Gulfport Jiu-Jitsu Gym Opens After Park Training

Gulfport Jiu-Jitsu opened its doors in February to offer a permanent home for martial arts training in the city.

The gym is owned and operated by Coach Joseph Resendez, who began teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in early 2024 at the Gulfport Recreation Center. Prior to that role, Resendez trained interested students in a local park, starting with only one student. The new facility at 5122 Gulfport Blvd. S. serves as a dedicated space for classes aimed at both adults and children.

Resendez credits a specific mentor for helping him transition from outdoor training to a physical building. He stated that he built the business from the ground up with absolutely no help, except for a small amount of assistance from Professor Robson Moura.

The path to opening the gym began in 2011 when Resendez was a photojournalist for Florida Weekly. He was assigned to photograph a gym in Charlotte County shortly after he was attacked by multiple people. That experience led him to leave his career in photography and devote his time to studying Jiu-Jitsu. Over the past 15 years, Resendez says the martial art has saved his life on four separate occasions.

Resendez practices and teaches Jiu-Jitsu despite being born with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome, a condition where the brain does not automatically signal the body to breathe. He also noted that he recovered from Stage Four Cancer. He believes he is the only person in the world with this specific syndrome who practices the sport. His physical training is rigorous, and he currently holds a brown belt while aiming to earn his black belt. He trains five hours a week under black belts Robson Moura and Rodrigo Praxedes in Tampa.

The gym caters to a wide age range, with students as young as 4 and as old as 65. Classes are divided into groups for adults, young children, and older kids. Resendez also offers private sessions for entire families, allowing parents and children to learn techniques together. His goal is to provide a safe community space where people can learn to defend themselves and others.

Beyond the gym classes, Resendez integrates Jiu-Jitsu into local public safety efforts. He volunteers two hours each week to teach officers from the St. Petersburg and Clearwater police departments. He also offers all first responders one free class per month at the gym. Resendez works another job from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, which adds to his busy schedule. He estimates spending approximately 24 hours a week practicing or teaching Jiu-Jitsu.

Resendez has a long history of volunteering, which he says is a way to give back to the community that gave him opportunities in his childhood. He volunteers annually at Trail’s Edge Camp in Michigan, a camp for children who are dependent on ventilators. This commitment to service extends to his work in Gulfport, where he seeks to make the gym a welcoming place for all residents.

The gym is currently running a promotion for the months of November and December. Prospective students can attend a free trial class to experience the environment. Those interested can visit gulfportbjj.com or email info@gulfportbjj.com to schedule a session.