FAIRHAVEN – Danny Savery wants to offer young people and adults interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu something they didn't have when he and his friends were growing up as teenagers in Fairhaven.
With the opening of the Danny Savery Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Martial Arts Academy at 17 Sarah's Way in Fairhaven more than a month ago, new students are hoping to benefit from the opportunity to take classes in the city.
Savery, who has been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 14 years, wanted to open a school in Fairhaven to teach people interested in learning self-defense.
“When I was a kid, you had to go to the city to learn martial arts, but there was nothing to do, especially for kids who didn't have the financial or mental ability to play other sports. It wasn’t being done. Here’s how to get there,” he said. “I feel there were a lot of misguided young people in this town.”
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What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and fighting technique designed to help people of all sizes defend themselves by teaching men and women how to leverage their body weight in the ring and against an attacker. .
Although the academy is open to anyone, Savery said many of the students are in law enforcement and are trained in jiu-jitsu.
“It's more hands-on, so you get used to the adrenaline rush of having to fight someone, but God forbid if you have to. It's also a lot easier to use your body instead of going straight to the tools on your belt.” And you know how to control it. That seems to be a big issue these days,” he said of law enforcement training.
Savery has 15 years of law enforcement experience with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections and as a police officer in Tiverton, Rhode Island. He also taught at the Rhode Island Police Academy.
For women interested in learning martial arts for self-defense, Sabery said jiu-jitsu is one of the best options because size doesn't matter.
“The whole theory of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that a smaller opponent can actually defeat a larger opponent,” he said.
He said it typically takes eight to 10 years to earn a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Savely earned his black belt in 2011, but it would take him another 21 years to reach the next level.
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how it all started
Savery began teaching jiu-jitsu at home to friends, mostly those in the law enforcement profession. He opened his first school in 2007.
From there he went to Fall River and began teaching karate and taekwondo at an academy and gym while growing his business. His Danny His Savely BJJ & Martial Arts Academy's main location is in Somerset, with its newest location in Fairhaven. He also has a comprehensive arts and fitness school in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Fairhaven location
Fairhaven's newest store, located at 17 Sarah's Way, opened a month ago. He offers free introductory classes at this location, giving people basic techniques, rules and etiquette, and an overview of what to expect. He said he wants people to feel comfortable and know they are part of a team in a place focused on martial arts.
It's a family business. His son, Danny Savery Jr., runs a children's program and has been training in jiu-jitsu since he was 8 years old and kickboxing since he was 5 years old. After graduating from high school, Danny decided that he wanted to teach at an academy with his father.
Classes for ages 5 and up are currently offered three days a week, but there is room for growth. Somerset has classes seven days a week, and he expects Fairhaven will eventually have just as many classes.
One-time self-defense classes are not offered because Savery feels it gives people a false sense of security. Students need to learn the basics of the art through repeated lessons, he says.
Fairhaven Academy has a main training area where students gather before training, a waiting room for parents to watch their children on screens, a locker room, and a check-in area.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at:kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Standard Times today.
