TORRINGTON – A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy founded by two local instructors is bringing martial arts training to eastern Wyoming with an emphasis on accessibility and community.
James Caldwell and Jarred Bigg opened Torrington Grappling Academy in January 2025 after outgrowing their initial teaching space at The Compound gym. The pair began teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in February 2024 to a small private group.
“After only a year, we outgrew the space we were using at the compound and were in dire need of a different location,” Caldwell said. “We were blessed to be introduced to a woman named Nichole McIntosh who allowed us to utilize a gym space she had available. And without her our club wouldn’t have such a wonderful place to call home.”
Caldwell’s martial arts journey began at age 19 in Southern California before Caldwell relocated to Torrington in 2013 to work at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. Caldwell met Bigg at the prison, where Bigg was teaching Pressure Point Control tactics as a new instructor.
After years of sedentary living, Caldwell began driving to Pagsuko Combat Club in Scottsbluff, three days a week starting in 2018. When friends asked about Caldwell’s weight loss and expressed interest in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu without the commute to Nebraska, the idea for a local academy took root.
Bigg has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2018 under Professor Will Ellis at Pagsuko Combat Club. His teaching background extends beyond martial arts. Bigg has been teaching defensive tactics in a law enforcement context since 2014 and currently serves as an Instructor of Custody and Control with the Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy.
“I try to adapt what I have learned about teaching adult learners from years of experience to the folks that come through the club,” Bigg said. “In either field it’s always important to teach to a person’s ‘why.’ Understanding why they are there lends itself towards retention and learning just like understanding the why of a given technique lends itself towards efficacy and efficiency.”
“I had friends in town telling me for years they would love to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but driving to Scottsbluff wasn’t really an option,” Caldwell said. “After six years of training at Pagsuko, we figured we might as well try.”
The academy takes a less formal approach than traditional martial arts schools. Rather than strict protocols like bowing onto mats or lining up by rank, Torrington Grappling Academy emphasizes peer learning and a relaxed atmosphere.
“I understand the value of tradition, but honestly a lot of it felt stuffy to me,” Caldwell said. “I want students to ask me for help yes, but also to be resources for one another.”
Each class follows a structured format: individual warm-up, technique demonstration, repetitive practice, dynamic resistance games and free sparring known as “rolling.” Caldwell prioritizes understanding concepts over rote memorization.
“I want the students to understand why and how the technique works, not just how to perform it,” he said.
The academy serves students ranging from age 15 to their 60s, including both men and women. Some train for competition while others focus on fitness and self-improvement.
“We tell students to tap early, tap often and to try to leave their ego at the door,” Caldwell said. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can and will be uncomfortable. You have someone trying to wrestle you down and trying to enforce their will on you.”
Caldwell emphasized the mental benefits of the martial art extend beyond physical technique.
“It teaches you to stay calm, to focus, and you learn become comfortable with the uncomfortable,” he said. “It teaches you to relax and shows you that you can persevere through tough situations and this gives students confidence.”
To keep training accessible, the academy is run as a hobby club and maintains low monthly dues. All club proceeds go directly back into the club itself. Caldwell noted some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programs charge $200 or more per month.
“We didn’t want money to be a barrier for entry,” he said. “We really believe in the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wanted classes to be accessible to as many people as possible.”
Future plans include adding children’s classes and potentially bringing in striking or wrestling coaches to expand offerings.
Prospective students can find more information through the Torrington Grappling Academy Facebook page or email. Caldwell recommends bringing water and wearing comfortable clothing without zippers or pockets.
