The American Dojo Dream — Ganguly’s Mixed Martial Arts Celebrates 35 years in Ocean Twp

By:  | April 22, 2025 |  | 

Photo by Andrea Phox

by Emma Sylvia

Time and time again, you hear about people immigrating to the United States for the chance at a better life. Plenty of people chase the American dream, and BJ Ganguly, owner of Ganguly’s Mixed Martial Arts in Ocean Township is proud to say that his family accomplished this. Not only did Ganguly’s parents offer him the best life that they could provide him, he took this and did what any grateful person would do — he gave the love he received right back to his community.

Ganguly was born in Kolkata, India. When he was six years old, his parents – wanting a better life for their family – moved them all to the Bronx, NY. Ganguly bounced around the U.S. a bit, living in Manhattan, Indiana and Ohio, before settling down in Middletown.

Critically, in 1985, he entered the world of martial arts. In 1989, after graduating and receiving his instructor’s blessing, Ganguly began teaching martial arts at the Ocean Fitness Center. In 1994, he moved out of the center and into his current location at Cobblestone Village in Ocean Township, expanding the unit in 2004. 

Ganguly’s instructor legacy is that of mixed martial arts royalty. He and his longtime friend and collaborator, Jeff Robison, learned under Richard Bustillo, who was taught by Bruce Lee (and their photos proudly hang on the walls of Ganguly’s). Bustillo passed away in 2017, but he left Ganguly the blessing and encouragement to work with Robison and join the latter’s organization, Focused Fight Team. Today, Ganguly focuses on teaching mixed martial arts to all ages, working with International Martial Arts and Boxing, founded by students of Bruce Lee. 

Ganguly delves into just what the differences are within the different fighting styles that he teaches. Mixed martial arts is a combination of stand-up fighting – which includes Muay Thai kickboxing – and Jiu-jitsu, which is more focused on grappling (fighting on the ground). Ganguly describes Jiu-jitsu as a “gentle art” that involves minimal striking. Bruce Lee combined these styles into Jeet Kune Do, meaning “the way of the intercepting fist.” Ganguly has always focused his teachings on his own priority: self-improvement.

“Certain schools gear trainings toward tournaments, which is totally fine,” Ganguly elaborates. “We’ve always been taught not to waste time training-wise if you can’t implement it self-defense-wise. Our school is self-defense first, mixed martial arts second. It’s not about trophies and medals; it’s about understanding the growth of a person.”

Ganguly says this growth is achieved by focusing on four aspects: mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. “Those strengths bring out the best in the individual. We don’t compare students to the person next to them because everyone is here for a different reason.” Ganguly notes that even if there are 10 students in a class, he’s not teaching one lesson to 10 people – he’s teaching 10 private lessons at once, all to help people get through their unique limitations and meet their unique goals. 

Ganguly’s Mixed Martial Arts is divided into three different groups. The Tiny Tigers is the youngest group, aged 4 to 5 years old (and while I visit Ganguly, the Tiny Tigers walk in, excitedly learning their new routines for the day), being primarily a preparatory class. “They learn things like paying attention, saying ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘yes sir,’ being respectful at home and at school; at that age, sometimes they’ve never had those experiences.”

The next group is the kids program, which is ages six and up. Around 12 years old, they enter the teen-adult program. However, groups aren’t strictly divided by age. “We look at the individual. It’s about size, age and maturity. We try to create a comfort zone. Part of growth is having discomfort and working through that.”

After 35 years in the business, Ganguly says that the biggest impact on him is still his parents’ decision to come here for a better life. He tries to implement this sacrifice and community priority in his teaching and everyday life.

“I could have used my degree and made several different choices. But I saw the value in martial arts – values and benefits that I carried with me growing up. It helped me get better grades, have confidence, have self-discipline and stay focused. Those aspects were with me everywhere I went, inside and outside of the house.”

Ganguly is grateful and ecstatic to reminisce on the impact that he’s had on the community. “I haven’t just taught martial arts; I’ve taught people.” From ages 4 to 54, Ganguly has helped those in Ocean Township and beyond make life-changing decisions and changes. “Making that impact meant they didn’t just do well here; they also do well at home and at school. That doesn’t necessarily mean getting the best grades – it means doing your best.”

A smile always comes to Ganguly’s face when he runs into a student years after he’s taught them. “I love running into a student that comes up to me and says, ‘Hello, sir,’ and their face is two feet higher than the last time I saw them.” One student was undergoing army training, attributing his ease in learning self-defense to Ganguly. Another student on her college’s rowing team credited much of her success to how Ganguly pushed her through difficult times and adversity. Most recently, parents of a former longtime student who is now an architect in Arizona, said, “She’s doing so well, and that’s because of you.”

“Those are the moments that I look back and go, ‘I did have an impact on the community. I did help others grow and be the best person they can be.’ They chose to be better, but I helped give them those tools.”

To celebrate 35 years in business, Ganguly will be hosting his annual picnic in July, ensuring to do several events so that everyone that would like to attend, can. He emphasizes the beauty that students he once taught, even years ago (and some that even live out of state) are still in contact with him. 

Ganguly would especially like to thank the members of his team (who he calls his family), including General Manager Joe Rucker, who has trained with Ganguly for 35 years and worked with him for over 12; Head Instructor Colin Smith, who has trained with Ganguly for 21 years and worked with him for 15; and Instructor Jackie Lysko, who has trained with Ganguly for 11 years and worked there for nine. Ganguly emphasizes, “It’s not my dojo; it’s our dojo.”

There have of course been ups and downs over nearly four decades of business, but Ganguly can’t emphasize enough the importance of being able to face an obstacle, get knocked down, and then get back up again. “I started over plenty. In 1990, we started, and in 1994, we started over again. In 2004, we moved and evolved into mixed martial arts. In 2017, the pipes burst and there was bad water damage. In 2018, we rebuilt, and in 2020, we shut down for three months because of the pandemic. Every time we started over, it was during times of adversity. That’s when we say, it’s not time to give up, it’s time to team up.”

Ganguly encourages everyone to embrace new beginnings and be prepared for endings.

“Sometimes, there’s gonna be a victory; sometimes, there’s gonna be defeat. Both happen in this dojo. I hope those lessons overflow into life’s lessons. Regardless of the program, when everyone comes in for their first introductory class, the first lesson we teach is: In life, we only get back what we give.”

At Ganguly’s Mixed Martial Arts, everyone is welcome, from students of Bruce Lee, to those just learning their ABCs, to adults that want to try something new. Overlooking the mat is a pair of pink gloves, in dedication to Ganguly’s mother. After traveling thousands of miles to give her son a better life, it’s clear that this has been achieved – in the smile (and the colored belt) of every student that walks through the door.

Ganguly’s Mixed Martial Arts is located at 865 West Park Avenue in Ocean. For more info, visit GangulysMartialArts.com.