‘Protect Them’ is a film born out of hours of
conversation with Roger Mamedov over the
course of a few years. Roger is the owner and
lead instructor at Williamsburg MMA, and also
my friend. I met Roger when I walked into his
studio for the first time five years ago to start
training jiu jitsu. He opened up his home and
studio to me while filming this project
throughout a period of time that saw a pandemic,
the mandatory shut down of his business as well
as his daughter’s unexpected health scare.
Throughout all of it he seemed to maintain a
resilience and calm that was inspiring. Today his
business is thriving and his family is healthy. We
talked a lot of what it meant to be a father and the
more we spoke the more I understood that what he
was teaching on the mats was making me a better
father, husband and employee not just a better
jiu jitsu player.
The voices of his teachers and the great teachers
across the jiu jitsu world have influenced the film as
well. I hope this project will reflect the immense
sense of gratitude I have been given as a result of
being part of that world and possibly offer a bit
of inspiration for someone who might be searching
for a way to access their own sense of calmness,
stability and confidence in their own life.
Directed by me.
Cinematography by Nate McGarigal and
David Gross
Original Music Composed by David Bailis
