Local martial arts gyms unite for charity

SPARTA — Instructors from three of Northern New Jersey’s premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) gyms came together to hold the “Z” Shebaro Roll Against Cancer seminar at Miller Brothers Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness in Sparta, and raised nearly $2,000 from students at the event.
The seminar was a donate-what-you-can event and featured demonstrations from Miller Brothers MMA’s head MMA coach Mike Pagano, as well as six of the most well-regarded BJJ black belts in all of New Jersey. The host gym provided three black belts -- head BJJ professor Sean “Shorty Rock” Santella and UFC veterans Dan & Jim Miller – who were joined by Andy and Mike Main of Pure Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness in Denville, NJ, as well as Jamie Cruz, of Renzo Gracie Woodland Park.
Students from as far as Pennsylvania made the trip to Miller Brothers MMA to take advantage of the incredible array of knowledge on offer, donating more than $1,900 to help with the cancer treatments of “Z” Shebaro. The father of Pagano’s first BJJ professor, Alan Shebaro, “Z” was recently diagnosed with a rare but aggressive cancer, and the BJJ community has rallied together to help “Z” with his expensive medical bills.
The seminar also closed with surprising good news for three of the professors. Cruz, a Third Degree Black Belt who had previously awarded the other men their black belts, promoted both Dan and Jim Miller to Second Degree Black Belt, and Andy Main to First Degree Black Belt. The promotions are rewards for the men’s years of study in the art and continued application in a teaching setting.
Pagano wishes to express his thanks to all six professors for donating their time, as well as to everyone who attended and donated to the charitable drive.