Hidden Gems: Meet Manuel Flores of Daimyo Brazilian Jiujitsu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Flores.

Hi Manuel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I opened my Jiujitsu academy in 2010 with my wife, Brenda, in Tucson, Arizona. My vision for Jiujitsu for my academy was to create an academy where people could come and work on themselves and change their lives through Jiujitsu. The key to our success has been to focus on the people, to be there as mentors for them, and to walk them through their experiences on the mat and how those same lessons apply off the mat. I knew this focus on people would translate to both success on and off the mats and that it would bring the titles and recognition to the academy necessary to prove your methodology’s validity. Today, we have students ranked #1 in the AZBJJF and IBJJF. I’m very proud of my students and what they have accomplished.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It is never smooth when trying to change a town’s culture. The biggest struggle has been to be stubborn about your vision and not engage when you hear criticism or that somebody is working against you. That would only distract you from your goals. In the long road, staying focused on your goals will prove your point, as good things happen to your students on and off the mats. Your clients are the proof that what you are doing is working.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us more about your business.
Daimyo is part of the Paragon Jiujitsu Association, and we opened in 2010. Our goal is to teach a compelling brand of Jiujitsu that allows people to have success in the competition arena and also to have confidence in themselves in a self-defense situation. To accomplish this, we teach Jiujitsu in the gi, no gi, and we also teach Kickboxing. What I am most proud of is the reputation of my academy. We are known as the academy where you can train as a whole family and feel safe and welcome. We are also an academy with systems in place to help you achieve your goals at the highest level of competition. I want other people to know that if you want to be successful as an academy owner, you have to put people as your priority. The titles will come later as they grow in confidence.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
We have open mats where people can come and train with us, and we love to share our energy with others. Paragon Arizona association is growing by the day! We have three academies in Tucson, one in Sierra Vista, and one coming up in Nogales, Arizona. We encourage people to join our association and be part of this particular thing we are creating. At a personal level, I would love to work with people from Mexico on a program that will bring skills to our youth.

Contact Info:

• Website: daimyoacademy.com
• Instagram: Daimyobjj
• Facebook: Daimyo Brazilian Jiujitsu