Hidden Gems: Meet Shawn Williams of Renzo Gracie Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Williams.

Hi Shawn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I had always loved the martial arts and martial arts movies, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the Rocky movies were some of my favorite. I began my own martial arts (karate) training at the age of 12 at my local small-town Indiana dojo. I trained as a way of life while in school and competing in many sports as a youth and teen, swimming most of all. I believe the discipline, persistence and calmness ingrained in me from the martial arts training became the root of all of my successes in life. As I graduated high school and began college, like so many, I was unsure of which direction I really wanted to pursue in life… so I took various classes and tried various sports but always kept my martial arts training consistent. It was in 1995 that I had watched a Mixed Martial Arts event on T.V., now I need to add something here because I had seen the UFC just two years prior but it did not at the time give me the “ah-ha” moment that this particular event did. For whatever reason – whether it was the way the individual fought or just the time in my life… I’m not sure, but regardless of why, it was fate. The fight on T.V. was at the time known as the World Combat Championship and that “individual” was none other than the one and only Renzo Gracie. I could think of nothing else after that point. My soul was ignited and life’s purpose was before me. I located his academy address in the back of Blackbelt magazine and gathered the small amount of money I had to my name and set out to find this legend in the Big Apple. The day I arrived at Renzo’s academy, he welcomed me in and talked with me as though we had known each other for a long time. His welcoming and the world-renowned education I was after made my decision easy. After that initial visit in the summer of 1996, I returned home to Indiana, packed my bags and moved to NYC that fall. There I began training in the amazing art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Renzo Gracie himself – a true living legend. It became my passion, my entire world, and I knew then and there my purpose was to be the very best that I could be. It was NOT easy… I went through high times, low times and sacrificed everything that elite athletes, professionals, entrepreneurs know all too well about.

However, I developed relationships and skillsets that only those who sacrifice to this level fully understand. Once I was able to make jiu-jitsu my living, I have never “worked” a day in my life! During my time in NYC, I attended Hunter College to study exercise science–to aid my knowledge and understanding of the human body. I continued training seven days a week as many hours as possible per day, sometimes spending 12+ hours a day at the gym. They say it takes 10,000 hours, I had my mindset on the 20,000+. Still chasing those hours, on April 2, 2002, Renzo awarded me my Black Belt–A day I’ll never forget. I was the 5th recipient to be awarded a blackbelt following such notables as: Ricardo Almeida, Rodrigo Gracie, Matt Serra, and Nick Serra (my very good friend, John Danaher and I were promoted on the same night). After all these years, I’m currently holding the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt under Renzo Gracie. I began competing in Jiu Jitsu that took me all over the World. My major BJJ and Grappling accomplishments include: 2003 black belt lightweight IBJJF Pan American Bronze Medallist (2x bronze at lower belts), Ohio Pro Am Champion (2004), FILA Regional Qualifier (2008), ADCC Qualifier Bronze Medallist as well as multiple titles in Grapplers Quest and NAGA. I was fortunate enough to develop many lifelong friendships in the martial arts and Jiu Jitsu community. During my quest, I became quite technical and detailed with my approach to teaching and training. This opened another level of my teaching that included working with many world-class BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts fighters. Through the years, I have served as a training partner and coach for many training camps for top MMA fighters including Georges St. Pierre (GSP), Rodrigo Gracie, Matt Serra, Royce Gracie, Frank Trigg & many others. I’ve been a long-time analyst and commentator for the top BJJ and grappling events on the planet, including the Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Championships, Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships, IBJJF World Championships, IBJJF Pans and Kasai Elite Grappling Championships.

