Like many children of his generation Jeff Tirshfield was amazed at the martial prowess and toughness of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace and their contemporaries.  However, it was not until a family move from New York to Arizona that Jeff got his first taste of martial competition.  Jeff’s best friend in high school was a gifted boxer who introduced Jeff to the sweet science.  Jeff went on to win the State Junior Olympic Golden Glove Championships, and formed a boxing club at Arizona State University.

Finally comprehending that the brain’s grey matter does not replicate, Jeff decided to find a martial art with less potential head trauma.  In learning a style of karate, he found a friend and mentor in Mark Colangelo who taught Cuong Nhu Karate (later named Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Art), a blended system of hard and soft styles.  Jeff continued to compete, winning numerous local competitions in both kata and kumite.  The system’s founder, Grandmaster Ngo Dong, promoted Jeff to the rank of second-degree black belt.

Jeff was also instrumental in assisting Mark Colangelo in creating the curriculum for Go-Jiu Bujutsu (recognized by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council as a distinct martial art), a blended style that consists of 1/3 hard style karate, 1/3 throws, and 1/3 grappling.  Jeff holds the rank of Soke-Dai in Go-Jiu Bujutsu.

While studying Cuong Nhu, Jeff was fortuitous in meeting famed Judo competitor, Jiu-jitsuka and Goshin Jitsu Grandmaster Ernie Cates.  Within weeks of being promoted to first-degree black belt by Grandmaster Cates, Jeff went on to win the California State Masters Judo Championship.  Jeff also holds a black belt in Jiu-jitsu under Grandmaster Cates.

Jeff’s introduction to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu was a lesson in extreme humility.  Having just finished a Judo class, where he thought himself quite accomplished, he happened upon a submission-wrestling academy (they said Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, but taught only sporadically with the kimono).  He introduced himself and was asked if he wanted to participate in class; he did, and was tapped repeatedly, and with little effort, by a purple belt.  He began lessons that day.

Jeff soon found a home in the traditional academy of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu legend, and eighth-degree black belt Fabio Santos; where (having spent five years as a blue belt) he was recognized as a black belt in 1994.  Jeff was an instructor in Fabio’s academy since he was a brown belt.

It was at Fabio’s academy that Jeff met D.  Jeff remembers D as the new guy who would never go home, learned like a sponge, hummed while he tapped just about everybody; and still cherishes the memories of taking D’s back (alas this has not happened in way too many years).  Now Jeff relegates himself to the knowledge that at least D has a hard time passing his half-guard.  Thank g-d for small pleasures.

Jeff followed his closest friend to his new academy for a variety of reasons:  First, D is a world-class Masters competitor, who is also a world-class instructor.  Second, D lives by the seven tenets of Bushido: Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty.  Third, he is the one person outside of Jeff 's family he would trust with his life.  And lastly, the academy has the best instruction and training in San Diego.

Jeff is marginally old (Senior 3) and pretty darn broken (too many to list), but he can still train, teach and fight.  Look for his son Casey to carry on the legacy.

                                Accomplishments:

2x Pan American Champion

Pan American Silver Medalist

Pan American Bronze Medalist – Absolute

Masters and Seniors World Championships Bronze Medalist