Meet Juan Herrera | Producer, Actor & Jiu-Jitsu Champion

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juan Herrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juan, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success I would have to say is mindset. You may have connections, skill or privilege but without the proper mindset the fruits of your labor will always be less than what you hoped.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well it all first started in highschool, I became part of the TV Production Team for the morning announcements where i worked on comedy skits to entertain my peers while simultaneously wrestling on the schools varsity team and eventually becoming Captain, two passions that seemed a bit incompatible to me at the time. After my service time in the U.S Navy was over when I was 28 I decided to go back to those roots and enroll in Film School where I pursued a Degree in Film Production with aspirations of one day producing movies that would not only entertain but have an impact on how we think while also dedicating myself to my development as a Martial Artist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

It was not easy and one of the hardest challenges I have ever faced. While in film school I was able to produce several short film projects & maintaining a high GPA while training like a full time college athlete often doing 2 or 3 a days. My Final test came in January of 2023 when I suffered a brutal career ending injury on the mats completely tearing my ACL, partially tearing my MCL & Completely tearing my meniscus in three places. The Orthopedic surgeon at the VA told me I would never be able to compete in jiujitsu again without surgery.

In that moment I had a choice to make: Be defined by what happened to me or be defined by what I could make happen. I set a goal right then in that moment to do two important things in 2023, walk across the graduation stage without crutches which was only three months away AND medal at the annual Master Worlds Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament held in the Las Vegas Convention Center (The biggest tournament in the sport for athletes over 30) which was only 6 months away.

So began the most mentally demanding months of my life, every thought carefully watched, every action as deliberate as I could make it. Visualizing everyday and expressing my gratitude towards life for giving me this opportunity to do something I had never done before. I ended up graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Film Production and producing the now award winning short film Universe 25 Directed By David Tappan and starring Kelly Tappan and winning a silver medal at the IBJJF Master Worlds tournament.

The most valuable take away I learned through that journey was that someones opinion of you does not have to become your reality, as Les Brown so famously put it. You truly create your own reality through the small choices you make everyday that eventually lead up to the big moments and even if in the moment you don’t feel ready don’t worry, train and study and when the time comes you will be. There will be people in your life who try to harm you and the most important thing you can do is harness your will and let it go, forgive them. So you can move on and grow.

I carried these lessons into my work and had the opportunity to travel the country and share our short film with audiences world wide, garnering awards both in domestic and international film festivals. Those opportunities eventually opened doors that allowed me to meet my future collaborators and employers and the mindset I had cultivated was my resume.

I want the world to know that your mind matters, and what you put into it will determine the fruit you bear. If you want a positive, happy, healthy life it all starts in your mind, in the way you see things, in the way you think.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite spots in LA to eat would be La Maria the Colombian restaurant, as a Colombian Native I would say they are as close as it gets to my favorite traditional dishes. For coffee I would say Aroma Coffee and Tea, they have such a delicious menu, the coffee is huge and the vibes are incredible.

My partner & I love going to the Grove in West Hollywood for a walk and cutting to Pan Pacific Park or just to catch a movie at the AMC.

Runyon Canyon Park is also one of my Go-To’s for one of the best sunset spots close to Hollywood.

If I am ever in the mood for KBBQ then Moodaepo II in Korea Town is the place and toping it off with Bungeoppang is a must !

Now I personally find so interesting walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame and seeing all the different characters, performers, vendors, influencers who flood the street and the occasional celebrity. You never know what you might see and it really makes that strip feel a bit otherworldly.

And on a fun Sunday nothing beats heading to Santa Monica pier early, maybe getting a beach workout in, going for a swim then watching the sunset on the Ferris wheel truly iconic and reminds me why people come here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and for most I have to give credit to God, I know people don’t like to hear that but for me its my truth. Second is my amazing partner Kelly Tappan whom without her brilliant mind, love and support in my darkest hours, I would truly not be the man I am today. I have to thank my mother, Maria Amortegui, whose unconditional love & unwavering faith allowed me the freedom to explore life’s different paths and no matter how many times I failed, would always let me know I was loved and who taught me to work hard and be kind. I also have to credit a book that completely changed my life when I first read it at 19 Years old called “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. The Principals in that book lead me down a path I could never have imagined but very grateful to be walking. Lastly I have to give credit to the powerful motivational words of wisdom by Mr. Les Brown, his speeches in my early years helped me stoke the flame in my heart that was barely surviving while I was undergoing a massive character transformation.

Instagram: juanplusjuanis2

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-herrera-343655202/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14754867/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_juan%2520herrera

Image Credits
Image Credits: Jiujitsu World League &
David Tappan , Joseph Vernon Reidhead & Daniel Briseno