A new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club has started at Augusta University, offering martial arts, fitness, and self-defense training to students. The AU Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club meets every Sunday at Terra Guerra Jiu-Jitsu on Bobby Jones Expressway from 2:30 to 4 p.m., with sessions that include both fundamentals and sparring. The club is free and open to all students regardless of experience level.
Brothers Lukeman and Adam Chadli, both Augusta University students, created the club in January as a way for fellow students to learn about the sport and relieve stress. “My brother and I noticed there wasn’t a club for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at AU, and so we were like, ‘Why not make one?’” said Adam Chadli, a fourth-year accounting student. He explained that they worked with the student life organization to set up the group.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on techniques such as chokes, holds, and joint locks designed to force an opponent to submit. Adam Chadli described it as both a physical workout and a mental exercise: “It’s a huge stress reliever – if you have anything going on that’s stressful, you can come here and solely focus on Jiu-Jitsu because if you don’t, you’re at risk of getting tapped out.” He added that learning these skills helps build confidence in real-life situations.
The club currently has about 15-20 members attending each week. Lukeman Chadli noted positive changes among participants: “You can see them come out of their shells a little bit when they realize it’s not as serious as it may present itself to be.” Ishika Dantuluri, a first-year medical student who joined recently despite only having limited karate experience before college, said she appreciates the supportive environment: “I would love for there to be more girls on the mat. It’s really fun… They’re really good at walking you through things.” She also shared how practicing with larger partners increased her confidence in self-defense situations.
Professional mixed martial artist Malcolm “The Machine” Wellmaker has attended sessions as a guest instructor. He said his own journey in martial arts changed him significantly: “One of the things I was most surprised about when I started training martial arts was how much I got out of it… I feel like martial arts helped me find myself in so many ways.” Wellmaker praised the skill level he observed during his visit: “It’s incredible for them to have made as much progress as they have as fast as they have… Adam and Lukeman do a really good job teaching it.”
With graduation approaching for both founders this May, Lukeman Chadli said their goal is for the club’s legacy to continue after they leave: “That’s definitely a plan of ours… Yes, it started with us but we want to keep it going even long after we graduate.” Students interested in joining can contact @au.bjj on Instagram.
