Haakon Hansen

Haakon (pronounced Haw-kin) Hansen was born on May 26, 1993, in St. Petersburg, Florida. A lifelong resident of Pasco County and a member of a Florida Pioneer family, Haakon’s roots in the Dade City/San Antonio area stretch back more than 150 years.

Haakon began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over thirteen years ago at the original Marcio Cruz BJJ academy and has been a student of Pe de Pano ever since. He knows firsthand the transformative power of Jiu-Jitsu—because it changed his life.

When Haakon was 20, his father passed away from cancer. The loss sent him into a deep depression that lasted for years. He broke up with his girlfriend, dropped out of college, and gave up nearly everything that once brought him joy. Everything, that is—except Jiu-Jitsu.

Over time, Haakon came to realize that Jiu-Jitsu was the one thing that had always been there for him. It gave him purpose, strength, and self-worth when everything else had fallen away. Eventually, he made the decision to dedicate himself fully to the art, hoping to one day offer others the same gift that his professor had given him.

Today, Haakon is a passionate and patient coach known for his empathy and understanding. He knows what it’s like to lose, to suffer, to persevere, and to rise again.