Hello all, TL;DR - I do martial arts, good for me, good for you. Let’s chat!! I just wanted to post a quick introduction. My name is Nick Cimmarusti and I’ll be one of the Fight Club Captains. I joined the USMC in 2000 and deployed with 2/24 in Sept 2004. 
 I dabbled in Karate as a young kid but nothing I was ever serious about. I was born in 1979, so Bruce Lee was a big influence in my younger years. But, I’m from Chicago...and we had the 90’s Bulls...MJ, need I say more. In high school I actually played basketball the first five weeks of the season (A story for another time I suppose). Then I saw my first wrestling match and that was it, love at first sight, I couldn’t quit basketball fast enough. 
 I started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with New Breed Training Center (Mark Vives) as soon as I returned from deployment in 2005. I received my black belt in BJJ in 2012. I fought/competed in BJJ, MMA and Muay Thai. I’ve really fallen in love with Muay Thai the last 5 years or so. I am the owner and head instructor at Chicago School of Grappling. 
 I also Ref MMA and Muay Thai/Kickboxing. I am C.O.M.M.A.N.D certified (2015), that’s Big John McCarthy’s certification course. 
 Anyway, that’s me in a nutshell. I plan to be more active here and hopefully have some good discussions on fighting, training or anything combat sports related. I intend to post some instructional videos. If there’s any you’d like to see or if you have any questions on anything fight/training related feel free to reach out. 
 FB @nickcimm IG @chicagograppler I’m not super active on social media, so if you reach out, send me a message and let me know your from PB Abbate otherwise you may hang in limbo. 
 Before I go, I want you (if you’re still reading) to know that I feel training (BJJ)/exercising played the biggest part in helping me successfully transition back to civilian life after deployment. I definitely had my fair share of struggles and was just making poor decisions. But training really kept me grounded, it was (and is still) a healthy environment where I could go to get my mind off of life and all of its struggles (even if for a few hours). In 2007 my mother was killed by a drunk driver. I’m not sure where I would be now had I not been training during that time. I’m not looking for pity, I just want to express the importance BJJ played in keeping me sober, sane and alive. I’m not a BJJ pusher either, whether you do BJJ or another martial art, totally cool with me, but I think having a healthy activity is key for those of us who have trouble transitioning back to civilian life. All I have for now. 
 Semper Fi!
