Biography
Coach Ethan Gorospe found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu almost by accident.
One day, while lifting weights upstairs at a gym, he walked downstairs and noticed a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sign. Having wrestled in high school, Ethan had already heard from teammates that he should give Jiu-Jitsu a try. He walked in with an open mind, stepped onto the mats, and has loved it ever since.
Jiu-Jitsu quickly began to impact much more than Ethan’s training.
It gave him confidence that carried into other areas of his life and helped him grow into a leader. That growth eventually led to the opportunity to become a kids coach, something he says he will never take for granted.
Jiu-Jitsu has also helped shape Ethan’s work ethic and discipline. Those lessons have carried directly into physical therapy school, pushing him to work toward becoming the best version of himself both academically and personally.
Today, one of Ethan’s greatest motivations to continue training is the children he coaches.
He believes strongly in practicing what he preaches. If he asks his students to work hard, remain consistent, stay disciplined, and approach training with humility, he wants them to see him doing the same thing. For Ethan, leadership means setting the example rather than simply telling others what to do.
One of the biggest lessons Jiu-Jitsu has taught him is to never give up. Whether facing a difficult situation on the mats or in life, Ethan believes that continuing to show up and refusing to quit can make the difference.
That mindset is also behind one of his biggest personal goals: earning his black belt. He knows the journey will not be easy, but he believes he will eventually reach that goal because he is committed to continuing the work.
More importantly, Ethan wants to give back to others what Jiu-Jitsu has given to him.
Through the art, he has gained lifelong friendships, career opportunities, confidence, and leadership skills that have helped shape who he is today. His goal is to have that same positive impact on the students and people around him.
Looking back, Ethan says that if someone had told him years ago that he would one day be coaching at RGA, he would never have believed it.
Becoming a coach at RGA has been one of the greatest blessings in his life. He is grateful to be part of a culture that challenges people to become the best versions of themselves while also making them feel like family.
Ethan looks forward to continuing to grow alongside the RGA family, both as a student and as a coach.