User:James Boran

James Boran athletic career started out in football, playing linebacker in the Ivy League for Columbia University and being signed as a free agent by the New York Jets.

In College he began studying martial arts, starting with Tae Kwon Do and receiving a black belt. In 1983, I moved to California, and started studying Hapkido, searching for more effective technique. One day, a student of the Hapkido school, who was training with the Gracies, came in and tied me in a knot even though I outweighed him by seventy pounds. I went for a free demonstration lesson, and met Professors Rorion and Royler Gracie. What a great experience! I never looked back.

He recieved his blue and purple belts from Professor Royce, Rorion and Rickson Gracie, taking weekly private lessons with both Royce and Rickson. I recieved my brown and black belt from Joe Moreira.