The Official Website of Gene Simco From Martial Arts To Ministry
Gene Simco is the Lead Pastor of C3 Church in Naples, Florida, and a passionate Christian author dedicated to teaching biblical truth. Before his journey into ministry, Gene was widely known in the martial arts world as an accomplished instructor and the author of the largest Brazilian Jiu-jitsu book ever written. However, a series of life-changing events led Gene to a deeper calling. Driven by a growing faith in Jesus, he left the martial arts spotlight to pursue ministry, enrolling in theology school and eventually being ordained as a pastor.
Now, Gene is committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God with depth, integrity, and a commitment to truth—even when it's not popular. His sermons challenge norms, encourage critical reflection, and point people to Jesus with a biblically grounded approach, often drawing on his study of the Bible's original Greek language. Today, Gene focuses on writing Christian books that inspire discipleship and spiritual growth. His unique style combines his ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, his commitment to challenging the status quo, and his passion for encouraging readers to live boldly for Christ.
New Book: Fortune Cookie Theology - The Verse of The Day Problem
Tired of shallow interpretations of the Bible? In "Fortune Cookie Theology," Pastor Gene Simco challenges the common practice of isolating Bible verses from their context, a practice he calls "Fortune Cookie Theology" – like grabbing a random, isolated fortune from a cookie. Simco argues that this approach leads to a distorted understanding of scripture and can have harmful consequences for individuals and the church.
In a world saturated with fleeting messages and bite-sized information, it's easy to fall into the trap of "fortune cookie theology" – grabbing a Bible verse out of context and treating it like a divine fortune cookie. This approach, while seemingly harmless, can lead to a distorted and incomplete understanding of the Bible's true message.
Pastor Simco guides readers through some of the most commonly misused verses, carefully reconstructing their original meaning and revealing the richness and complexity of God's Word. By emphasizing the importance of reading the Bible as a unified narrative, he empowers readers to discern truth from error and develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.
This book is a call to action for all Christians to approach the Bible with reverence, humility, and a commitment to understanding its message in its fullness. It's time to trade our fortune cookie interpretations for a feast of biblical knowledge and experience the transformative power of God's Word as it was intended.
New Book: Jiu-Jitsu To Jesus - A Journey From Martial Arts To Ministry
"I've just finished up the final revisions on Mark for Millennials. It should be available next week. This book is not just for millennials, it is also for those who have trouble understanding the language, historical credibility and context of the Gospel. This is not a scholarly commentary - it is an effort to translate what the scholars are saying into plain modern language. I set the price as low as I could but enough so that it would print. Any proceeds will go to C3 church, 10% of which goes directly to missions."
Gene Simco - From Martial Arts To Ministry
Naples Notworthy
During the infancy of MMA, Gene Simco was at the forefront of the BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) and MMA instructional industry. He was the founder of one of the largest Jiu-jitsu websites, with millions of visits and was the first to author Brazilian Jiu-jitsu books here in the US. He is the author of the largest Brazilian Jiu-jitsu book ever written, starred in several instructional DVD series and was an acclaimed coach who produced Brazilian Jiu-jitsu champions at a world level. He built the largest MMA Gym to date in the Mid-Hudson Valley area of New York.
Not without controversy, Simco was also known for his arrogant persona and shrewd business tactics. Like him or not, there is no arguing that he became a financially successful Martial Arts entrepreneur.
So why leave a lucrative business behind for a financially uncertain career in Christian Music? We interviewed him to find out.
Gene Tells His Story (2015) - From Jiu-jitsu to Jesus
Older Martial Arts News Below - 2012 & Older
Gene Simco Opens the First IBJJF Accredited Academy in Naples Fl!
Founder of Team NYMAG (New York Martial Arts Gym), Gene Simco has just opened the team's first Florida location in Naples. The gym is staffed by World Muay Thai Champion, Cosmo Alexandre and Brazilian Champion & 4th Degree BJJ Black Belt under Amaury Bitetti, Marcelo Nigue. The new MMA Gym is the premier training facility in the Naples area boasting 18,000 sq ft of Workout Equipment, Amenities, Bags, Large Matted Area and a Full Octagon Cage.
