Scott Diggs, founder and head instructor at 570 Jiu Jitsu in Williamsport talks to students who just joined the class recently. The students were in a class of about a dozen young adults in the class at the school which offers classes to around 100 students in the area. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Scott Diggs’s dream to bring jiu-jitsu to central Pennsylvania is realized through 570 Jiu Jitsu, 1307 Park Ave., Suite 210, in the Pajama Factory. The gym offers jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and mixed martial arts classes for all ages.

Diggs, founder and head instructor, intentionally sought out the most talented athletes in the region to join him as instructors at the academy.

There are eight coaches who teach around 100 students. There are four brown belt instructors and two purple belts.

When it comes to credentials, there is no comparison, he said. Locally, his staff have the most certifications and are the highest ranked in competition.

“We support each other,” he said. “It’s the real deal and we get real results.”

There are over a dozen weekly classes offered at 570 Jiu Jitsu. There are also pop-up self-defense and law enforcement focused opportunities.

The full class schedule is posted on 570jiujitsu.com. No registration is required but every participant must sign a waiver that is available online.

There is a two week free trial for prospective students to observe classes and participate if they desire. This gives curious community members the chance to see if the sport is a good fit for them.

“I want to make sure people are comfortable and can learn in a safe and supervised environment,” Diggs said.

He guides students in the right direction to achieve each person’s goals. Whether somebody wants to compete in tournaments or be able to defend themselves, there is a path for everyone.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling-based martial art and combat sport. Similar to wrestling, most of the fight is on the ground. The goal is to get an opponent into a lock that holds them in place.

During a physical fight, often the larger person has an advantage and ends up on top. Jiu-jitsu can give a smaller person the skills to defend themself from below, he said.

In the beginner jiu-jitsu sessions, students are taught 40 techniques over the course of eight to 10 months. Once a student moves up to more advanced classes, there is a larger focus on sparring.

Diggs encourages everyone to “check their ego at the door.”

When students come into the academy without humility and a willingness to learn, it can slow down their progress.

“It’s not about winning, it’s about learning,” he said.

Instructor Kaleb Watts, of Lock Haven, teaches the all levels and advanced jiu-jitsu classes as well as private lessons. In his sessions, he reviews the most recent lesson as a warm up. Then students work in pairs to learn a new technique then finish the class with sparring.

His pupils are eager to learn as much as they can during every visit to the gym.

“[The students] are so hungry to learn,” Watts said. “They are so receptive and everyone wants to get better.”

His students are fans of the sport. Watching matches outside of the academy fuels their fire to continue to improve on the mat.

Taylor Rupert, of Mill Hall, is an assistant instructor who teaches pop-up women’s classes and open mat sessions a few times a month.

“I would love to see more women get in the gym and try it out,” Rupert said. “I think every female should learn jiu-jitsu to be able to defend herself.”

Women may be hesitant to try a full contact sport like jiu-jitsu. Her advice to them is to set boundaries and do what feels comfortable.

Especially for beginners, offering classes for women gives them the space to learn in a comfortable environment. It can be intimidating to roll on the mat with men, she said.

Once female students build their confidence, she encourages them to advance to the mixed gender classes to continue improving their skills.

“My favorite part of teaching jiu-jitsu is seeing students level up,” she said.

The instructors at 570 Jiu Jitsu have decades of combined experience. The sport has been a core part for all of them.

“Jiu jitsu has been my life’s passion for 19 years,” Diggs said. “I live and breathe it.”

When he started learning jiu-jitsu, the Williamsport native traveled regionally because there were no local schools at the time. He went to cities like Chicago, Miami and San Diego to compete.

During the COVID -19 pandemic, he utilized his time by completing a two year certification program through the Gracie University, a global jiu-jitsu school.

He wanted to be a world champion early in his journey. He believes he can create a world champion through his gym.

Watts has practiced jiu-jitsu for almost 10 years and is a professional athlete. He travels with the gym’s team as a coach and to compete.

The farther he goes with the sport, the more unique opportunities he has received.

“I’ve gotten to compete on cool stages I never thought I’d be able to experience,” he said.

He looks forward to the upcoming ADCC trials in Florida and northeast regional tournament in New Jersey. The ADCCs are an international grappling competition that is considered the Olympics of jiu-jitsu.

His and Rupert’s experiences competing in this prestigious competition allow them to guide their students through it.

She competed at the last ADCCs in 2023 where she went up against a second-degree black belt.

“I was proud of my performance,” she said. “It was cool to test myself with a world champion. I gave her a pretty good run for her money.”

Rupert started her jiu-jitsu journey in high school then she switched to boxing. While serving in the Marine Corps., she was stationed in San Diego and got reintroduced to it.

While driving, she saw a gym called 5 Star Jiu Jitsu. She joined that academy where she would train six days a week, she said. Upon returning to her home state, she kept up with her training.

All three coaches share the same goal for 570 Jiu Jitsu to grow and to move into a larger space that is more visible in the community.

Digg’s long-term vision is to create a non-profit side to the gym for individuals that age out of the foster care system or graduate high school without a clear next step. There would be dormitories, access to the gym and resources to guide clients towards independence.