Indiana National Guard – Aaron Johnson – Competing for Team USA
Staff Sergeant Aaron Johnson has spent over 30 years on a mat.Starting at the age of 4 and being the self-described "little guy", he struggled, but eventually earned a spot in 7th grade on the prestigious Team Foxcatcher.After winning nearly every match in high school, he moved on to the University of Indianapolis, and eventually became a world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His goals were still much higher though, he wanted to be on the USA Wrestling team. When he got injured a few years ago, he thought those dreams were over. Not even close.While serving with the Indiana National Guard, he went on to win the National Guard Combatives Tournament at US Army Fort Benning in 2011.Still unwilling to give up, Aaron went to the qualifying trials for the U.S. Grappling team in May of 2016 and beat the current Team USA member.He EARNED his spot with Team USA.He will be representing the United States at the 2016 Senior Grappling World Championships in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.This is his story.Music: Jens KiilstofteLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Video: Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Runser
Posted by Indiana Guardsman on Tuesday, August 30, 2016
From the Indiana Guardsmen Facebook Page:
Staff Sergeant Aaron Johnson has spent over 30 years on a mat.
Starting at the age of 4 and being the self-described “little guy”, he struggled, but eventually earned a spot in 7th grade on the prestigious Team Foxcatcher.
After winning nearly every match in high school, he moved on to the University of Indianapolis, and eventually became a world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
His goals were still much higher though, he wanted to be on the USA Wrestling team. When he got injured a few years ago, he thought those dreams were over. Not even close.
While serving with the Indiana National Guard, he went on to win the National Guard Combatives Tournament at US Army Fort Benning in 2011.
Still unwilling to give up, Aaron went to the qualifying trials for the U.S. Grappling team in May of 2016 and beat the current Team USA member.
He EARNED his spot with Team USA.
He will be representing the United States at the 2016 Senior Grappling World Championships in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
This is his story.
Music: Jens Kiilstofte
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Video: Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Runser
The post Brown Belt World Champion and Army Combatives Champion to Compete for Team USA Grappling appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.