The Muay Thai world champion, one of the best strikers in the World, Cosmo Alexandre is getting ready for his MMA debut, which is set to go down this coming September in the Brazilian city of Santos at an event being put together by the winner of the Big Brother Brazil reality show Marcelo Dourado and black belt Marcelo Nigue.
Cosmo is currently in the United States, where he is training alongside the likes of Rashad Evans and Gesias Cavalcante in Florida, and under two-stripe black belt Gene Simco at New York Martial Arts Gym, where Brazilian standout Glover Teixeira has trained in the past.
Marcelo Nigue Announces Gene Simco Promotion and Bitetti Affiliation Gene Simco Promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt in BJJ and Bitetti Team US Representative Scroll Down for Gracie Magazine's Report on the News!
World Champion and Brazilian MMA Fighter, Marcelo Nigue conducted a special seminar at NYMAG (New York Martial Arts Gym) to present Gene Simco with his new BJJ Black Belt Diploma from the Federação de Jiu-Jitsu do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, the official certifying organization for the Gracie style of Jiu-Jitsu.
Marcelo Nigue is a professional fighter who operates schools in Brazil under "Bitetti Team", founded by the First World Champion of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and UFC veteran, Amaury Bitetti. Bitetti was also on hand to present the Diploma to Gene and to confirm the affiliation with Bitetti Team.
Marcelo presented the certificate and his own belt to Gene, making the announcement, "Gene is a second degree Black Belt and will be third degree soon, it is an honor to give him my belt." Both Marcelo Nigue and Amaury Bitetti will be visiting NYMAG frequently in order to support their new affiliation. Simco Commented:
“Nigue contacted me recently and asked me to be a part of his new team. A few years ago, I had stopped training full time due to some injuries, but stayed active as an instructor. Nigue is a great teacher who motivates me to continue my training and inspires me to overcome adversity. I’m proud to be his representative in the US.”
Gene Simco received his Black Belt from Nigue in 2005.
Gracie Magazine Reports on the Bitetti Affiliation and visit to Gene Simco's NYMAG
From Gracie Magaizne:
The very first two-time absolute world champion of Jiu-Jitsu, Amaury Bitetti has served as trainer to a number of big names in world MMA in the past, among them the Nogueira brothers Rodrigo Minotauro and Rogério Minotouro. After a two-year stint working only in event promotion, the black belt has now returned to the coaching fray, alongside also-black belt Marcelo Nigue in the city of Santos, Brazil, together working with Bitetti Team Memorial Arena.
“I received this offer from Memorial and invited Nigue. We did seminars together in New York and he’s already doing a great job in Santos. I’m still promoting Bitetti Combat, though, and soon we’ll have some good news,” he comments.
Bitetti’s partner in Santos Marcelo Nigue addresses the subject of the new team:
“We’re going to compete in everything: Jiu-Jitsu, submission wrestling and MMA. We already have fifteen professional athletes and we’re going after new talent. I’ve represented Master Royler Gracie for some time, but Gracie Humaitá has been totally revamped and I wouldn’t be able to use the name “Memorial” anymore, which is who is backs me in Santos. I made the most of Amaury’s invitation and we’re going to put everything we have into this new MMA team,” he explains.
The History Channel's Terry Schappert Talks about Training with Gene Simco
As a Green Beret, every skill that I train for the battlefield must prepare me to fight and win in the worst conditions. Martial Arts training is no exception. What I learn must be practical, simple and effective - but it must be taught in a way that I can understand quickly and incorporate in my skill set. Gene Simco has trained and searched for most of his life in order to be a better Martial Artist - and he has had much success. Gene was doing Vale Tudo when there were literally No Holds Barred and before MMA became a household word or sanctioned sport. He has also become a very dynamic instructor - intelligent, approachable, and able to convey all the subtleties of his martial art to his students. He is cool, respectful and one of the best instructors I've had; and I've been fortunate to work with some of the best in the world. Not every great fighter makes a great instructor, but the team of trainers at NYMAG are all skilled and accomplished in their disciplines, as well as very effective teachers. Everyone is welcome to train here. The atmosphere is relaxed but intense. If you want to get in better shape more efficiently, train here; if you want to compete in Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, train here. And if you need to learn how to defend yourself and your family in today's world, you BETTER come here, Gene and his Instructors know that the disciplines they teach all come from a need to survive and win on any battlefield -- a dark alley, an MMA cage, or the unforgiving streets of the Middle East.When you train at NYMAG you will have fun, but you will be pushed. You will meet friends who will fight you with all they've got. You will get stronger, faster, tougher and develop skills that make you a better fighter and a better person. That's why I'm here - I don't have time for stuff that doesn't work, so I train with Gene and his staff at NYMAG -- and that's why you should be here too.
