Derek DiManno’s lifelong quest to learn “how to live” began in Detroit, Michigan, where he was born and raised. After relocating with his family to Sacramento, California, in 1988, he began pursuing the American Dream—earning degrees from the University of California, Davis, and Cal Poly, SLO; building a career as a city planner; and raising a family.
A lifelong grappler, Derek trained and competed in wrestling, judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Eventually, he turned his passion into a profession. In 2010, four years after earning his Jiu Jitsu black belt, he founded Waza Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Elk Grove, California, where he continues to teach, mentor, and learn alongside his students.
His quirky life journey, captured in The Doofus Philosopher, blends philosophy, spirituality, and humor to make readers laugh, learn, and grow.
