One of the more recent additions to CBA’s extracurricular offerings is the martial art known as the “game of human chess.”

CBA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the only high school BJJ club in the state of New Jersey. The club is dedicated to promoting health, building confidence, and bonding with fellow athletes, all while developing a potential life-saving skill.

BJJ is a martial art based on grappling and ground fighting, focusing on the skill of controlling one’s opponent through strategy and technique.

Students are trained by faculty instructors Mr. Matt Butler and Mr. Mike Tomaino, both multiple-time international BJJ competition gold medalists. The club competes in tournaments around the tri-state area and meets two to three times per week, with more frequent practices during tournament season.

“By dealing with failure constantly in this martial art, it instills humility in each BJJ artist and fuels the desire to improve as a person,” Butler said about participating in BJJ.

One of the group’s biggest accomplishments came last week, when senior captain Jake Heath earned his BJJ blue belt. The blue belt is obtained after mastering a series of moves and using them in live training. Heath also had to compete in at least one tournament at each belt level to test his skills in a real world scenario.

Additionally, CBA BJJ has conducted women’s self-defense courses in the past and has worked with the Red Bank Salvation Army to help teach nearly 30 kids the basics of the sport.