Tim Burrill's journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a testament to dedication, passion, and the pursuit of excellence. From a small farming community to becoming a respected BJJ instructor, his story is inspiring.
Early Life and Introduction to Martial Arts
I was born in Chamberlain South Dakota and my parents were Farmers in Buffalo County South Dakota, about 5 miles from a 20 person town called Gann Valley.
In 6th Grade my mother asked if I would like to wrestle.
This was my first introduction to Martial Arts.
In May of 1992 I graduated High School and that fall I went college in Aberdeen South Dakota.
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I walked on to the wrestling team.
I made the team but was later kick off the team for my grades. (Farm kid goes to college drinks to much story.)
I started doing JKD and Muay Thai with one of the wrestling coaches.
And then later in 1993 I was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu by Royce Gracie.
Royce won the first UFC and I was hooked.
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I bought his cousins Renzo's instructional VHS series, while still in South Dakota to try to teach myself Jiu-Jitsu.
Training with Carlos Machado
I later moved to Texas in August of 1997.
I moved to Texas to train with Carlos Machado a cousin of the Gracie's.
Carlos received his Black Belt from Carlos Gracie Junior, the founder of the IBJJF tournaments.
Carlos Machado was brought to Texas by Chuck Norris.
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Chuck had trained with Carlos in California.
He recruited him to be his instructor in Dallas, since he was spending most of his time here shooting the Walker Texas Rangers TV series.
In fact Carlos first BJJ Gym was on the set of Walker Texas Ranger.
It was reported that Chuck considered Carlos to be the best Jiu-Jitsu teacher, and that is why he was chosen to move here to Texas.
I really consider myself extremely luck to have trained with Carlos.
As a teacher I feel like I couldn't have had a better Jiu-Jitsu teacher then Carlos.
I met Carlinhos in 1998 at Gracie Baja when I was training for the Worlds in Rio Brazil.
I went on to place 2nd as Blue Belt in the 1998 Worlds.
I submitted every Jiu-Jitsu match I had ever had until the finals of that Tournament.
I went back again in 2000 and placed third as a Purple Belt.
Back then registration was the day before the Tournament.
And registration was held at Carlinhos house in Baja.
Alot has changed since then.
Achievement of Black Belt and Contributions to the BJJ Community
I received my Black Belt June 1st 2002 from Carlos Machado.
At the time I was the first Texas Black Belt.
There weren't that many American Black Belts.
For me this was a big deal.
Carlos gave out a total of 4 Black Belts that day: Tim Burrill, William Vandry, and Clay Pittman.
I had trained with Clay and Tim but never William.
Clay, Tim and I had even fought locally against each other in BJJ Tournament's that Carlos use to run in Texas.
A few years ago Royce who is friends with Buddy Clinton came to do a couple of seminars.
The seminars were at my BJJ Gyms here in Fort Worth.
Royce is one of those guys who makes everyone feel like they are important and teaches a great seminar.
I really felt then that the circle was complete.
From being from a small farming community in South Dakota, and watching him win the first UFC, to having Royce in my gym helping me train for a MMA fight.
I don't think I could have wrote out a better story for myself.
Thank you to my first Wrestling coach Waldo, and thank you to my first Jiu-Jitsu coach Carlos Machado.
Involvement with "Train the Troops" Program
Tim Burrill also contributed to the martial arts education of service members through the "Train the Troops" program.
Mixed Martial Arts fighters and trainers with the “Train the Troops program” visited the Semper Fit gym to teach Marines basic Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques Oct. 27.
Most of the fighters, such as Tim Credeur, Jorge Rivera and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Walsh, are prior service or active-duty service members who joined Train the Troops to teach basic hand-to-hand skills to the nation’s service members using their professional experience.
Credeur, a UFC fighter, and Tim Burrill, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, taught Marines basic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The moves included the mount, side mount, cross collar choke, sleeve choke, guard, guard sweep, rear naked choke, guillotine and a push off, get up technique.
“We chose these techniques because they are the foundation of mixed martial arts and are most relevant to Marines when they go down range and find themselves in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy,” said Lex McMahon, a sports marketer for the Cash for Gold MMA sponsorship and event coordinator.
The best things these Marines learned was how to get away from an opponent and weapons retention, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Diem, a USA Jiu-Jitsu certified instructor.
These techniques are what will keep a Marine and his gear safe.
“I have deployed multiple times and experienced hand-to-hand combat,” said Army Staff Sgt. Tim Kennedy, a professional MMA fighter who helped instruct the Marines.