This month, John Machado asked his student Ahmed Best to contribute his memories of growing up a martial artist, and continuing to be one to this day.

Martial Arts have been a part of my family for generations. My grandfather received his black belt in Judo during his time serving America in World War II. My father began his Martial Arts training in the Air Force on the islands of Guam and Okinawa during the Vietnam years, and later received his black belt in Karate. On a very hot August evening in 1973 my mother and father went to a matinee of Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee. My mother happened to be in her final Month of pregnancy with my twin brother and me at the time. I enjoyed the movie so much (I was told), that I had to come out and see it for myself. My mother promptly went in to labor and my brother and I were born in the hospital shortly after. Martial Arts have been with me form that moment and I can’t imagine me without it.

Growing up in New York City, I always loved the Saturday morning Kung Fu flicks. I would rush home from Karate class to watch The Unbeatable Dragon, The Kid with Golden Arms, the 36 chambers of Shaolin. Those movies filled my head with stories all throughout my youth. Shaw Brothers movies, training in karate and going to tournaments in the times of Afros and Black belts, paved my road to show business.

Martial arts grounded me in a way that very few philosophies could. It brings me back to stillness, to a simplicity that helps make sense of things that can sometimes be difficult to comprehend. It’s also cool as hell to be able to crack a brick in half. None of these things can be discovered without a good instructor.

My father was my first instructor. On Saturday mornings I would grab my Gi and we would travel to Brownsville Brooklyn where he was one of many great karate instructors in the dojo. My love of the Martial Arts through my father was shared through those Saturday morning Kung fu movies as well. My father is a filmmaker and photographer, so the Kung fu flicks were a culmination of two great passions. But, the thing about those movies, in the movies the son of the sensei had it the hardest in training. This is where reality and fantasy met for me. My father was a tough Sensei, but on me he was relentless. I always fought the toughest guy. My kata was picked apart and scrutinized to perfection. Every angle of movement had to be correct. In hindsight I understand why, and my love for the art out weighed the rigorous training. The biggest lesson my father instilled in me from those classes and from life was to finish what you start. That stays with me to this day.

Fast forward to me as an adult. I was in a JKD class in Manhattan NYC. I was sparring with a guy who was bigger than me but way too slow for my wanna-be Bruce Lee technique and accuracy. I was lighting him up with pac sao, lop sao straight blast trapping combinations. I would dart in, hit him with four to five strikes and then jump out of range. I was on fire. Then towards the end of the round I look for the opening to close the range and to continue my Fist of Fury impression when suddenly, he shoots a double leg takedown. I was on my back. He swung around to side control and I was lost. Fish out of water lost. The bell goes off, the round was over. I remember thinking; if it weren’t for the Bell I would’ve been done. That thought haunted me for weeks. A hole in my game was exposed. I have to learn some ground.

I was filming Star Wars Episode One in London, when on a day off in Virgin Records; I came across the documentary Choke. I remember reading about Rickson Gracie in Black Belt magazine but this documentary was a million times more informative. I was so intrigued by Rickson’s humility, spirituality, and most of all his genius on the ground. I watched that video so much; after my ground failure months later in New York I knew BJJ was the way to go. Marcos Santos was the BJJ black belt teaching at the JKD studio where I trained, so I went to him. From that first day with Marcos I knew BJJ was the right choice.

The thing that I appreciated about Marcos’ school was his personality as a professor. He was such a genuine spirit, and he taught BJJ the same way. He had a great way of opening the door to a technique without it being something unattainable. The school had a spirit of, when you become good, and not if you survive. When I moved to Los Angeles I discovered why Marcos was such a great instructor. It was the same reason he flew the flag of his friends and instructors, THE MACHADOS.

Los Angeles can be a very challenging city. Fantasy is the industry in L.A. That sometimes makes it difficult to find the ground. At about two years of living in L.A. I felt my grounding to be much like walking in one of those famous west coast earthquakes I grew up hearing about. I knew something was missing. Whenever I feel there is emptiness in my life, I know martial arts are missing. My talent agent was on Wilshire boulevard at the time. I would always pass a neon sign on my way to the agency. Every time I passed it I would always say to myself, one day I have to go in there. That one-day came, and six years later I have a Black Belt from JOHN MACHADO BRAZILIAN JIU- JITSU.

John has had such a huge affect on my life. From the very first day I walked in the Academy, I knew I found what was missing in my game. Like I discovered in Marcos, John has an interest in wanting to see you grow and improve. It’s not just a business for him. His love for BJJ, his family and for his students permeates through every square inch of the school. Not only is he a great BJJ professor, but also he lives what he teaches. He shares the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle. It ‘s more than a series of movements, or an exercise, or a roll. It’s a way of living. In him, I gained a brother as well as an extraordinary professor. He is truly one of the best martial artists and one of the best human beings I know.

One of the biggest reasons I gravitate towards the Machados, is their conviction in what they do. They learned from the founder Carlos Gracie. They know their history. They love and respect their Gracie cousins. There is a lot about the history of BJJ that’s not known to the general public. The name Gracie has been synonymous with BJJ. Machado should be in the headline alongside. In my years as a John Machado student I have never heard a word of disrespect, bitterness or boastfulness from any of the Machado brother regarding their recognition in the art. Instead they speak through their Jiu-Jitsu. They are champions and they make champions. While others talk, they work. For me, those are lessons to live by.

My favorite technique is not one you would see on the mat. It begins before I walk in to the academy. It’s the one called “LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR.” I believe in this technique one hundred percent. It’s the driving force behind my jiu-jitsu. It’s the first thing you’ll learn walking in to any Machado academy. It’s the one technique you work on from white belt to infinite. It is my favorite.

The journey to black belt isn’t as long as it might seem. When I tied on my white belt, black belt it seemed so far down the road. The day I got my Black Belt those early days of training felt as if they went by in a flash. I had great times finding out about myself on the mat. I’ve had some serious tests. There have been discouraging days as well, but the words of my father ring in my ear and I found myself at the academy ready to learn the next day.

There is always something to learn. There’s always someone to learn from. The best times are when one of professor’s brothers shows up to teach. The academy buzzes for weeks afterwards talking about it. Then professor John comes up with techniques from his brother’s techniques, that we’ve never seen. Sometimes more tech than we can handle. That to me is a model of a great instructor. Professor John, with all his experience and success, is still humble enough to love learning. I loved the journey to Black Belt. I’m even more excited for my journey beyond.

Martial arts will always be a part of me. Achieving the level of Black Belt with John Machado has given me the pride and the confidence to claim Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a major form of my human expression. I’m proud to represent the Machados as one of their black belts. Everyday I train I learn more about myself. My father’s words ring true to me in every minute on the mat. But in my in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, I hope I never finish.