For a guy who spent a good part of his working life dealing with trees, ropes and chainsaws, Mike Bannon stayed more grounded when he first explored an interest in jiu-jitsu. Underground, even.
In 2006, Bannon was back in his native small town of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., after wrestling for two years at the powerful program at Gloucester County College in New Jersey.
Bannon’s roommate knew a friend who helped train people in jiu-jitsu on a mat in his basement. Bannon and his roommate visited.