Our founder
Max Kaufman is a black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, trained under Scott Phillips within the Relson Gracie lineage — a system built on decades of tradition and hands-on, no-shortcuts instruction.
Over the last five years, Max has coached students from their very first day on the mats all the way through serious competition prep, and he has built his teaching around one idea: technique means nothing without the confidence and discipline to use it.
At Forged, jiu-jitsu isn't just a sport — it's a tool for building the kind of person who handles pressure, stays humble, and keeps showing up. Whether you're stepping onto the mats for the first time or chasing a world title, the approach is the same: push you further than you thought you could go, and build the discipline and self-belief to carry that into every part of your life.
This isn't a gym you attend. It's a team you become part of. Welcome to the Forged family.
Head instructor, black belt