Roger Barlow is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Professor Joel Garcia, with over 13 years of experience on the mats and a competitive background spanning multiple belt levels.
Having started his journey at age 35, just eight months after major reconstructive chest surgery, Roger understands firsthand that it is never too late to challenge yourself and discover what you are capable of.
Roger found Jiu Jitsu through photography. He used to shoot MMA, signed up for classes to understand the ground game, and fell so hard for it that he gave up photography altogether.
His teaching emphasizes understanding the why behind techniques, breaking down the small details that make a big difference, and helping students develop their own problem solving skills. Above all, Roger loves those aha moments when something finally clicks and a student discovers a whole new level of confidence in their Jiu Jitsu.
What I love most about teaching Jiu Jitsu is helping students experience that “aha” moment, when something they’ve been struggling with suddenly clicks and completely changes their understanding of a technique or even their entire game. Sometimes it’s a small adjustment in positioning, a new perspective on leverage, or simply understanding why something works rather than just memorizing the movements. Seeing that realization turn frustration into excitement and confidence is incredibly rewarding.
New students can expect a welcoming, relaxed environment where questions are encouraged and understanding matters more than simply memorizing movements. I make a conscious effort to remember what it felt like to be a beginner, when even the simplest techniques could seem confusing or overwhelming. As techniques become second nature, it’s easy for experienced practitioners to overlook the small but critical details that make everything work. I try to bridge that gap by focusing not just on how to perform a technique, but why it works. What actually makes a choke effective? Why does moving your hip just a few inches change everything? How can a subtle adjustment in position dramatically increase your leverage? I believe those details are what turn a series of movements into a deeper understanding of Jiu Jitsu.
| Class | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Adult BJJ | Thu | 6:45pm |
| No GiWake Forest or Youngsville | Sat | 10:00am |
I used to photograph MMA. What makes an interesting photograph for standup is obvious, but I didn’t know what was interesting about the ground game, so I signed up for classes at my local gym. I fell so in love with BJJ that I ultimately gave up photography altogether.
I began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in August 2013, at 35 years old, just eight months after undergoing major reconstructive chest surgery known as the Nuss procedure. At the time, I genuinely believed I was too old to start something as physically demanding as martial arts, and after everything my body had been through, I worried I was simply too fragile.
Walking onto the mats for the first time was intimidating. I wasn’t a young athlete looking for my next challenge. I was a guy in his mid thirties, still learning to trust his own body again, wondering whether I had any business trying to wrestle with people half my age.
What I discovered was something I never expected. Jiu Jitsu didn’t just make me physically stronger.
It fundamentally changed the way I saw myself and what I believed I was capable of.
I learned that being tough isn’t about never getting hurt, never feeling afraid, or always being the strongest person in the room. It’s about showing up when you’re uncomfortable, accepting that you’re going to struggle, and discovering that you’re capable of more than you thought.
My early training was under Leandro Vieira and Anthony Figueroa. Leandro’s lineage traces through Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie, Hélio Gracie, Rolls Gracie, and Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti, under whom Leandro trained.
I received my blue belt from Leandro Vieira on April 25, 2015. I continued training under both Leandro and Anthony Figueroa, who subsequently earned his black belt from Leandro. On February 14, 2018, Anthony promoted me to purple belt. Although I received these promotions from two different instructors, both were part of the same instructional lineage and contributed significantly to my early development.
My coaching experience began in 2018, when I started assisting Anthony Figueroa as needed. Initially, I served as an extra set of hands whenever additional help was required. This gave me my first opportunities to experience Jiu Jitsu from an instructional perspective rather than solely as a student.
My competition experience began as a white belt in 2013 and continued through brown belt. Competing has helped shape my understanding of Jiu Jitsu, particularly the importance of timing, adaptability, problem solving, and applying techniques against fully resisting opponents. These experiences have also influenced how I approach coaching, emphasizing practical application and understanding why techniques work rather than simply memorizing movements.
Later, I began training under Professor Joel Garcia, whose lineage traces through Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie, Carlson Gracie, and Renato Tavares. In 2023, I transitioned into a more consistent coaching role, regularly teaching alongside Joel. This marked an important step in my development as an instructor, allowing me to become more involved in helping other students learn and progress.
Joel promoted me to brown belt on June 3, 2023, and ultimately to black belt on June 28, 2025, alongside Professor Israel Gomes de Oliveira.
Over the years, my training has evolved considerably. Earlier in my journey, I divided my time fairly evenly between gi and no gi. Today, approximately 80% of my training is no gi, although I continue to appreciate both disciplines and the different perspectives they offer.
Thirteen years later, I’m a black belt, a competitor, and a coach, affiliated with American Killer Bees and training at Embrace Martial Arts in North Carolina.
The same person who once wondered whether he was too old and too fragile to begin now gets to help other people take that intimidating first step.
After more than a decade on the mats and several years of coaching experience, I still believe that one of the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that the learning never stops. Teaching has reinforced that belief, challenging me to think more deeply about techniques, communicate concepts clearly, and continually refine my own understanding. Earning my black belt was an important milestone, but I’ve never viewed it as the finish line. To me, it represents another stage in a lifelong process of learning, improving, and helping others develop their own Jiu Jitsu.
If there’s one thing I hope my students take away from my experience, it’s that you don’t have to be young, athletic, strong, or fearless to start Jiu Jitsu. You don’t even have to believe you can do it yet. You just have to be willing to give yourself a chance.
It’s never too late to become stronger than you thought you could be.
Photos coming soon.
I’ve competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2013, earning 12 medals across multiple belt levels, including 2 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze.
Some of my competition highlights include:
Favorite quote
Eric Cartman, South Park