Josh Longood

Josh Longood is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt based in the Chicago area, where he has built a recognized presence in the regional grappling community. At approximately 37 years old, Longood represents a generation of American practitioners who came of age alongside the sport's mainstream expansion during the 2000s and 2010s, forging their credentials through both competitive grappling and mixed martial arts environments.

As a BJJ instructor in the Chicago area, Longood brings a well-rounded combat sports background to his teaching. His experience competing across pure grappling and MMA formats gives him a practical, pressure-tested perspective that sets his instructional approach apart from coaches who trained exclusively within the sport jiu-jitsu circuit. That breadth of experience translates directly into a teaching style grounded in real-world application.

Combat Sports Foundation

Prior to focusing on BJJ instruction, Josh Longood competed as a mixed martial artist, developing technical proficiency across multiple combat disciplines. His time as a fighter forged an understanding of grappling within the context of striking-range engagement — a perspective that shapes how he frames Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques for students across varying goals and experience levels.

From Competitor to Coach

Longood's transition from active fighter to instructor follows a well-traveled path in combat sports. Drawing on lessons learned through training camps and competitive bouts, he carried that hard-won experience onto the mats in Chicago. His identity as a former fighter and black belt instructor positions him as a practitioner whose understanding of jiu-jitsu extends well beyond sport competition into the broader landscape of martial arts application.