It’s 2025 and you’re looking to get moving. Half the battle of finding a way to move is finding something that moves you. In years past, a new gym membership or exercise class might have scratched that itch, but you’re looking for something more this year. You’re looking for something that gets your heart pumping, your body moving and your mind engaged.
“Jiu Jitsu does so much for mental and physical health. It depends on how you want to pursue it,” said Jeff Amendola, founder of Mindstate Jiu Jitsu and Movement. “Some people train for exercise, for fun, to build confidence, for self-defense … you really meet people from all walks of life doing this, and you build a community.”
Jeff Amendola, founder of Mindstate Jiu Jitsu and Movement.
A black belt who has been teaching since he was a blue belt, Amendola founded Mindstate last year alongside his partner, Stephanie Danyi. The unique dual nature of the academy draws from each of their areas of expertise, offering all-age classes in jiu jitsu along with movement classes built on a solid foundation of exercise science.
“Our movement classes are designed to help you become a more well-rounded mover, regardless of age or fitness level,” Danyi said. “By focusing on flexibility, strength, and movement, you’ll not only improve your physical health but also enhance your overall quality of life.”
Amendola’s journey through jiu jitsu began 15 years ago. In fact, he still remembers the date (October 27, 2009) when he stopped into Pellegrino’s Mixed Martial Arts in New Jersey for the first time, eventually growing into the sport as a professional referee and competitor. As someone who had been practicing martial arts since he was a kid and studied Shaolin Kung Fu in his early 20s, he found that jiu jitsu offered a completely different kind of outlet.
“Jiu jitsu is legit because you have to practice it with somebody 100% all the time, and you can do that without getting hurt. You can’t practice any other martial art with 100% intensity without getting hurt,” Amendola said.
That lower impact, coupled with extraordinary physical exertion, makes jiu jitsu the ideal way to get moving no matter where you start.
“It suits everyone,” Amendola said. “That’s why jiu jitsu is so popular – because it’s not just for one type of person. It’s for women, children, pro athletes, people with disabilities … it’s for everyone.”
Augmenting the jiu jitsu classes on offer at Mindstate are movement classes led by Danyi, a seasoned independent fitness instructor who cut her teeth offering personal training at Manhattan’s Equinox gym. A dancer by training, having earned her BFA in modern dance from The Ohio State University, Danyi’s classes combine her love of movement with her deep knowledge of fitness.
The unique dual nature of the academy draws from each of their areas of expertise, offering all-age classes in jiu jitsu along with movement classes built on a solid foundation of exercise science.
“This way of training is fun, challenging, and way different from other fitness classes you’ve been to,” she said. “My favorite saying is ‘motion is lotion!’ You’ve got to move to improve.”
However you move, make this the year you find a way to move that moves you back. Visit mindstatemovement.com to learn more.
