CVBJJ was founded by Glen Heggstad in 1987. After commuting three times a week from Palm Springs to Los Angeles for twenty years in order to train with the best, he subsequently earned Black Belt teaching credentials in Shotokan, Kung Fu, Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. During the nineties he was one of the few Americans to live in Thailand to train in Muy Thai Boxing. Later, in an effort to bring an “LA quality school” to the Coachella Valley, and under the encouragement of his Judo Sensei, Gene LeBelle, Heggstad opened the first local grappling academy.

From humble beginnings using very old, worn-out, canvas-covered, wrestling mats at the Palm Springs Youth Center, pioneering students of the original “Dirty Dozen” set the pace for perseverance, discipline, respect, and creativity in the fighting arts. Recognizing the remarkable ability of his two best students, Heggstad turned the school over to his senior Black Belts, Dan McCown and Anthony Mantanona. (He then embarked on a five-year motorcycle journey around the world.) Beyond all expectations, CVBJJ has spiraled upward evolving into the largest and most successful training facility in the entire region of the county, producing numerous successful competitors.

In an effort to contribute to the youth of our community, Dan and Anthony expanded into wrestling programs that have served to develop the athletic abilities, as well as shape the character of students from ages 3-18. In creating this small army of nationally-ranked athletes, so far, two of them have been awarded full-ride” scholarships at prestigious American Universities. In the last third of a century, this team has achieved much and looks forward to progressing into the next hundred years.