Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Philcox.
Hi Eric, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my career as an entrepreneur in the art digitization industry. I founded my own company, grew it over the years into a solid business, and we worked with some really interesting clients in cultural heritage and other sectors. In 2022, I sold the company — that was a big milestone for me and gave me the freedom to focus on what I was truly passionate about.
Around 2017, I discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What began as just trying a new hobby completely changed my life. The mats taught me discipline, resilience, persistence, and the power of a strong community in a way nothing else had. I trained hard, traveled to different academies, competed in IBJJF events, and eventually earned my black belt under my coach and friend, Max Gimenis.
In 2022, right after selling my company, Max and I co-founded Culture of Jiu Jitsu Academy in Gaithersburg, Maryland. We wanted to build more than just another gym — we wanted a place with real culture, where people of all ages and backgrounds (kids, adults, women, competitors) could train BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA while growing as people.
Today I’m a black belt instructor, business owner, and still an active competitor. I often call it living the “Entrepreneur in a Gi” life. Jiu-Jitsu gave me so much that I wanted to create a space where others could experience the same transformation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road and I don’t think it is for most people who build something meaningful.
In my first business (the art digitization company), there were plenty of challenges: figuring out how to scale operations, managing cash flow, dealing with big projects that had tight deadlines, and the constant pressure of running a service-based company where clients expect perfection. Building that from the ground up took years of long hours and learning through trial and error.
Then with Jiu-Jitsu, even though I fell in love with it right away in 2017, the path to black belt was full of tough moments, injuries, plateaus where I wasn’t improving, balancing training with running a business, and just showing up on days when I was sore or mentally drained.
Opening Culture of Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2022 was probably the biggest leap. Right after selling my company, Max and I decided not to start small or cut corners. We went all-in on a great location, quality staff, and proper equipment. Those big investments created some real sleepless nights wondering if it was all going to work out. There’s always uncertainty when you’re building something new — worrying about attracting enough students, delivering on the culture we wanted to create, and making sure the business side stayed healthy while staying true to our values.
But those struggles are what made it worth it. They forced me to grow, stay disciplined, and lean on the lessons I learned on the mats. The road wasn’t smooth, but it’s been incredibly rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of Culture of Jiu Jitsu Academy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re a martial arts academy located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and we offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (both Gi and No-Gi), Muay Thai, and MMA. We have dedicated programs for kids, adults, women, beginners, and competitors — so whether you’re stepping on the mats for the first time or you’ve been training for years, there’s a place for you here.
What we specialize in is high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under my partner and head instructor, Max Gimenis — an IBJJF World Champion and UFC fighter. But we’re not just about technique. We’re known for the culture we’ve built. We focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment where people of all ages and backgrounds train together like family.
What sets us apart is that we genuinely care about the whole person — not just their skills on the mats. We emphasize discipline, confidence, resilience, and personal growth that carries over into everyday life. We invested in a great facility, quality coaches, and the right equipment from day one because we wanted to do it right instead of cutting corners.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the transformations we see in our students. Whether it’s a kid gaining focus and self-confidence, an adult getting in the best shape of their life, or someone discovering a real sense of community — those stories mean everything to us. We want people to feel like they’ve found a “home away from home” when they walk through our doors.
Ultimately, we want readers to know that Culture of Jiu Jitsu is about more than just learning how to fight. It’s about building stronger, more confident, and more resilient people through world-class training in a positive, family-like atmosphere. If you’re looking for real growth — physically, mentally, and personally — we’d love to welcome you for a free class and let you experience it for yourself.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people who know me through Jiu-Jitsu or the academy probably see the “Entrepreneur in a Gi” side — the guy who sold his company and jumped fully into building a martial arts school.
What surprises a lot of them is how nerdy and technical my previous world was. Before Jiu-Jitsu, I spent years deep in the cultural heritage digitization space. We worked on massive, highly specialized projects — scanning hundreds of thousands of historical films, glass plate negatives, and rare archives for libraries, museums, and universities around the world. I’ve been in high-security vaults, handling priceless historical materials, and troubleshooting million-dollar imaging systems. It was a very different kind of precision and patience compared to the mats.
Another thing that surprises people is that I’m a big kayak fisherman. I love getting out on the water, fishing off shore for sailfish has to be one of the things I enjoy most.
Jiu-Jitsu ended up being the thing that tied everything together for me, but my background is a mix of technical geek, entrepreneur, and someone who enjoys the outdoors that most people don’t expect when they first meet me at the academy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cultureofjiujitsu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultureofjiujitsuacademy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CultureofJiuJitsuAcademy
