Hall of famer, Bonugli, brings Jiu-Jitsu to Cuero

By Jacob Stock

The Cuero Record

For owner of new Family Jiu-Jitsu Karate of Cuero, Jeff Bonugli, it has been quite a career. Starting his martial arts journey back in 1975, Bonugli, now 66 years old, has accomplished several achievements throughout his career. Bonugli started out with karate back when he was just 18 years old. “At 50 I started my journey with Jiu-Jitsu. It took me 14 years to get my black belt. Took me five years just to get out of the white belt,” Bonugli mentioned. “I would get home after a long day at work around 10 p.m. go train till about 1 a.m. and then get up and start it all over again.” Bonugli’s work ethic is the standard you want to achieve. A 10th-degree black belt in karate, the highest standard possible, Bonugli has the knowledge and experience you want in an instructor. Bonugli has his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well, and is in the martial arts hall of fame, national and international. The latter part of his career, he won world master championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018. “The whole objective here is to help the kids,” Bonugli said. “I don’t know who I am supposed to help, but I am focused and zeroed in.”

Bonugli has classes every week, starting Monday through Thursday, and is no stranger to martial arts.

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