- Terry Schappert, US Army Special Forces Medic, and host of History Channel's "Warriors with Terry Schappert"
MASTERING BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
The Master Text 8 DVD Set
Gene Simco brings his largest book, the Award Winning Master Text to life on screen in this Huge new 8 Disc set.
Each Aspect of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Fighting is covered in this Incredible New DVD Set: Sport Jiu-jitsu with the Gi, Submission Grappling (Sport without the Gi) and Vale Tudo/MMA (No Rules Fighting)! The Most Advanced Techniques from all positions are covered in each area: Standing, Guard Passing, Top Control and Guard, Sweeps and Submissions, Escapes, Counters, Reversals and More! This DVD set is the most complete look at Brazilian Jiu-jitsu on DVD.
Now Available!
Check out Gene Simco in a New JIU-JITSU.NET EXCLUSIVE DVD Set: JIU-JITSU FOR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.
JIU-JITSU ADVANCED Advanced BJJ Instructional DVD Series
Take Your Game to the Next Level...
Jiu-jitsu Advanced is a DVD series that will show you how to use the Fundamentals you already know against advanced opponents by Building on the Basics. You will also learn new techniques not shown in any other instructional series. Learn New Guard positions and drills to help you flow from Guard Type to Guard Type easily, making your Guard Nearly Un-Passable! Learn Methods of Guard Passing that will make passing even the most complicated guard types seem easy. You will learn submissions that very few will ever show you how to do properly.
New Release: Remastered Essential Techniques 4 DVD Set
Based on his popular Book: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Basics, this newly remastered 4 DVD Special Edition Widescreen set shows practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu the need to know techniques for any situation.
Each DVD is dedicated to one part of the fight game: Standing Techniques, Fighting from the Top, The Guard Position and Escapes.
Attention Martial Arts Fans!
Gene has just finished his new No Rules Series:
No Rules Boxing: This DVD is Great for Martial Artists from all styles who want to round out their game and improve their striking. Produced by Gene's Company, NYMAG Films, it features veteran Boxer, John Carlo.
No Rules Brazilian Jiu-jitsu: This is a 4 DVD set that features Gene himself showing 'Street Effective Groundfighting'.
No Rules BJJ, Techniques for Self Defense and MMA: A Kensington Publishing Release, This book will be available in August 2005 everywhere books are sold.
Gene Simco Instructionals: Foreign Language Releases
Due to popular demand both by Spanish speaking customers in the U.S. and in Europe, a New Production Company has released Gene Simco instructional DVDs in Spanish and in German. More releases are expected soon!
JIU-JITSU for the Streets – 2 DVD Set
This Powerful 2 DVD Instructional Set contains footage from Gene Simco’s Award Winning No Rules Brazilian Jiu-jitsu DVD series (*See Note Below). This Special Edition contains menu selections to switch from Overdubs in Spanish and in German – no distracting titles. This set makes it easy to learn solutions to common Groundfighting situations with hard surfaces and no rules situations in mind – everything is included: escapes from common holds, fighting from your back, chokes, submissions and even how to defeat the guard.
Easy Techniques for Self Defense – 2 DVD Set
This set is based on Gene Simco’s innovative Self Defense Made Easy (*See note Below) program and includes Volumes one and two Plus a Bonus Martial Arts Documentary that goes behind the scenes of dojos in search of the Reality of Martial Arts. This Special Edition contains menu selections to switch from Overdubs in Spanish and in German – no distracting titles. Simco makes it Easy to learn simple and effective escapes from every imaginable self defense situation and even shows his favorite restraining techniques.
* These DVDs contain only small portions of the "No Rules" and "Self Defense Made Easy" Sets and are intended for foreign release - English Speaking Customers should Check out the Full Versions of NoRules BJJ and Self Defense Made Easy.
