Austin Washburn, 4, greets Iron Lion Jiu-Jitsu Academy coach Derek Cleveland at the training facility in Dalton Gardens on Tuesday. Cleveland suffers from a rare lung condition and needs costly surgery. “He’s like family,” said longtime friend Janette Peluso, right. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

Derek Cleveland returned to his Dalton Gardens gym this week and sat on the edge of the mat, an oxygen tank at his side, to watch his jiujitsu students practice the martial art. Frail and short of breath, he still held their attention with a few firm coaching tips. “Now watch what happens,” Cleveland instructed as two students demonstrated a move. “If you see the arm when they start to bridge and turn, take that arm, too, ya know what I mean?”/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

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