Fargo BJJ Academy: Our History, Leadership and Milestones Since 2008
Fargo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy was founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife black belts Professors George and Sarah Andersch.
What began as an opportunity to introduce authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Fargo-Moorhead community has grown into one of the region’s most established martial-arts organizations. Today, Fargo BJJ serves hundreds of students, supports a team of more than 20 black belts and operates academies in both Fargo and Grand Forks.
For us, that growth represents more than the success of a martial-arts school. It represents nearly two decades of students, families, instructors and coaches working together to build a lasting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community in North Dakota and western Minnesota.
What Started Fargo BJJ
Before opening Fargo BJJ, George and Sarah trained under American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer Professor Amal Easton at Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Denver, Colorado.
Their time at Easton BJJ provided far more than technical training. They experienced what a professional academy could become: a place where beginners, families, serious competitors and everyday people could train together within one supportive community.
This became the beginning of Fargo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy—and the beginning of an entirely new chapter for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the region.
George and Sarah did not simply want to create a room where experienced athletes could train. Their vision was to build a complete academy where men, women and children of every experience level could learn authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in an organized, professional and welcoming environment.
Authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
Qualifications and lineage matter in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Professors George and Sarah Andersch earned their black belts under Professor Amal Easton. They were part of the early generation of practitioners who embraced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as it began spreading worldwide in the 1990’s, and became two of the first black-belt instructors developed through the Easton BJJ organization.
Amal Easton is an original black belt under legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Renzo Gracie. This places Fargo BJJ within a recognized lineage that traces directly through Renzo Gracie to the Gracie family in Brazil.
Today, George and Sarah are both fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts. Their decades of training, competition, coaching and academy leadership provide the foundation for every BJJ program in the Fargo Area.
That lineage is not simply a name displayed on the wall. It represents a responsibility to preserve the principles, techniques and training standards of authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while continuing to improve how the art is taught to modern students.
Leadership Built Through Experience
Professor George Andersch has trained in martial arts for more than four decades and has spent nearly 30 years specifically involved in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
His competitive experience includes appearances at the IBJJF World Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Masters Championship, Gracie Nationals, NAGA, Grapplers Quest and other major grappling events.
In 2010, George earned a silver medal in his division at the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Official results from that similar level events also record Fargo BJJ students Jason Baker, Dave Tofte, Doug Cuomo, Britt McAlister, Darren Combs, and many others earning a bronze, Silver and Gold Medals while representing the academy… evidence that Fargo BJJ has been developing competitors capable of succeeding on a national stage since it’s beginning.
Professor Sarah Andersch began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1999 and has more than two decades of experience as a practitioner, competitor and instructor. Her competitive accomplishments include winning gold at the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and competing successfully at tournaments across the United States.
Sarah also brings a Master’s Degree level background in education and counseling to her work as an instructor. That combination of martial-arts experience, competitive success and professional education has been instrumental in developing Fargo BJJ’s children’s program and life-skills curriculum.
Together, George and Sarah have built an academy that combines authentic lineage, competitive experience, organized instruction and a genuine commitment to individual student development.
Developing the Region’s Next Generation of Instructors
One of the most important measures of a martial-arts academy is not simply the rank of its founders. It is whether the academy can consistently develop knowledgeable students, responsible coaches and future leaders.
Since opening in 2008, Fargo BJJ has helped develop more than 20 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts. Many of those students began with no martial-arts experience and progressed through years of training, teaching, mentoring and personal development.
The Fargo instructional team now includes:
- Professor George Andersch — fourth-degree black belt
- Professor Sarah Andersch — fourth-degree black belt
- Professor David Tofte — second-degree black belt
- Professor Jake Dewey — first-degree black belt
- Professor Darren Coombs — first-degree black belt
- Professor Rob Ashe — black belt
- Professor Elijah Bender — black belt
- Professor Preston Fish – black belt
This depth of leadership allows students to learn from instructors with different body types, experiences, specialties and teaching styles while remaining connected to one consistent academy curriculum and culture.
It also ensures that Fargo BJJ is not dependent on one personality or one instructor. The academy is supported by a mature team of experienced coaches committed to preserving its standards for future generations.
From One Academy to a Regional BJJ Community
Fargo BJJ began as a single academy in 2008. As its programs grew, so did the number of people throughout the region interested in authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Over the years, Fargo BJJ has introduced thousands of men, women and children to the art. Students have trained for fitness, self-defense, competition, confidence, stress relief and personal growth.
In 2023, George and Sarah expanded the Fargo BJJ training system into Grand Forks, North Dakota, by opening Grand Forks BJJ Academy.
The Grand Forks location follows the same curriculum, teaching standards and core values developed in Fargo. This expansion created new opportunities for students from Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks Air Force Base and surrounding communities to receive experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction.
