2024 was indisputably a good year for Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete and instructor Santiago Furlong. Not only did he win medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Foundation’s New York Summer Open in August and the European No-Gi Championship in Rome in October but his students also took home medals, perhaps the greatest testament to his aptitude as a coach.
An instructor at Gentle Art Studio, a branch of the Lotus Club in Astoria, Queens, Santiago has used his extensive background as an athlete to train the next-generation of jiu-jitsu competitors.
His only wish is to keep going.
“My goal for 2025 is to keep working hard and making my students and athletes better, so they can perform at the highest level of the sport and achieve their goals,” says Santiago. “I trust that through my training program, and focus on consistency and hard work we can make it happen.”
The kid from Almagro
Santiago has thrived in his time in New York. Originally from Almagro, a bustling residential neighborhood in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, he’s used to the energy of a big city.
While he took up boxing as a teenager, he also was drawn to art and graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 2012 with a degree in image and sound design. His wife, the Argentine photographer Paula Peralta, also anchors and nurtures Santiago’s artistic sentiment.
“I specialized in digital effects and worked on several films, series, and commercials,” says Santiago of this time. But he was equally drawn to martial arts and combat sports. He took up boxing at the age of 15, got into mixed martial arts, and discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu along the way. “When I started, I was working full time in films and commercials while training before and after work every day,” Santiago says.
“I’ve been doing this my whole life,” says Santiago. “In a way, I have never looked back.”
He obtained a first degree jiu jitsu black belt under the instruction of Mariano Graña from the Lotus Club in Argentina. He also adopted over time a demanding regimen, working out three times a day, one that he has kept up in his time in New York.
He starts the day with a two-hour shift starting at 7 am, and then does a second shift at 10:30 in the morning, focusing on bodybuilding. Ever devoted, Santiago finishes off his day with two more hours of practive at 7.
The US has been a good fit for Santiago, because it’s easier for him to compete in all IBJJF majors tournaments, which are all held in different cities across the US, from California to Las Vegas to New York.
He’s also made some interesting friends in his time in New York, such as officers from the New York Police Department, whom he trained personally. The relationship with the NYPD has been handled via Lotus Club, and Santiago says they have been open minded about the techniques he has taught.
“They face episodes of violence every single day,” he says. “They want to be able to better control violent people and to prevent these situations from escalating,” he adds. He says that it’s a great application of jiu jitsu, a discipline that he considers to be not a sport but a tool for life.
No shortcuts
As an instructor, Santiago is known for teaching his students how to prepare both physically and mentally for matches, which can fluster even the best trained competitor.
He does this through demonstrating new techniques, encouraging different sparring competitions between students, and engaging students in question-and-answer sessions, where he helps them understand the nature of the art. Above all, he stresses that they commit themselves completely to jiu jitsu. There is no half way to victory.
“Success in jiu-jitsu demands substantial hard work and dedication,” says Santiago. “There are no shortcuts. You must commit to spending time on the mat to improve and reach your goals.”
That calls for hours of training, drilling techniques, situational sparring, free sparring, conditioning, and, eventually, putting oneself to the test in competitions. Santiago instructs his students to set training goals to optimize their time on the mat.
These can be long or short-term goals, and might be linked to an upcoming competition. He also urges them to stay consistent, in terms of training schedule, diet, and recovering from exerting oneself through this demanding sport.
“Showing up for training regularly, even on days when you’re not in the mood, sets successful athletes apart from the rest.” says Santiago.
And finally, he encourages his athletes to learn from their mistakes. He should know, as despite all his medals and glories, he has also lost his share of matches.
“Don’t fear making errors or taking chances during your training sessions,” says Santiago. “Analyze your matches and training sessions to identify areas for improvement.,” he says. A good plan to assess improvement over time is also essential, and part of the effort to succeed.
What else is the key to success? Good friends and good music! “We always laugh and have a good time when we are training,” says Santiago. He personally likes to listen to The Killers, U2, and the soundtrack to the Guardians of the Galaxy when warming up. Everyone has their own favorite, he says. These help a person unwind just as much as stretching before a match can.
All together, Santiago’s approach to training has shown excellent results. His students Patricia Reve, Alexandre Manara, and Larissa Antunes all medaled in major tournaments in 2024, and placed themselves at the top of the ranking of their categories. One can only hope for similar successes in 2025, as Santiago and his students continue to seek jiu jitsu excellence.
Author bio:
Julia Bennett is a New York-based sports journalist and contributing writer covering martial arts, fitness culture, and athlete profiles. With a background in human performance research and a lifelong interest in combat sports, she brings depth and clarity to stories that spotlight discipline, dedication, and transformation through sport.
