Legacy Recon Report
Interview with Guy Pendergrass: BJJ Instructor & Promoter for the George Pendergrass Classic

Guy Pendergrass: Keeping the Legacy Alive Through BJJ
Interview by Steve Loftin
Posted August 23, 2006



fightinglegacy.com: First off all, tell us how you got started in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Guy Pendergrass: My Brother, Rob, and I have been involved with the martial arts since 1990. And like most guys we got started with BJJ by watching the UFC in the early days.

fightinglegacy.com: Didn't you train at Renzo's Academy in NYC for a while?

Guy Pendergrass: Yeah we trained at Renzo’s school in Manhattan for just under a year back in 2000.

fightinglegacy.com: How was that?

Guy Pendergrass: It was an awesome experience to train there. At any given time you were training with guys like Renzo, Rodrigo, Matt and Nick Serra, Ricardo Almeida, Shawn Williams, and Sean Alvarez. You learned so much not just from the Renzo but all the guys there.

fightinglegacy.com: Ever since I've been training, I've heard about "the twins" who grapple so well. Is it confusing to people who don't really know you have a twin brother?

Guy Pendergrass: I don’t think so. Most people in the BJJ community know that I have a twin brother. But, there are still some guys that can’t tell the difference when they see us.

fightinglegacy.com: Do you have any funny stories related to this?

Guy Pendergrass: Back in college we used to go to each other’s classes. If for some reason one of us couldn’t make it to class the other would fill in so that we would still get credit.

fightinglegacy.com: Has it helped to have a brother of the same size and experience as you to train with? I know it's always a brawl when I mix it up with my brother.

Guy Pendergrass: Definitly. In the beginning when there weren’t many guys training we had each other to practice the moves. We got started training BJJ while we were still in college. And at the time there was no one in Greenville that trained BJJ. So, having each other to practice the techniques and roll together was an advantage. And of course today it’s still great to have someone of the same size and experience to continue rolling with.

fightinglegacy.com: You guys were part of the old Triangle BJJ Club along with Frank Mullis & Billy Dowey. How did that get started & what eventually happened to that club?

Guy Pendergrass: We first met Frank at our old karate school in Wake Forest in 1996. Frank was attending the Southeastern seminary in Wake Forest at the time. Shortly after graduating college my brother met Billy at a tournament in Durham. Billy got things going, in terms of a club, at Nu-Dimensions in Raleigh. Once we found out that a group of guys were training there we just hooked up with them. Rob and I eventually moved to New York to train at Renzo’s school. When we moved back to North Carolina Triangle BJJ was still operating. Eventually things were moved out to Garner when Carlos Lemos Jr. started teaching. I guess you can say at this point Triangle BJJ ceased to exit.

fightinglegacy.com: You and your brother, Rob, are authorized representatives for Gustavo Machado BJJ here in the state of North Carolina. How did you get involved with Gustavo?

Guy Pendergrass: While we were training at Renzo’s school in New York we had heard that he had a representative down in Virginia Beach. At the time Gustavo’s school was known as the Renzo Gracie Virginia Beach Competition team. Rob moved back a couple of months before I did. Rob called Gustavo up and told him that he had trained at Renzo’s school and had heard good things about him. By the time I moved back rob had already been to Gustavo’s school several times to train. So of course I started going up to Gustavo’s school and training there. Rob and I both enjoy Gustavo’s approach to grappling and teaching. We’ve been with Gustavo going on six years now.

fightinglegacy.com: What is the difference between your approach to BJJ versus someone else from another lineage?

Guy Pendergrass: Our approach to BJJ is an emphasis on being well rounded. The emphasis should not be placed on being good just in certain positions, but rather stride to be proficient in all positions.

fightinglegacy.com: How long have you been teaching?

Guy Pendergrass: 5 years

fightinglegacy.com: What are your main concerns as an instructor?

Guy Pendergrass: Safety. We try to insure that our students train safely during each class. This way they can return to the next class ready to learn and improve their skills.

fightinglegacy.com: Where can prospective students find out more information about your academy?

Guy Pendergrass: They can visit our website at www.bjjnc.com or call us at 919-495-0148.

fightinglegacy.com: What do you think is the most important thing that BJJ offers to potential students?

Guy Pendergrass: Confidence. Of course, we feel that training in BJJ offers a realistic approach to self-defense especially in terms of it’s training methods. I think students walk away with the invaluable feeling of knowing they train in something that is realistic.

fightinglegacy.com: I've been to a couple of the George Pendergrass Classic events & had a blast. What got these events started?

Guy Pendergrass: Our father passed away in 2003 from a blood cancer known as Leukemia. Prior to this, neither Rob or myself ever talked about hosting tournaments. But, we wanted a way to remember him and help raise money for Leukemia research. We thought hosting BJJ tournaments would be our best approach to accomplishing these goals.

fightinglegacy.com: What are your goals for these events?

Guy Pendergrass: In the short term, Of course, is to raise money for Leukemia research. Also, to host smoothly ran tournaments and allow every competitor a great experience. In the long term, we want to hold tournaments with 200-300 competitors. By accomplishing this we will be able to raise even more money for Leukemia research in our father’s name, provide North Carolina with a quality local event for BJJ, and give exposure to BJJ as a sport.

fightinglegacy.com: I've been on the promoter side of the game and I realize how crazy it can be. From what I've seen you guys run a very efficient tournament that is fan & competitor friendly. What do you attribute to your success?

Guy Pendergrass: First of all, thanks for the compliment about the tournaments. It’s a lot of hard work, but is always gratifying after everything is said and done. Three things I think have contributed to our success; preparation, organization, and lots of help!

fightinglegacy.com: When is the scheduled time for the next event?

Guy Pendergrass: Saturday September 9th.

fightinglegacy.com: What is the George Pendergrass Foundation?

Guy Pendergrass: The George Pendergrass Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2004.

fightinglegacy.com: What are the main goals of this foundation?

Guy Pendergrass: The goal of the George Pendergrass Foundation is to raise money for Leukemia research and awareness.

fightinglegacy.com: If someone is interested in supporting the foundation or these events, who should they contact?

Guy Pendergrass: They can contact myself at 919-495-0148 or Rob at 919-819-1908.

fightinglegacy.com: Guy, I appreciate you taking the time to do this interview. Hopefully, I'll catch you at the next GPC.