Meet Jeff Albrecht-Ayala | Owner & Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Albrecht-Ayala and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Jeremy, Josh, and I bought the gym in December 2022. Prior to ownership, we were training or teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 5+ times a week and recognized the role that it had in positively impacting us and the members with whom we were training.

With the Infinite team, we wanted to take a different approach to the traditional martial arts structure. Our message is ‘training over tradition’ where we prioritize quality training first, building a strong culture with all the members of our gym, and seeking opportunities to stay connected to our roots here in Anthem and the surrounding cities.

When you come into the gym, it is less about belt ranks or following stringent rules and is all centered around stepping on the mat, training, and everyone genuinely looking to elevate the capability of the team.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Today, I am blessed to work with my partners Jeremy and Josh and enjoy being an entrepreneur with some great friends, doing something we all love.

Professionally, I have spent the last 20 years in organizational/executive leadership. My partners both have a background in leadership and education. This is where the three of us find common ground as we have all been able to blend our professional experience with our passion for teaching and connecting with the community.

When it comes to the brand, we look to put the member experience at the forefront of all that we do. This is something that differentiates us from other martial art schools. We do not worry about ranks, or what the instructor’s name is, or how many medals are on the wall – we focus on people and building a strong internal community. When we look at jiu-jitsu more broadly, this is what makes it so special. On the mats no external factors matter: Not your status, your job, your wealth, or differences – for a few hours, time stands still. It all comes down to your willingness to commit to your own development, the realization that it is a humbling experience, and for you to get better – you must elevate the capability of the people you train with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If someone is traveling to Anthem, there is a lot of amazing local spots to check out. My wife would start the day at Amped coffee to get a Lavendar latte and breakfast sandwich. We would have to spend a day with desert wolf tours, checking out the beautiful desert scenery. If we are grabbing a local beverage, we are stopping to see our buddies at Legends and Tennessee grill. If guests are staying at my house, you already know they are training Jiu-Jitsu every day. Depending on the season, we are sneaking out for a lake day at pleasant, hiking one of the many beautiful mountains, or going to the park here in Anthem.

Even if I am taking guests on an adventure, our community in Anthem has this neat blend of privacy and accessibility. If it is a week-long trip, we are sneaking up to Cottonwood, Sedona, or Jerome and experience AZ history and great food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

There are so many people we can recognize that have had a profound impact on the gym and our members. I must recognize all the community leaders that support here in anthem and train with us. When we launched the gym, our culture has been centered around law enforcement and veterans whom we proudly support. Over the last year, we have also seen an increase in the number of teachers and first responders who joined the team who do so much to touch the lives of the folks in our community.

As a gym, we recognize community leaders and are humbled by the contributions and servant leadership they provide. Over the last year we have been able to work closely and fundraise for great organizations like Daisy Mountain Veterans and We Defy foundation. We offer free training in the morning for all military whether veterans or active duty. Law enforcement, military, educators, and first responders get additional discounts on memberships and merchandise.

Website: www.infinitearizona.com

Instagram: InfiniteathleticsAZ

Facebook: Infinite Athletics

Image Credits
Infinite Jiu-Jitsu