Jeremy Arel was born on September 7, 1981, in Northampton, Massachusetts, and began his martial arts journey at the age of seven under the guidance of his uncle, Robert Arel. That early introduction came through Isshinryu Karate — a traditional Okinawan style that built foundational discipline and body awareness in the young athlete. Rather than staying confined to a single system, Arel's appetite for combat sports pushed him further, leading him to explore Jeet Kune Do and Mixed Martial Arts, where he earned a black belt in MMA.

Arel's development extended well beyond the mat. His service with the Army National Guard — including a deployment to Iraq — cultivated a mental fortitude and resilience that would later shape his philosophy as both a competitor and instructor. He complemented that experience with formal academic study, earning a degree in Physical Education and Health, a credential that brought both credibility and methodological depth to his teaching.

Finding the Art: First Steps Under Alliance

Jeremy Arel's introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came in 2004, when he began training under Luis Togno as part of Alliance. That first exposure ignited a passion that quickly outgrew local training. Driven by a commitment to full immersion in the art, Arel made the significant decision to relocate to Brazil and train full-time — a move that underscored the seriousness of his pursuit.

A Pivotal Redirection: Training Under Gordo at Gracie Barra

Arel originally planned to train under Ricardo Pires upon arriving in Brazil, but circumstances redirected his path to Roberto Correa — widely known as "Gordo" — at Gracie Barra. That redirection proved to be one of the most defining moments of his BJJ career. Training under Gordo, one of the most respected figures in the history of the guard game, Arel absorbed a high-level technical education that fundamentally shaped his grappling identity. Correa awarded Arel his brown belt during that period, recognizing his steady and earnest progression through the ranks.

Black Belt Promotion and Return to the United States

On December 11, 2010, Roberto Correa formally promoted Jeremy Arel to the rank of black belt — the culmination of years of dedicated study, international relocation, and competitive seasoning. Arel returned to the United States in January 2011 and shortly thereafter established Great Grappling BJJ in Fort Mill, South Carolina, channeling the technical education he received under Gordo directly into the development of North American students.

Early Titles and Regional Dominance

Jeremy Arel's competitive career spans both Gi and No-Gi formats, reflecting a practitioner who pursued titles at multiple levels of the sport. His first notable milestone came in 2004 with a TN State Championship title — arriving in the same year he began BJJ training, a testament to the combat sports foundation he carried into the art.

In 2006 and 2007, Arel claimed back-to-back NC State Championship titles in the Gi Advanced division, establishing himself as a consistent force on the regional circuit. The year 2007 proved to be his most decorated. He earned the NAGA Champion title in the No-Gi Advanced division — a verified result that corrects earlier records which had incorrectly attributed the title to the Gi Advanced division. That same year, he captured the Hayastan Grappling Challenge title in the No-Gi Advanced division, further demonstrating his effectiveness across both rulesets.

International Competition and Later Career

Arel's competitive ambitions extended to the international stage when he traveled to Brazil and earned a bronze medal at the Rio Open in 2010, competing against high-level opposition in his weight class. That same year, he collected a silver medal at the BUD Cup Advanced in the No-Gi division, following it with another BUD Cup Advanced silver in the Gi division in 2011. Throughout his competitive career, Arel competed at Super Pesado (100kg/221lbs) — a demanding weight class that rewards both physical strength and technical precision.

Beyond the competition mat and academy floor, Jeremy Arel built a distinct identity within the broader BJJ community under the nickname "The Gerbil" — a handle that became recognizable across grappling forums and online discussion spaces. At a time when digital BJJ content was still finding its footing, Arel carved out a role as a creator and distributor of online instructional material, making technical knowledge more accessible to practitioners who lacked access to high-level in-person instruction.

His active engagement with grappling forums positioned him as a trusted voice within the internet BJJ community. His willingness to share detailed technical content earned him a loyal following that extended well beyond Fort Mill, South Carolina, connecting his teaching to a global audience of students across all experience levels. In this way, Arel's contributions to the sport operate on two parallel tracks — the tangible, mat-level work of running Great Grappling BJJ, and the broader, digitally mediated work of elevating the accessibility of quality BJJ education.