Gracie Tampa - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Training

North Tampa Instructors

Chief Instructor/Owner	Rob Kahn Black Belt under legendary three-time UFC champion Royce Gracie. Rob won the New York State Golden Gloves Championship in 1995, and is currently very active in grappling competitions, competing in Mixed Martial Arts and pro divisions against some of the best here, and in Brazil. Rob has also made his mark as an instructor in New York, producing some of the country's top submission grapplers. His patient, innovative style of teaching has proven highly successful for both the competitor as well as the casual student looking for self-defense and fitness. Rob teaches Beginner and Advanced Adult BJJ classes, Adult MMA Classes, and Women's Self Defense Classes.	Manager/ Kids’ & Womens’ Program Instructor	Cristina "Midget Twister" Rodriguez Along with managing Gracie Tampa, "Coach Cris" directs all Kids and Womens' Programming. She holds a BJJ Purple Belt under Rob Kahn, is a NAGA National Champion, and a member of the USA Grappling Team. Only 23 years old and sponsored by On The Mat , Cris is making quite a name for herself as an avid competitor for Gracie Tampa. She is a graduate of the International Baccalaureate Program and is currently completing her degree in Elementary Education at the University of South Florida. She is available for private and group lessons.
Strength and Conditioning Coach	Jeremy "Buttercup" Thurlow is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as Gracie Tampa's CPT. He has competed in kick boxing and jiu jitsu tournaments. He enjoys long walks on the beach and poems by Sylvia Plath. Jeremy is available for private lessons.	Jiu Jitsu Instructor	Joe "Bamboo" Wissman has been training jiu jitsu for just over 4 years, and is a purple belt under Rob Kahn. Bamboo is currently 2-0 in MMA competition with his 3rd fight scheduled for 3/22/08. Bamboo teaches the morning jiu jitsu class on Friday mornings, and is also teaching jiu jitsu twice a week for Gracie Tampa at the YMCA. Bamboo is available for private lessons in both jiu jitsu, as well as overall sexiness. Visit Bamboo's Myspace Page
Striking Coach	Gabe Maldonado is Gracie Tampa's Morning Striking Coach. He teaches a blend of western kickboxing, Muay Thai, and various other striking arts that are geared towards MMA. Along with stand up, Gabe is well versed on the ground and currently holds a BJJ Purple Belt under Rob Kahn, and is available for private lessons. Visit Gabe's Myspace Page	Striking Coach	Joe Brooks has been involved in martial arts for 15 years, during which time he has studied Thai boxing, western boxing, Wing Chun, and Sikaran. He currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jistu under Rob Kahn. Before coming to Gracie Tampa, Joe was a member of the Tampa Fight Academy and Filipino Combat System Tallahassee Branch. He currently teaches a Striking Class at Gracie Tampa on Tuesday and Thursday nights, focused on adapting techniques from a variety of striking disciplines for MMA and self-defense.
Striking Coach	Jeff Fleming Originally from Massachusetts, Jeff's martial arts training started in Chinese Kenpo in 1976. He moved to Tampa in 1983 after graduating from Florida A&M University and began training under the tutelage of Sifu Luis Martinez. He later earned Instructor Certification from Guru Dan Inosanto in the arts of Jun Fan/ JKD Concepts and the Filipino Martial Arts. While his training continued, he was awarded Instructor certifications from Sifu Francis Fong in Wing Chun Kung Fu, and Thai Boxing from Ajarn Surachai Sirusite. Jeff currently holds a Blue Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Rob Kahn, and teaches Thai Boxing and Striking Classes at Gracie Tampa on Monday and Wednesday nights.	Striking Coach	Shane Primm "Low Down Dirty" is a Purple Belt in BJJ and holds an undefeated MMA record of 6-0. Shane has 7 years of experience in Muay Thai and teaches class on Friday Mornings. He is available for Private Lessons.
Wrestling Coach	Adam "Killer K" Kantor Originally from Ohio, Adam bring 23 years of experience as an elite-level wrestler and coach. In High School, Adam was a 3-time State Champion, a National Champion and a 2 time All-American in Greco-Roman Wrestling. In Freestyle Wrestling, he won 2 Ohio State Championships and compiled a scholastic record of 117-12. In College, at Boston University (B.U.), he placed first at the NCAA Big Northeast Conference, and—while completing his law degree— served as B.U.’s Assistant Wrestling Coach from 1995-1998. He then entered the U.S. Navy and continued to train. In 2003, he joined the staff at the U.S. Naval Academy as an Assistant Wrestling Coach under famed Olympic coach Bruce Burnett. In 2005, Adam was selected as the Head Coach of the U.S. World Maccabiah Team, where he led Team USA to a 1st place finish. He moved to Florida in October 2005 and coached at the Chaos Wrestling Club in Clearwater, Florida until joining Gracie Tampa.	Sport Psychology Consultant	Dr. Randy Borum is Professor at the University of South Florida. He is a licensed and Board-Certified Psychologist, and has been recognized as a Certified Sport Psychologist by the National Institute of Sports Professionals. He is a regular columnist for Black Belt Magazine and writes articles for MMA magazines addressing applications of sport psychology to MMA and other combat sports. He has consulted to the National Academy of Sports Medicine and to the IFL and with professional and other elite-level combat sport athletes from the UFC, KOTC and other national and regional promotions. Dr. Borum is also the Performance Psychology Advisor to the Crazy Monkey Defense (CMD) Program. He was previously a strength and conditioning consultant for the USF Boxing Team and currently holds a Copper-Level (Intro) Coaching certification with USA Wrestling. You can read some of his articles on the Combat Sport Psychology blog by clicking on the image to the right.

South Tampa Instructors

Matt Arroyo is a UFC veteran (1-0) and was featured in The Ultimate Fighter, Season 6 on Spike TV. Currently a Brown Belt under Rob Kahn, Matt has been studying BJJ for about 4 years. "No Regard", who is currently 24 years old, is an avid competitor in BJJ and submission grappling tournaments and is beginning his MMA career with three professional fights under his belt. In tournament action, Arroyo has submitted top level black belts in the Florida area and is making a name for himself in the Grappling world. Matt is Head Instructor at Gracie Tampa, South and is available for private lessons.

Ron Neagle is currently a Brown Belt under Rob Kahn, Ron first became interested in Jiu Jitsu after his son (Travis Neagle - Brown Belt under Rob Kahn and Instructor of Gracie South) started training in 1994. Ron received his blue belt from Royce Gracie in 1996 and was Rob's first student when Gracie Tampa opened in 2004. Ron is Head Instructor at Gracie Tampa, South and is available for private lessons.