Owners: Aaron Neuman

Martial Art: BJJ

How did you choose your school name?

We are extremely fortunate to be part of the Caio Terra Association. So the name is simply a reflection of the team we are a part of and our specific location. One Team, One Family

How long have you been teaching?

5 years.

What is your student creed or mission statement?

Technique Conquers All.

Who or what inspires you?

While it might sound cliche, Professor Caio Terra is an absolute inspiration. I am proud to call him not only my Jiu-Jitsu teacher but truly my friend. Caio cares not only about students developing good Jiu-Jitsu but about their personal development as well. He has a famous quote that we used as artwork on the wall next to our front door, "It's not about how good your Jiu-Jitsu is, but how good Jiu-Jitsu is for you."

I was first inspired by Caio Terra watching him in competition. I truly understood that being technical was far more important than anything when watching him compete in the Absolute Division at Europeans. I mean, seeing a Rooster weight fighter win the absolute division was mind-blowing. He is the lightest person to win the absolute there. Who would not be inspired by that? In many ways that is exactly why so many of us love Jiu-Jitsu, the idea that the most skilled can beat the biggest!

What is something special or unique about your school and/or students?

Our school feels much more like a family. Almost every night you will find people staying after class to help each other improve and just hang out. It is truly a family environment where a brand new prospective student can walk in and will be welcomed by everyone. Our team can send a question to a world champion and get an answer in minutes. It is so fun having such a close relationship with other CTA affiliates all over the world. We can train almost anywhere in the world with Family!

What made you choose FUJI Mats for your facility?

FUJI Mats are the absolute best there is. Having trained on everything from blue carpet to puzzle mats to every well-known brand of mats out there, I was 100% certain that the FUJI Mats we trained on at CTA Headquarters in San Jose were the best. We ended up putting the 2" FUJI Mats in and I am so happy with the investment. Combined with the foam sub-floor, I realize how much wear and tear I am saving on my body with the extra investment. Training 6 or 7 days per week as the owner can be very demanding physically which makes it so worth having the best training surface you can get.

What is the most rewarding part about working in the martial arts field?

For us, the absolute best part about having a Jiu-Jitsu Gym is making a difference in the lives of our students. Watching people push themselves and grow as a person is incredibly rewarding. It is very humbling to get to be a part of that. We really believe that martial arts can change the world for the better.

If you could give one piece of advice to other martial art school owners what would it be?

I'm not sure we are able to give much advice to others. I will say that we are so grateful to have this school and that we get to share Jiu-Jitsu with others. I hope everyone can remember this on the days when things aren't perfect. Hopefully, Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow all over the world!

ABOUT THE SCHOOL:

CTA Portland is part of the Caio Terra Association. Our gym is centrally located to the Portland Metro and surrounding areas and is growing rapidly. We are veteran owned and operated with a heavy emphasis on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We have classes for all ages and offer practical self-defense and even a Yoga program. At CTA Portland we also have a very dedicated competition team as well. The team is growing rapidly and learning at an amazing pace. We are also extremely fortunate to have 4 other CTA schools in Oregon so we get a lot of great training with people all over the state.