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STERLING, VA – Many people have been touched by jiu-jitsu and went on to help others learn more about the art. For Dan Wallen, the current owner of FightWorks in Sterling, VA, opportunities for growth in the art were realized through several key people. The first of the names that he mentions is the jiu-jitsu master, Relson Gracie.

It was in 2002 that Wallen started training in Gracie jiu-jitsu under Scott Divine at FightWorks in northern Virginia. Divine, he says, was previously Relson’s head instructor in Hawaii and was, “just a great example of someone who has incredible knowledge, who is quiet, and humble.” In addition to his cauliflower ear, Divine he says, was also known for his laugh and his ability to “just roll through guys.” Wallen says affectionately, “He’s like your kung fu panda guy.” Eventually Wallen met Relson through Divine and briefly got to know the jiu-jitsu master at a seminar. It was the following year in January that he got promoted to blue belt the week of the Budweiser Cup.

Competing at a tournament quickly after a promotion can be a daunting task for a competitor. Wallen found himself in the blue belt division facing an opponent in the first round after being promoted just a few days prior. While attempting to pass the guard, he recalls hearing a voice with a Portugese accent saying, “Pull the sleeve! Pull the sleeve!” He says he went on to execute the technique and saw his opponent flatten. After passing the guard, he got the submission and won the match. “I tried to find out who it was…and it was Relson,” said a surprised Wallen.

He would go on to fight another match and see that Relson was again shouting out instructions to him. “Why is Relson coaching me, I’m a brand new blue,” recalled a humbled Wallen. He would go on to win another match by submission and close out the division with a fellow association team member. He then remembers Relson calling him by name during the weekend and being dumbstruck seeing that he would get attention from the jiu-jitsu master. He recalls saying, “Relson loves his students.”

Eventually Divine would move on and leave the area. Wallen would eventually acquire partial ownership of FightWorks and later, “when Relson would come and visit, he would come and stay with me,” says Wallen. He began to form a bond with the jiu-jitsu master and would be amazed at the things he knows. “You hear about the old days,” he said. “It was one of the great experiences of my life. It is all because of him, you get plugged into the rich history…He’s a genius on a lot of levels.”

Wallen talks about Relson like a father figure, one who has taken care of people and gone out of his way to help his students grow. Relson regularly makes trips to northern, VA, approximately three to four times a year. “When I have a technical issue, I bring it to Relson…or some of the other black belts under Relson,” says Wallen. “Relson has thought processes and beliefs in terms of things to do and things not to do.”

Currently, Wallen is the sole owner of FightWorks. He is a four stripe brown belt under Relson and has three other brown belts at the academy. He considers his jiu-jitsu program as “top heavy,” with a high instructor to student ratio. “The one thing I make sure that I let everyone know is that FightWorks is…about Relson’s system and Relson’s jiu-jitsu…I’m just a Relson guy,” he says. “I couldn’t fathom being in any other family than the Relson family.”

* Relson Gracie jiu-jitsu picture from the FightWorks academy in Sterling, VA.

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