Pictured are Hershel Shoats, his wife Jessica, and their daughters Graysen (12), Avery (11), Marley (5), Sunny (4) at Gadugi BJJ studio | Photo by Claudia Perez Rivas

By Claudia Perez Rivas | Kingsville Independent News

When Hershel Shoats talks about Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he doesn’t describe it as a sport.

He describes it as a way back — to health, to purpose, and to community.

Shoats is the owner and head instructor of Gadugi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a family-run gym located at 316 E. Kleberg Ave. in Kingsville. The school opened in its current location in February after relocating from the Corpus Christi area, and in less than a year it has grown to serve roughly 30 to 40 students, many of them children and homeschool families.

While Gadugi BJJ operates as a martial arts school, its stated focus, echoed both in Shoats’ teaching philosophy and the gym’s public materials, is community-centered, emphasizing access, belonging, and personal growth alongside technical training.

A personal journey turned outward

Shoats, a veteran, said jiu-jitsu entered his life during a difficult period marked by post-traumatic stress. Over time, the discipline became a tool not only for physical fitness, but for grounding, presence, and healing.

“Jiu-jitsu put me back in the present,” Shoats said. “You can’t be anywhere else when someone’s trying to control you on the mat. It forces you to be here, right now.”

That experience shaped the mission of Gadugi BJJ, which places as much emphasis on emotional regulation, confidence, and self-awareness as it does on technique.

“It strips your ego down,” he said, “and builds you back up.”

What Brazilian jiu-jitsu looks like in practice

Brazilian jiu-jitsu focuses on leverage, control, and ground-based grappling rather than strikes. Shoats describes it as a return to fundamental body movement — learning how to sit, stand, crawl, and move safely and efficiently again.

The gym offers structured classes for children and adults, including beginner-friendly fundamentals, gi and no-gi training, and self-defense instruction. While belt advancement exists within the art, Shoats emphasizes that progress is measured more by consistency and understanding than by rank.

“Jiu-jitsu takes time,” he said. “It’s not about getting something fast. It’s about learning how to handle yourself — physically and mentally.”

Shoats teaches all classes himself and trains alongside his students, a practice he says reinforces accountability and trust.

“If I show you something, I want to feel it done back to me,” he said. “That’s how we learn.”

Serving families, homeschoolers, and special-needs students

One of Gadugi BJJ’s most distinctive features is its integration with homeschooling families. Shoats and his wife homeschool their own children and host homeschool-focused jiu-jitsu classes twice a week at the gym, an offering that reflects a growing demand among local families.

Those classes are open to children of varying ability levels, including students with special needs. Shoats said the environment is intentionally structured to emphasize patience, confidence, and routine.

“You see kids who used to be afraid, who used to cry, and now they’re confident,” he said. “That’s the real reward.”

Classes currently serve students as young as four years old through adults, including grandparents. The gym operates primarily in the afternoons and evenings, with additional morning homeschool and open-mat sessions during the week, as well as weekend training opportunities.

According to the gym’s posted schedule, Gadugi BJJ offers structured classes six days a week, including age-specific youth instruction, homeschool training sessions, and open-mat opportunities.

Keeping training accessible

Affordability is a central principle of the gym. Monthly tuition is set well below many comparable programs while allowing students to attend multiple classes per week.

Shoats said that decision is intentional.

“This isn’t about monetizing people,” he said adding that it’s more about maintaining accessibility for all.

That philosophy extends beyond tuition. Gadugi BJJ regularly hosts informal community activities, including shared meals, cookouts, and weekend open-mat sessions. Shoats has also organized food pantry efforts connected to the gym, reinforcing its role as a gathering place rather than just a training facility.

Why Kingsville

Shoats said the move to Kingsville came after years in Corpus Christi, where he felt community engagement often came with barriers.

In Kingsville, he said, the response has been the opposite.

“The Chamber welcomed us right away,” Shoats said. “The ribbon cutting, the support — it meant a lot.”

He credits local leaders, business owners, and parents with helping the gym take root quickly, and says the city’s size and sense of connection make it a good fit for what Gadugi BJJ is trying to build.

“There was no jiu-jitsu gym between Corpus and Edinburgh,” he said. “Now we’re right in the middle.”

Looking ahead

Shoats hopes to expand adult enrollment, revive women-only classes, and continue hosting community grappling events, including a spring competition planned locally.

He also wants to strengthen outreach to first responders, veterans, and families dealing with bullying or safety concerns — areas he says are already woven into the curriculum through confidence-building and situational awareness.

“This isn’t just self-defense,” Shoats said. “It’s life skills.”

For Shoats, success isn’t measured by belts or trophies but by what students carry with them when they leave.

“If they walk out stronger, calmer, and more confident,” he said, “then we’re doing what we’re supposed to do.”