Alex Aung

I believe that everyone can learn to be great at Jiu Jitsu.

Many people have the misconception that you have to be young, aggressive, and willing to expose yourself to high risk of injury in order to develop skill in BJJ.

When I first started training in 1996, this was largely true – back in those days, the prevailing approach at many BJJ schools was to weed out the weak so that only the strong survive.

While things have changed since then, it remains challenging to this day to find a school that delivers high-quality instruction in a safe environment where everyone, not just the young and naturally athletic, can develop mastery and truly thrive.

I’ve made it my mission to help people from all walks of life learn world-class Jiu Jitsu and achieve their full potential — no matter when they get started on their BJJ journey.

With nearly 30 years of BJJ experience and my background as a therapist empowering people to change their lives, you can count on me to help you achieve your goals.

As a student, I sought out the best, most technical and detailed instructors. In 2014, despite the challenges of a busy life, I was awarded my black belt from Shawn Williams – one of Renzo Gracie’s first American black belts, and widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and innovative figures in the BJJ community. I was also trained to be an instructor at Shawn’s academy (5 Star Martial Arts / Renzo Gracie Los Angeles) and teach his curriculum of world-class techniques.

In my professional career, I was a licensed psychotherapist and clinical supervisor for over a decade. As a therapist I guided people through their struggles, and was passionate about helping people overcome their perceived limitations to change their lives for the better.

At Common Ground, I draw upon both my technical expertise on the mats and understanding of human psychology to create the ideal learning experience for students like you.

Sally Chung

Everyone deserves to learn how to defend themselves.

I first started training BJJ because I was tired of feeling vulnerable. In my twenties I was living on my own and experiencing street harassment on a daily basis. Every day I was confronted by the reality that I had absolutely no idea what to do if I needed to physically defend myself. Though I worked out regularly, as a 100 pound woman it was unreasonable for me to expect to overpower anyone – let alone an attacker who was much bigger, stronger, and intent on hurting me.

I wanted to learn how to defend myself but I didn’t know where to start. I had no previous martial arts experience and questioned whether there was anything out there that could realistically work for someone my size. Finally my research led me to discover BJJ, and that’s where my journey began. 

I found it incredibly empowering to know that there was a way for someone like me to not only defend myself, but control and even dominate a bigger, stronger person through BJJ. Even though I knew it would take years for me to develop these skills, just the knowledge that it was possible inspired me to dedicate myself to learning the art.

Though I was initially drawn to BJJ for self-defense, I quickly fell in love with all the other amazing aspects of training – the supportive community, the fun and joy of sparring, and the rewards of making hard-earned progress towards mastering a meaningful skill.

BJJ has transformed my life, and I know it can transform yours too. You don’t have to be big, strong, naturally athletic, or have previous martial arts experience to be effective at BJJ. No one should have to go through life feeling vulnerable. We’re here to empower you and help you develop the skills and confidence you’ve always wanted.