everyone walked out better than when they walked in.
Over 20 years later, Jungle Gym has trained more than 3,000 students. The kids program has transformed families. The Samurai Sessions life skills curriculum has changed how children carry themselves at home and at school. And Master Chim expanded to a second location in New Rochelle to serve even more communities.
The gym has changed. The neighborhood has changed. But the mission has never changed.
"Better than yesterday, never as good as tomorrow."
Master Chim with Rob Kahn, Black Belt day, January 2007
The Photos Tell the Story
Hosting Marcelo Garcia, 2005
At competition with Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo, 2005
Sportfighting, 2006
BJJ Black Belt
Under Royce Gracie Black Belt Rob Kahn.
Featured in Major Publications
Full Contact Fighter and Grappling magazines.
Pressure Master Podcast
Sharing martial arts knowledge and life lessons.
20+ Years Teaching
Over two decades transforming lives in the Bronx.
Lessons from 20 Years on the Mat
Two decades of coaching adults and kids through an incredibly pressurized process, preparing them for an even greater pressurized world, distilled into two books.
Tribalnomics
Laws, leadership, and tactics for the tribal minded. A system of formulas designed to eliminate emotional fragility and chaos in the management of your tribal roles, whether that's personal relationships, business leadership, or individual self-improvement. Born from 20 years of leading a martial arts academy in the Bronx.
Get It on AmazonStrong Mom, Strong Son
The lessons that emerge when you spend two decades coaching kids through pressure, watching mothers raise sons in one of the toughest environments in the country, and seeing firsthand what makes the difference between a child who folds and one who rises.
Get It on AmazonOur Coaching Staff
Every coach at Jungle Gym is a full-time professional. Not a side hustle.
Master Chim (Justin Garcia)
Jungle Gym Black Belt. BJJ Black Belt. Judo Black Belt. Trained alongside Royce Gracie, Glover Teixeira, Kenny Florian, and others. 20+ years transforming lives through martial arts in the Bronx.
Coach Anthony
Jungle Gym Black Belt and BJJ Black Belt under Master Chim. A student of Master Chim for almost 20 years, Coach Anthony is a veteran of both grappling and MMA competition and is currently Master Chim's top-ranked student and a model of hard work forging elite capability.
Coach Steve
Jungle Gym Green Belt. BJJ Brown Belt under Master Chim. A graduate of Jungle Gym's kids program himself, Coach Steve has been forging young men and young ladies into warriors for well over a decade.
The Philosophy, the Training, the Proof
The Jungle Gym Message
How to Prevent Your Child From Being Bullied
Student MMA Technique Demonstration
Master Chim's MMA Debut
Coach Anthony: Down on Points, Gets the Submission
Respected by UFC Veterans and World-Class Grapplers
"You will not find a more passionate instructor. Justin's dedication to his students is unmatched."
"I have known and trained with Justin for over two decades. As a fighter, he is well known for being one of the top grapplers in the country. What's more impressive is his technical understanding for the art of Jiu-Jitsu. His ability to bestow this on to his students and his sincere desire to teach his students to the best of his ability is simply amazing. In a very short period of time he has already produced one of the top competition teams on the east coast and I have no doubt that in the very near future the Jungle Gym will be one of the top teams anywhere! Whether you are looking for a place to train casually or for a place where you have a chance to be an elite fighter, train with an instructor whose character, knowledge and skill are unsurpassed! The ONLY option for you in the Bronx area is Justin Garcia and the Jungle Gym."
Black Belt day, January 2007