In 2005, I had an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and open my first jiu jitsu school. As promising as it appeared, this was no easy journey. I once again experienced many ups and downs as I would begin my “school of hard knocks” real-world business education. I’ve always been quite resilient, but these next few years taught me more about the true meaning and how to navigate through the unknown and come back even stronger. In 2010, I opened 5 Star Martial Arts/ Renzo Gracie Los Angeles. I and my staff worked tirelessly to make that academy not only one of the biggest in the Los Angeles area but one of the biggest and the best in Southern California. Countless hours went into the RGLA academy. While growing the school, I knew I needed to know more about business and finance and how to truly to make the academy everything I envisioned. I would need a stronger skill set other than the one I have in Jiu Jitsu and MMA. I worked around the clock at the academy but also began studying business and finance at UCLA. This education helped me greatly when it came to understanding how to balance it all and do so successfully. I worked day and night to make it all possible, something I was quite used to. In 2017 my son, Atticus was born. My wife, Annie and I frequently discussed whether or not Los Angeles was truly where we wanted to root our family. Both she and I have lived and traveled all of the world, but both of us being born in the midwest, we knew Atticus needed these same type of roots. Having had traveled several times to the Nashville area over the years, we were hooked from the start. We immediately knew we would put our roots down in this incredible city and call it our forever home.

While the LA academy was prospering so was our family. In 2019, we made the decision that our permanent time in LA had come to an end and it was time to sell the academy and so we did. We then spent the following six months in NYC. By the end of 2019, we knew our time to move to Nashville and the second chapter in our new family’s life had come. In January of 2020, we arrived in Nashville for good! After a few annual jiu jitsu camps that I conduct and a seminar tour, we would open the new Renzo Gracie Nashville Academy (Brentwood)…. so very exciting! …and then, COVID… and of course everything shut down… seminars all cancelled…no new business to be had… and the waiting game began. Add in the evolving nervousness and unknown fears about the fact that neither of us could work… with a little one, as I’m sure so many during the last year know, this is a very scary situation. In October of 2020, I made the leap of faith to open my new academy, Renzo Gracie Nashville with the thought that I would open up a full online training protocol as well as a brick and mortar. Thankfully, the academy has been very well received while growing rapidly, including the online protocol near completion and ready to deploy. We are located in the incredible city of Brentwood and have absolutely amazing, driven and dedicated members from all walks of life. From 1st timers to seasoned professionals. Our goals are simply to make a massive positive impact on the community here in the greater Nashville area through Jiu Jitsu and community. I take great pride in bringing people together. My academies have always been a place where we are all family and everyone is treated as such. This is a second home to many of my students from past to present and this will always stand wherever my name is attached. We look forward to continuing our outreach programs here in Nashville by organizing community events that include food drives, toy drives, clothes drives, and self-defense clinics to name a few. You can find me on the mats six days a week at the academy or online.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yikes, more like a pothole filled, gravel road in which several bridges were out on the way to my destination… :0

I’ve had broken bones, torn tendons, five surgeries, business partner failures, built a school to a quarter of a million dollar/yr business from nothing to have it “taken away” by a “business partner” because no paperwork was completed, COVID… it’s been an amazing journey full of passion and learning!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Renzo Gracie Nashville?
Renzo Gracie Nashville is a Jiu Jitsu Academy that serves both Children and Adults. We specialize in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) (with Kickboxing coming in the near future). We change and inspire lives through martial arts and fitness. We help build/boost confidence, discipline, fortitude, awareness, coordination, and a zen state of mind. The approach, history, and pedigree of my training set up apart from anyone on the globe. I have trained and trained with the best in the World of jiu jitsu and MMA. I have been involved in training and training alongside World Champions such as Georges St. Pierre, Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie, Gordon Ryan amongst many many others. I have wrestled in college as well as worked with NCAA Div 1 national champions, boxed at the world-famous Gleason’s Gym and Wildcard boxing gym. I was a featured Coach on TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) for team GSP and have been the head commentator/analyst for the largest jiu jitsu competitions on the planet. I was a part of the only United States BJJ team and am the host of the IBJJF Hall of Fame award ceremony.

We bring World Class experience in a unique approach that benefits all. I feel the benefits that I have received through martial arts would be of benefit to anyone in life… it is my goal to provide that to our members and community.

We have classes six days/wk and will be conducting free community workshops as society opens back up. We are excited to share what I feel is the driving force in my life.

What’s next?
I am excited to continue our outreach in the area and beyond. Providing a vehicle of change, giving back to the community, and making an impact in young athletes that may want to pursue a professional career in the martial arts.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@RenzoGracieNashville.com
• Website: www.renzogracienashville.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renzogracienashville
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenzoGracieNashville/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/shawnwilliamsbjj

Image Credits
Lucas Noonan Scott Leon