Balanced Bartender
Stay healthy, Bar Meisters
Amie Ward with Garett Van Vleck
Amie Ward, with Garett Van Vleck
Hello everyone! Welcome to our January Balanced Bartender pep talk! We're in Sacramento this month to talk with Garett Van Vleck about Capitol Jiu Jitsu.
Scroll down for the full article!
How did you get into the sport of Jiu-Jitsu?
In about 2004, I was doing other martial arts; a guy came into the school and started teaching Jiu-Jitsu 1 day a week. After a while, I stopped doing the other things and started doing Jiu-Jitsu exclusively.
What made you open a martial arts school when you were already busy with bar ownership?
I decided to open the Jiu Jitsu gym with my friend/business partner when he lost the sublease he had at the old location. I wanted to keep a gym in my neighborhood, which seemed like a good opportunity. I was looking for a new project. Fortunately, after 14 years and a great GM, the bar runs smoothly, and I can focus on some other things.
How did you get into the sport of Jiu-Jitsu?
In about 2004, I was doing other martial arts; a guy came into the school and started teaching Jiu-Jitsu 1 day a week. After a while, I stopped doing the other things and started doing Jiu-Jitsu exclusively.
What made you open a martial arts school when you were already busy with bar ownership?
I decided to open the Jiu Jitsu gym with my friend/business partner when he lost the sublease he had at the old location. I wanted to keep a gym in my neighborhood, which seemed like a good opportunity. I was looking for a new project. Fortunately, after 14 years and a great GM, the bar runs smoothly, and I can focus on some other things.
How do you maintain balance in your busy life?
Even though I'm busy, I am lucky to be able to dictate my schedule mostly. That allows me to spend time with my son and continue training at the gym.
Could you provide us with a wellness challenge for January 2023?
My wellness challenge is to find something active you enjoy doing. Like a lot of people, I hate working out. Exercise for the sake of exercise is the worst. Luckily Jiu Jitsu happens to be something I love doing, and it also happens to be a good workout. So, find a game or sport that you enjoy that keeps you moving and active.
How can people follow and keep up with what's happening at Capitol Jiu-Jitsu?
You can find Capitol Jiu Jitsu at CapitolJiuJitsu.com
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
I started Jiu Jitsu in 2003, and after a couple of years, a bartender friend asked me if I'd like to fill in as a door guy. That turned into bartending, and after a few years, I opened the Shady Lady Saloon in 2009. For about ten years, I was a partner in several Sacramento bars. I got seriously back into Jiu Jitsu in about 2018. I helped my friend/instructor establish Capitol Jiu Jitsu about two years ago.

Amie Ward is a Veteran Bartender, exercise physiologist and has been outspoken on her fellow service industry members' health and wellness. When she is not pulling trucks and training for Strongwoman competitions, you can find Amie appreciating the finer things in life like Jägermeister.
IG: @thehealthtender
Website: The Healthtender
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