Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I highly recommend training with Professor Bill to anyone and everyone interested in BJJ. I started training about 2 years ago with no previous experience in martial arts, and it’s changed my life for the better in so many ways. Professor Bill has helped me realize I am so much stronger than I thought and even encouraged me to compete in BJJ. I started training because I wanted to learn self-defense, and I continue to train because I love BJJ and the community Professor Bill has built. All the guys are incredibly encouraging and patient with newbies and it’s such a positive environment to train in. Even my two toddlers love coming with me and can’t wait to train one day! If you’re on the fence about training, just start!

My greatest regret in Jiujitsu is that I did not start sooner. I’ve been training under Professor Bill at Catalyst Fitness for nearly 8 years. I can honestly say that I’m in better shape at 45 than I was at 30. Small class sizes, personalized instructions and Bill’s knowledge and background make the Catalyst Fitness difference. The mental and physical health benefits from Jiujitsu are unique as is the fellowship with training partners. It has changed my life for the better.

I’ve had the privilege of training under Professor Bill Sonnemaker at Catalyst Fitness for the past several years, and it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my life outside of school. Professor Bill is an accomplished Black Belt, and what impresses me most is that he hasn’t stopped growing. Even at his level, he continues to seek out high-level camps and trains alongside other elite Black Belts, always looking to sharpen his own game. He brings that knowledge straight back to us on the mats, which means we’re constantly learning techniques and concepts that are current. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and it says a lot about a teacher when he’s also a lifelong learner, remaining a dedicated student even after all he’s accomplished. As a medical student at Emory, and before that a biomedical engineer at Georgia Tech, I’ve always been drawn to understanding why things work, not just memorizing them. That’s exactly what makes Professor Bill’s teaching so special. He doesn’t just show you a move, he breaks down the biomechanics behind it: the leverage, the angles, the physics of why a technique actually works on a resisting opponent. Jiu-jitsu, in his classes, becomes a live problem-solving exercise, and I find myself thinking through positions the same way I’d think through a mechanical system or a clinical case. Beyond the technical side, training at Catalyst Fitness has shaped who I am as a person. Jiu-jitsu has taught me patience, humility, and the ability to stay calm and think clearly under pressure, lessons that carry over directly into my medical training. Watching myself and my newfound friends grow, both on the mats and off, has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey. I’m endlessly grateful to Professor Bill for his mentorship and to the entire community at Catalyst Fitness for pushing me to keep learning and improving alongside them. It’s rare to find a place where intellectual curiosity and physical growth come together so naturally, and I wouldn’t be the student, or the person, I am today without it.

Training at Catalyst is amazing!! The small class size means you get direct, hands-on help and instruction every single day. Bill holds a master’s degree in personal training and performance enchantment, which brings an expertise of movement science to every technique! Coming from Running, as my primary exercise and sport, his classes and instruction helped me avoid a bad injury during a sudden fall on a trial run within a couple of months of starting BJJ! The muscle memory from class kicked in instantly and I was able to roll into my fall and stop myself safely with a break fall. These immediate gains, combined with the friendships I have been able to established, have help create a level of personal accountability that’s has been crucial for me making BJJ a lasting habit and change in my life! Thank you Bill!

I’ve been training jiu-jitsu since 2008, and throughout my journey I’ve had the pleasure of being a nomad, training under many different coaches across different gyms and styles. That perspective makes it easy to spot a truly great Coach — and Bill is one of them. Bill’s instruction blends incredible jiu-jitsu knowledge and game theory, rooted in his training under Professor Fabio Costa, with a deep understanding of physiology and biomechanics. That combination is invaluable — it’s not just about knowing techniques, but understanding how and when to apply them. Timing and technique are the two most important fundamentals for learning to move athletically and effectively, on the mats, and Bill teaches both with real depth. If you’re looking for a Coach who can break down the “why” behind the movement, not just the “what,” I highly recommend learning from and training with Bill.

I have known Professor Bill for years and one of the things I appreciate about Professor Bill is how he teaches. In fact, he was the Professor that was teaching the very first day I came into the school and had my first Jiu Jitsu class. He is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and highly accomplished competitor. Whether he is teaching Jiu Jitsu or working with somebody on their fitness goals, I love how he explains it in a way that just makes sense and in simple to understand terms. That in my opinion is what separates Catalyst Fitness and Professor Bill from a lot of other training facilities. Whether you are seeing Professor Bill for Jiu Jitsu or Personal training services he gets to know you, your goals, where you are at physically, and what you are trying to accomplish. If you’re a busy professional like me that’s really who Catalyst Fitness is built for. I highly recommend you give them a try.

Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Professor Bill at Catalyst Fitness has been an incredible experience. What I appreciate most is that he doesn’t just teach you a technique and expect you to repeat it. He takes the time to explain why it works, how proper body mechanics come into play, and how each movement connects to the bigger picture. His ability to break things down and explain the details has completely changed the way I approach my training. I understand much more about what I’m doing, rather than simply trying to memorize a series of movements. Every session feels intentional and well thought out, with a combination of technique, drilling, movement, and conditioning that makes it a complete training experience. The smaller class environment is another huge benefit. You get individual attention and feedback, and Professor Bill is able to recognize the things you need to work on and help you improve them. He genuinely wants his students to get better, and that comes through in the way he teaches. Just as importantly, the people at Catalyst Fitness make it a great place to train. There is a strong sense of fellowship and everyone is there to learn, improve, and help each other. It feels like a team rather than just a group of people showing up for a class.
I’ve learned a tremendous amount from Professor Bill, both about Jiu Jitsu and about how to train smarter and move better. If you’re looking for a place where you will actually be taught, challenged, and given the individual attention needed to improve, I highly recommend training Jiu Jitsu at Catalyst Fitness.