Marcos Estrada learned at an early age how to be a caregiver for his two brothers as well as his mom amid a rough childhood. That helped him develop a nurturing streak that seemed at odds with his macho personality.

But Estrada, co-owner of Valor Jiu-Jitsu in Orland Park, has found a way to mesh those two diverse traits through martial arts.

He and friend Edgar Figueroa, both who are black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, opened the Orland Park facility in September and have attracted a clientele of all ages.

“I enjoy seeing these kids grow and the adults as well,” said Estrada. “When I see boys learn humility, empathy and kindness, it shows me we’re going in the right direction.”

His parents separated when Estrada was 3 and divorced when he was 5, though his dad was still in and out of their lives. He and his two brothers and mom were broke much of the time.

Estrada said his experience in caregiving was spurred by his father, whose occasional visits were sometimes accompanied by violence, particularly toward his mother. One run-in left his mother, who died a few years ago, with two broken legs, he said.

“I took care of her, brought her a bed pan,” Estrada recalled. “I remember it like it was yesterday, doing laundry in the bathtub.

“Growing up we were pretty much in survival mode at an early age. We were kind of subject to a lot of stuff.”

The three boys were lucky to have kind neighbors near their Little Village home, who were raising five kids.

“When our dad was whipping on our mom, we ran to their house,” said Estrada. “We associated that house with safety, love and security.”

He also got to know one of their sons, named Albert, who was in the Marines. Though Albert played rough with them, he also elicited admiration and a sense of adventure in Estrada.

In high school, Estrada loved wrestling, which has similarities to the martial arts, emphasizing control, strength and respect.

But as a teen he fell in with the wrong crowd and was arrested twice and charged with felonies, though he was never convicted.

Then in 1991, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of joining the Marines and served until 2012.

Macros Estrada, stands outside Valor Jiu-Jitsu, which he opened in September with his friend Edgar Figueroa, in September. (Janice Neumann/for the Daily Southtown)

“It shaped me in a lot of ways, partially contributing to my moral shift,” said Estrada. “I had a lot of qualities that had not been harnessed. Putting me in a positive environment helped me redirect this.”

He served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, also participating in counter-piracy off the coast of Somalia, in addition to other stints.

“These were some of the best times of my life,” said Estrada. “Little boys are hardwired by our creator to do specific things and protect is one of them. There’s a certain adventurous side to boys and I got to play that out in real life.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the University of Illinois Chicago.

After retiring from the service, Estrada worked as a consultant at various security and defense firms. He did corporate security at Walgreens for a while.

In addition to overseeing the business side of the gym, Estrada does various consulting jobs and teaches enhanced marksmanship and conceal and carry courses. He’s also hoping to start a pilot class in women’s self-defense with a local police department.

He lives in Lemont with his wife, Christina. They have three adult children: a son, Marcos Jr. and daughters Arianna and Gabriella, as well as a grandchild and another one the way.

Edgar Figueroa, left, co-owner of Valor Jiu-Jitsu, oversees a training session recently at the martial arts facility in Orland Park. (Janice Neumann/for the Daily Southtown)

He has friends from his time in the Marines and others who enjoy martial arts, including co-owner Figueroa, who he met at Uflacker Academy Chicago when the two were brushing up on their jiu jitsu.

“Anybody who really loves something … if you enjoy it enough, you grow into an individual who wants to see others enjoy it in the same way,” he said. “The passion comes from the observation and first-hand accounts of seeing people develop, mature and grow.”

At Uflacker he also met Andrew Shadel, who helps out teaching children at the gym. Shadel’s young sons train there, too.

“We’re all family men, we value male responsibility and raising a family in the community in a very positive way,” said Shadel. “You can have that kind of ferocity on the mat and still be a good husband and good father.”

Shadel said Estrada was a perfect example of how martial arts lovers could shine a positive light on the sport.

“I’m not sure you’ll meet a less angry person than Marcos,” said Shadel. “I think it’s reflected very much in his family.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/valor-jiu-jitsu-orland-park/