Being a female, that was the hardest step – coming to terms with the idea of grappling a man in some pretty compromising positions, but I made the leap and have loved the sport ever since. Dan made that transition incredibly easy by being very professional and open to questions, conventional or not. Starting with Dan as my first instructor was probably one of the reasons I even entertained the idea of sticking with Jiu-Jitsu – not only is he extremely knowledgeable but he also emphasizes technique over athleticism or strength. His classes are always top-notch and he makes sure that the students are shown even the little details that will help you succeed in a maneuver. It’s this type of attention to detail that makes him such a strong teacher and wholly suited to the way I need to learn. Overall he has had an extremely large impact on both my physical and mental fitness. I count Dan as one of the few good friends in my life with whom I have kept in touch with even after we’ve physically moved apart.