Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a growing sport on the East End, thanks to Greg Melita and Hamptons Jiu Jitsu.
In addition to doubling the mat space, which was the key reason for the move, to make room for the school’s students, the new location has a number of new features, including full men’s and women’s locker rooms with a bathroom and shower in each one. Jaclyn Grace Melita, Greg’s younger sister, still leads the yoga classes, but the school now also offers a fitness program called Hamptons MVMT with Greg Bader, Judo with Sensei Joe Turchiano, Muay Thai Kickboxing with Evilazio Feitoza, and Melita still offers Sports Performance speed and agility training for all sports teams in the area.
Melita, the owner and Professor at Hamptons Jiu Jitsu, is well versed in the art. He has been training in BJJ since 2000 and received his black belt over six years ago. He also holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate, as well as a 1st Degree Black Belt in Judo under Sensei Turchiano. He also wrestled in High School for East Islip, further rounding out his Grappling background. After he helped train new recruits at the U.S. Marines Corps base in Garden City in hand-to-hand combat with the assistance of Master Ed McGrath in 2004 and 2005, Melita won a bronze medal at the IBJJF U.S. Open in 2007, and multiple BJJ state and local Championships to add to what is a long list of accolades. Greg is also a founding member of the KASAI Elite Grappling Championships and serves as the company’s Marketing and Media Director. Melita is also a Certified Personal Trainer, a Level One CrossFit Trainer, and certified Sports Performance Coach. Other accomplishments include a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, NY, and being a sponsored Motocross racer in his childhood.
Melita, along with some of the other instructors at Hamptons Jiu Jitsu, learned from the Kioto Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lineage of Professor Milton Regis and Grand Master Francisco Mansor.