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Eddie Redzovic, Lincoln Square Jiu Jitsu Leader, Is a Global YouTube Star

By Mark Schipper | February 15, 2016 8:52am

Adem, Eddie & Idriz Redzovic at Team Redzovic Academy in Lincoln Square.

LINCOLN SQUARE — Eddie Redzovic is many things: an acclaimed jiu jitsu instructor who helms his own academy at Lincoln Avenue and Ainslie Street, a black belt fighter who trained with legendary instructors in Brazil, a Chicago transplant by way of Buffalo, N.Y.

He's also Muslim, and since 2006, he's been the host of "The Deen Show," a weekly YouTube talk show series with millions of viewers all over the world that's also broadcast on satellite and cable stations like Islam Channel, Iqra TV, Huda TV, Guide Us TV, CanTV and more.

Entering its 10th year on air, the show's YouTube page has more than 132,000 subscribers. Its Facebook page has nearly 2.7 million likes and more than 415,000 fans follow along on Twitter.

In 2011, a documentary was released about Redzovic's life story called "From Dunya to Deen" that recounted "the story of a man lost in a jungle...searching for the truth" that Redzovic found in Islam, and "The Deen Show."

Redzovic said his YouTube series has served two purposes for him: helping him find his own truth in exploring the teachings of Islam, and spreading true information to counteract misrepresentations of his faith in the media.

“I started seeing things in the media that were the antithesis of what I was learning,” said Redzovic. "I’m an American, I love my country, and thought people needed to be educated in this way of life. [The show] gives people a totally different perspective."

Episodes tackle Muslim-related issues in the week's news, apply teachings from the Quran to personal and global conflicts and bring on Muslim guests to talk about their faith or other aspects of their lives. Recent guests include a nutrition expert, a former reality TV star, and Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, director of the GainPeace Project, an outreach group that, like "The Deen Show," seeks to "clarify misconceptions" about Islam and Muslims.

“Unfortunately, they are perceived— people link what happened in Paris and what happened in California, I believe — [and] are painting all Muslims with the fear and suspicion, and that is turning into fear and frustration, intimidation, discrimination, in some instances violence,” Ahmed said.

“We’re taught, and I teach, that Islamically you are not a full believer if you’re going to sleep with a full stomach and your neighbor is going to sleep with an empty stomach, and it doesn’t matter what religion your neighbor is,” he said.

Redzovic, Ahmed and other activists in Chicago said their work is especially important in this community, with nearly 500,000 practicing Muslims living in the Chicago area worshipping and learning at 120-plus mosques and around 25 Islamic schools.

The messages of acceptance Redzovic extolls on "The Deen Show” aren't simply theoretical: He said they're a way of life for him. And it shows: the Redzovic jiu-jitsu academy may be one of the most diverse places in the city. The school is a quilt of nationalities, colors, religions and professions, and all hit the mats as equals to spar in submission wrestling matches, a difficult, sometimes painful, often humbling form of grappling that requires intense and aggressive personal contact.

Everyone fights under strict rules, but no one argues, Redzovic said. Afterward, they shake hands and are friends. 

“As soon as you come into the academy there’s a statement that says: ‘The Best of You Are Those Who Have The Best Manners and Character," said Redzovic.

The academy, Team Redzovic at 4900 N. Lincoln Ave., is a Gracie-style Brazilian jiu jitsu academy. Redzovic helms the gym with 10 other professors, including other members of the Redzovic clan. Eddie Redzovic is the first official American representative of Carlos Gracie Jr., a son of the sport's founder.

“When you learn and have a good teacher — not just how to knock someone out, how to submit somebody, but at the same time helping you work on the heart, the spirit, nurturing that good inside to have a reference point, somewhere to look back and control that ego and get this confidence that martial arts gives you," Redzovic said.

"We stress that this is something that can empower you, but at the same time you have a great responsibility when you carry this with you,” he said.

Adem and Eddie Redzovic. (Team Redzovic)

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