Together, Fargo BJJ and Grand Forks BJJ now form a connected regional team with shared leadership, training opportunities, events and academy standards.
Competition, Seminars and Continuing Education
Competition has always been an important part of Fargo BJJ’s history, but the academy has never been designed exclusively for competitors.
Students who want to test themselves in competition receive experienced coaching and structured preparation. Students who want to train for fitness, self-defense, recreation or personal development receive the same level of attention and respect.
Fargo BJJ has also brought respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors and pioneers to North Dakota for seminars and advanced training. Visiting instructors have included coral belt Helio “Soneca” Moreira, American BJJ pioneer Alberto Crane, Professor Matt Jubera and other accomplished competitors and teachers.
These seminars expose students and instructors to new perspectives while keeping the academy connected to the broader development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In 2026, Fargo BJJ also published the first edition of Mastering the Open Mat, an original training-development system created to help students organize independent practice, improve skill retention and make better use of open-mat training.
Professional Standards and Student Safety
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a contact sport, and responsible instruction matters.
Fargo BJJ has worked to create professional standards that go beyond technical rank. Instructor expectations include verified rank and lineage, annual background checks, CPR training and SafeSport education.
Students are taught to select training partners responsibly, maintain control, tap early, stop when control is lost and ask an instructor before attempting unfamiliar or higher-risk techniques.
These standards are especially important within Fargo BJJ’s children’s programs. Parents should know not only what their child is learning, but also who is teaching them and what qualifications and safety standards are required of those instructors.
Our goal is to create an environment where students can challenge themselves, learn realistic skills and train with intensity while still protecting their partners and supporting the long-term health of the entire academy.
Community, Excellence and Grit
Fargo BJJ’s culture is built around three core values:
Community
We believe students improve faster and stay with Jiu-Jitsu longer when they feel supported, respected and connected to the people around them.
Excellence
We continually work to improve our instruction, curriculum, facilities and coaching standards. Experience does not mean becoming comfortable or stagnant. It means accepting a greater responsibility to lead.
Grit
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches students how to remain calm, keep working and solve problems when progress becomes difficult. Those lessons extend far beyond the mat.
These values guide how we teach beginners, prepare competitors, mentor children, develop instructors and make decisions about the future of the academy.
Continuing the Legacy
Fargo BJJ has changed significantly since George and Sarah opened the doors in 2008, but the original purpose has remained the same:
To provide authentic, high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction within a professional and supportive community where everyone has the opportunity to improve.
The academy’s history can be measured in years, championships, black belts and locations. But its real legacy is found in the thousands of people who have stepped onto the mat and discovered greater confidence, discipline, fitness, friendship and purpose through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
We are proud of what the Fargo BJJ community has built—and we believe the most important milestones are still ahead of us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fargo BJJ Academy
When was Fargo BJJ Academy founded?
Fargo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy was founded in 2008 by Professors George and Sarah Andersch. The academy has served Fargo, Moorhead and surrounding communities for nearly two decades.
Who owns and leads Fargo BJJ Academy?
Fargo BJJ is owned and led by husband-and-wife instructors George and Sarah Andersch. Both are fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts under Professor Amal Easton.
What is Fargo BJJ’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage?
Fargo BJJ’s lineage traces through George and Sarah Andersch to Amal Easton, an original Renzo Gracie black belt. Through Renzo Gracie, the academy’s lineage connects directly to the Gracie family in Brazil.
How many black-belt instructors does Fargo BJJ have?
The broader Fargo BJJ community includes more than 20 black belts. The current Fargo instructional team includes fourth-degree, second-degree, first-degree and additional experienced black-belt instructors.
Does Fargo BJJ have more than one location?
Yes. In addition to the original Fargo academy, the team opened Grand Forks BJJ Academy in 2023. Both locations follow the same training system, leadership standards and core values.
Fargo BJJ Students have gone on to Open locations or teach programs across North Dakota and the World.
Is Fargo BJJ only for experienced competitors?
No. Fargo BJJ offers structured Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programs for complete beginners, recreational students, families, children and serious competitors. No previous martial-arts or athletic experience is required to begin.
Does Fargo BJJ offer both Gi and No-Gi training?
Yes. Fargo BJJ provides both traditional Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and No-Gi grappling instruction, along with beginner, adult, children’s, competition and self-defense-focused training.
Experience Fargo BJJ for Yourself
Reading about an academy can help you understand its history and qualifications, but the best way to evaluate a martial-arts school is to experience its instruction and community personally.
If you are considering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for yourself or your child, we invite you to visit Fargo BJJ, meet our instructors and try an introductory class.
Schedule your free introduction and discover whether Fargo BJJ is the right fit for you.