Anthony Brocato – Kids Striking
- BJJ Purple Belt
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From a young age, Anthony was drawn to physical challenges and the structure that martial arts provided. He started training in kickboxing, which built his foundation in discipline, toughness, and self-defense. In early adulthood, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer. The Army gave him purpose, camaraderie, and the chance to make a real difference.
In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Anthony joined the humanitarian response efforts as an MP. Working amid the chaos in Louisiana—helping with security, evacuations, and relief coordination—showed him the importance of stepping up in times of crisis.
His service continued with a deployment to Iraq from 2008 to 2009, where he trained Iraqi police forces. Mentoring local officers in law enforcement tactics, building trust, and helping establish stability in a challenging environment was demanding but rewarding.
Those experiences taught Anthony patience, adaptability, and the value of helping others rebuild. After leaving the Army, he searched for a new way to channel that same sense of purpose and community, which he found at a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA gym. The mats offered a familiar structure—drills, strategy, and hard work—but also something deeper: a supportive brotherhood, mental toughness, and a positive outlet for stress. Training in Boxing and BJJ brought discipline and focus back into his daily life, while the gym became a social hub where lasting friendships were built.
Today, those years of service, competition, and growth continue to shape Anthony. From the streets of Baton Rouge to the battlefields of Iraq and the rolling mats of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Boxing, his path has been about resilience, service, and constant improvement.
