Total MMA Studios: We are here with John Petrie, so tell us John how long have you been training?

John: 2 ½ years at our gym with Juliano and the trainers and 15 months with Jiu-jitsu.

Total MMA Studios: So you are one of our success stories, for our readers when you first walked on the mat how much did you weigh?

John: 300lbs, 298lbs to be exact when I came to the gym to train for the first time. I actually weighed myself at my first gym and I became so frustrated with the fact I was not losing any weight after working so hard that I got in my car and drove down here. The reason why was because a friend of mine told me about Juliano and the guys over here and I came to try it out and I never left.

Total MMA Studios: So since you started this change how much have you lost?

John: 85lbs, I weighed in at worlds at 217lbs with my GI witch puts my actual body weight at 213lbs, so 85lbs total. In loosing the weight I feel that I have not lost any strength. I did not starve myself, I feel stronger, more agile, faster and more powerful then ever before. My core is stronger; everything has been a total body change for me.

Total MMA Studios: What has helped you the most with the weight loss? Was it just the training or were you following a diet plan as well?

John: You know coming in it was the initial workouts, the cardio and getting my heart rate up. Then it became the lifestyle actually with Juliano, Adriano and Magno, these guys teach a lifestyle that goes along with the Jiu-jitsu. So my eating changed, my habits changed, I do less partying and less junk food because if I am going to train they teach us to fill our body correctly while training. So I fell it’s been a lifestyle change for me and Jiu-jitsu has been the key to it.

Total MMA Studios: How would you say Jiu-jitsu has changed your life overall?

John: Jiu-jitsu is now a part of my life; it has become a part of my family’s life. All three of my children from five years old up to thirteen have participated. My five years old does it three times a week, he is the youngest one in class and he loves it! I have noticed that ever since they have started, even in their other sports they are more attentive and disciplined. They listen and respect their coaches and they are more prepared for their games and practices. My wife also is involved by coming down, we go to the fights, we watch the fights together, we come watch our teammates fight and she brings the kids to tournaments. It is a family affair and everyone participates and we love it to death. It has been a life changing experience for us

Total MMA Studios: My understanding is you won a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American championships? Tell us about the competition?

John: Well it was the third tournament I ever did and Juliano said “jump in there, you got this”. So I did and it gave me a focus to move forward and train as hard as I can for one specific event. It has been a long time you know? I’m 46 years old and will be 47 in February and it has been a long time since the competitive juices were flowing like that. You know Adriano and Juliano, those guys made me feel as if I was ready and I was and they made sure of that.

Going out there is was nerve racking! I just remember looking over and thinking my god I hope this guy doesn’t kill me, but then I regrouped and looked over and the coaches said to me “you trained hard you are ready” and I knew I was. So I submitted the first guy, beat the second guy on points and beat the third guy by points in the finals. It felt really good and I can tell you I felt as if I accomplished a lot. I felt I was prepared, I felt my coaches prepared me, I felt as a team, even though its an individual sport but as a team iron sharpens iron and we work together and we are strong together. It was a team thing, an achievement.

After winning at the Pan Ams I competed at the worlds and won a bronze metal, I came in at third place. I fought and won two fights and lost one. Even though I lost I felt very prepared and ready and that is when I dropped all the weight, and that is when I was at my lightest weight and most prepared and ready.

Total MMA Studios: What would you say to the average person who walks into the gym and wants to try Jiu-jitsu?

John: I’d tell him them matter what you are looking for it will be there for you. It’s not about becoming a better fighter it’s not about becoming a better athlete, its about a lifestyle, its about learning martial arts and discipline and what goes along with it, the camaraderie. It is a great time, everyone works with each other. Our coaches are amazing! They teach good life, they don’t teach just Jiu-jitsu and I have learned a lot from them and it has enhanced me as it will enhance anyone if they come in. It is a very humbling experience as well, you learn to appreciate all the little things, you come in and learn things that you are not good at and don’t know and then you succeed and it’s a pretty amazing thing. Everyone will succeed it just takes time and patient and you will learn.

Total MMA Studios: Well thank you John for your time and we will see you on the mat.

John: You welcome, thank you as well.