Some people don’t slow down with age, even after open-heart surgery. David Morris is one of them. At 47, the black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, father of two, and owner of GFTeam Tennessee Jiu-Jitsu in Cordova, brings a can-do, always-learning mindset to everything he does.
David’s journey with the sport began in high school when an injury sidelined him from basketball. His brother saw a TV ad for jiu-jitsu classes, and it quickly became his new outlet.
Although David took an eight-year break after college to focus on Olympic weightlifting and work travel, he eventually returned to the mat. This time, he trained smarter, tailoring his workouts for grappling and emphasizing mobility and longevity with calisthenics, kettlebells, and free weights.
Promoted to black belt in 2018, David wanted to give back to the sport that shaped him. He opened GFTeam Tennessee, initially teaching after work and on weekends before transitioning to full-time in 2023. The academy now offers day and evening classes for kids and adults, including a homeschool program. David teaches about 80 percent of the classes while maintaining a personal training regimen.
“You don’t stop learning when you get a black belt,” he says. “A black belt is just getting started, a white belt that never quit.”
That same philosophy helped him through one of his biggest challenges: open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. Doctors discovered the congenital defect during a routine checkup. As the valve narrowed from calcium buildup, surgery became unavoidable.
“I barely noticed any symptoms,” David says. “My fitness level was compensating. I didn’t even know there was a problem.”
He had surgery in April and was discharged four days later. Within four weeks, he was back teaching. By eight weeks, he was sparring again and now trains five to six times weekly, lifting weights two to three times as well.
“My body tolerated the surgery better because of my active lifestyle, but I also always try to go the extra mile,” he says. When told to walk for 10 minutes after surgery, he aimed for 30 or 40. “I pushed a little every time. Being fit and proactive made my recovery faster.”
The procedure involved opening his chest to replace the valve with one made from bovine tissue. He chose this over the mechanical option, which would have required lifelong blood thinners and likely ended his jiu-jitsu training. The tradeoff is that he may need another surgery at 60. “That’s even more motivation to take care of myself,” he says.
“You have to use it or lose it. You can’t stop,” David advocates. “You might have to modify how you do things, but you can do this for life.”
His students range in age from four to 70, including his sons, ages seven and 11. “I want to set an example for my kids around nutrition, exercise, and competition,” he adds.
GFTeam Tennessee has around 100 students from all walks of life. David says most people hit a plateau or mental block in training at some point. “It’s about not giving up. You have to keep showing up.”
That mindset helped him recover and keeps him focused on the future. “I want to be here in a healthy way for my kids and wife. I still plan to be teaching and training at 60 and beyond.”
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
