SANDY JOSÉ NÚÑEZ · BLACK BELT COACH · TANNERSVILLE, NY
I'm Sandy Nunez. I coach jiu-jitsu in Tannersville.
I started out heavy and out of shape. Walking into my first martial arts gym felt intimidating. Today, I coach kids, teens, and adults on Main Street with a calm, welcoming approach. Active competitors and lifelong martial artists train alongside first-time students in an environment centered on safe, cooperative learning, clear mechanical leverage, and beginner-first onboarding.
Sandy guides your first class at your pace. He sets the task and matches your partner. You can ask for help or take a breather whenever you like.
Verified Credentials
Mat Experience You Can Trust
Parents and adult beginners want to know who leads class. Here is my verified training background.
First-Degree Black Belt
Awarded by Professor Josh Griffiths at Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu in New York City after years of dedicated training.
15+ Years on the Mats
Training since 2010. Thousands of mat hours coaching kids, teens, and adults in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Catskills.
Program Leadership
Led the jiu-jitsu program at Physical Culture Collective in Brooklyn before founding Sensei Sandy BJJ in Tannersville.
12-Student Cap
Strict small-group cap so every student receives direct coaching, personal guidance, and safe partner pairing.
My Story
I Was Once a Hesitant Beginner Too
I was heavy and out of shape before jiu-jitsu. I felt shy and had trouble making eye contact during conversations.
Walking into a martial arts school felt intimidating. I even called academies ahead of time just to hear a coach answer before I found the courage to walk inside.
In 2010, I took my first class at Lionheart Fitness in State College, Pennsylvania. Later that year, I moved to Manhattan and trained in the gi at Ronin Athletics. By 2011, I committed to Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu in Manhattan. I trained two to three times a day.
I worked as a bartender in New York City to support my mat time. I won cocktail competitions and learned the art of hospitality: greeting guests warmly, listening, and making everyone feel at home.
Competition taught me an enduring lesson: showing up each week matters far more than natural athletic gifts. Jiu-jitsu gave me health, balance, and quiet confidence. It became a lifelong anchor.
Lineage & Mentorship
Mentorship Under Josh Griffiths
Professor Josh Griffiths awarded my black belt at Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu in New York City.
Josh taught me how to operate a martial arts school as a dedicated coach. He showed me how to run an inclusive, safe class for people of every shape, size, and background. He taught me to put student welfare first.
Our lineage traces through Roberto Maia, Kenny Florian, and Carlos Gracie Jr. to Mitsuyo Maeda and Kano Jigoro.
Read the full Clockwork BJJ lineage record and explore our Sensei lineage page.
Mountain Roots
Why I Built Sensei Sandy BJJ in Tannersville
My wife grew up in Prattsville. We moved upstate after 2020 to build our family life in the Catskills. Today, we live in East Jewett year-round.
Before opening our permanent school, I taught neighbors where mats would fit. We practiced on garage mats, on lawns, and in community rooms. In August 2025, our studio opened at 6045 Main Street in Tannersville.
I love coaching on the mountain because I learn from my students in a reverse classroom style. Small kids teach me balance, timing, and finesse. Adult students bring focus and life perspective.
My own jiu-jitsu has grown sharper since moving to the Catskills. Every class is a shared learning experience where coach and student rise together.
Coaching Philosophy
Mutual Welfare & Shared Progress (Jita Kyoei)
My coaching energy is chill, firm, and fair. I protect the safety of the room with high standards, and I invite students to discover skills through clear parameters.
Our studio embraces the classic principle of Jita Kyoei, which means mutual prosperity:
Partners Need Each Other
Martial arts requires cooperation. Your partner helps you grow, and you help your partner grow. We succeed as a team.
Safety and Respect First
We value partner well-being above winning drills. Cooperative pacing builds confidence and long-term skill.
Social Harmony
The patience and problem-solving skills learned on the mat help kids and adults solve challenges in everyday life.
Efficient Energy (Seiryoku Zenko)
We use mechanical leverage, balance, and frames rather than brute muscle. Smaller students redirect force with ease.
What I Tell Terrified Beginners
“When beginners walk in nervous, I remind them: we are a group of friendly neighbors enjoying movement on the second floor of a Main Street studio above an antique store, wearing soft training clothes. The activity brings smiles, and we treat the safety and integrity of the art with complete respect.”
Read more about our class structure on how class works.
Come Meet Me
Plan Your Free First Visit
Visit our studio on Main Street. We will tour the room, review safety guidelines, and match you with the right class path.
Sensei Sandy BJJ · 6045 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Tannersville, NY · (917) 736-8649