Greg Nelson has his roots in athletic training and competition. Coach Greg is a former University of Minnesota D1 NCAA Wrestling Team member and All-American high school gymnast. In 1983, he started training in Jun Fan Martial Arts, Filipino Kali and Muay Thai under Sifu Rick Faye. Since then, he has earned Full Instructor credentials in Jun Fan Martial Arts/Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Filipino Kali, and Level III Instructorship in Maphilindo Silat under the legendary Guru Dan Inosanto. Coach Nelson is also a Senior Instructor in Muay Thai under Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute of the World Thai Boxing Association.
A grappler at heart, Greg earned the level of Advanced Student in Shooto Wrestling under Sensei Yurinaga Nakamura and is a certified Full Instructor in Combat Submission Wrestling under Erik Paulson. Beginning his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 1989 by taking a private lesson with Master Rickson Gracie, Coach Greg went on to become a student of 8th Degree Red & Black Belt Professor Pedro Sauer in 1996. Coach Greg was the first of Professor Sauer’s students to earn his Black Belt, receiving the honor in November 2002 – he is now a 5th Degree Black Belt.

Jeff Curran is a retired professional MMA fighter and 5th Degree Black Belt under the legendary, Master Pedro Sauer. Mr. Curran is married to his wife Sarah and together they have two boys, Ty and Jacob. Curran Jiu-Jitsu Academy/Team Curran was founded by Jeff back in the summer of 1997. Through good times and bad alike, Team Curran and it’s staff of instructors, including partner Chuck Pilcher, managed to withstand the test of the ever changing industry as well as the hard times of our economy. The systems Jeff has developed as his curriculum are a time-tested and fundamental approach to everything ranging from Self-Defense all the way to professional competition in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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Jeff Curran is the founder of the Curran Jiu-Jitsu Academy and has a competitive history that spans over 27 years and counting. Professor Curran has devoted his life to the martial arts and has managed to build a world recognized team as well as becoming one of the worlds top ranked righters in the world during his career.
He and his Staff have stayed the course to develop and brand their programs to be sought out and recognized inside the community and around the globe. Mr. Curran is currently holding the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt under the legendary Master Pedro Sauer. Jeff Curran and his staff continue to lead the way and are dedicated to helping each student reach their best potential on and off the mat!

Adam is a 4th degree black belt under Master Pedro Sauer. He was introduced to Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 1992 while training in Jeet Kune Do. Adam pioneered Jiu Jitsu in the Chicagoland area, eventually becoming a founding member of Team Curran. He describes his time with Jeff “Big Frog” Curran this way, “My Jiu Jitsu came alive on the mats of Team Curran.” Prof. Miller currently lives in Louisville and teaches out of Gracie Kentucky with Prof. Scott Smith. In addition to Jiu-Jitsu, Adam holds black belts in Hapkido, Judo and classical Ju-Jitsu. Adam has videos at BJJFanatics and online resources at Armbarcity. You can also find spiritual coaching at myLifeChurch.

Anibal Lobo was born in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio De Janeiro. He was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu when he was 15 years old by his childhood friend Rickson Gracie and Pedro Sauer. He began training with the legendary Helio Gracie at the Rio Branco Academy in 1977. The Academy later moved to the Humaita neighborhood where Anibal received his Blue Belt from Rickson Gracie in 1980. The Humaita Gracie Academy continues to be one of Brazil’s leading Jiu-Jitu centers.

Anibal has many fond memories growing up in Brazil and around the Academia Gracie. He has known his wife, Hilda James, since they were both 14 years old, and their first kiss was behind Helio Gracie’s piano. He also recalls going to school with his great friends and masters Rickson Gracie and Pedro Sauer.

In 1988 Anibal and Pedro Sauer moved to Los Angeles, following Rickson Gracie to United States with their mutual commitment to help bring Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to America. He continued training with Rickson and later moved to Provo, Utah to teach with Pedro Sauer representing the Rickson Gracie Association. In 1998, at the first Rickson Gracie International Competition, Anibal was presented with a special award by Rickson Gracie at a ceremony honoring his important role in the development of Jiu Jitsu. He began representing the Pedro Sauer Association in 2000 – teaching classes in Salinas, South Central Los Angeles, and various other locations throughout California. He received his Black Belt from Pedro Sauer in 2007. Today Anibal is a 4rd degree black belt under Masters Pedro Sauer and Rickson Gracie.

Professor Eddie Edmunds has been studying and training in the martial arts for over 30 years. He is a 5th degree Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Master Pedro Sauer and began his training with Master Sauer in 1992. Professor Edmunds also holds black belt ranking in Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee's martial system) and Kali (a Filipino weapon and blade martial art) under Master Dan Berry's Bihonte martial system.
Professor Edmunds has developed curricula and taught seminars for numerous organizations. His innovative presentations challenge individuals to step outside their comfort zones to retrain the mind and body through martial arts techniques and principles.
He has worked with members of the military and law enforcement, including Navy SEALS, Green Berets, and SWAT team personnel. Professor Edmunds was also selected by the 19th Special Forces Group and received certification in the Special Operations Combatives Program taught at Fort Bragg. And finally, Mr. Edmunds was part of an executive protection unit in Virginia assigned to AOL founder Steve Case and his family following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Professor Edmunds owns and operates Team Fusion Academy, one of the largest Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academies in the state of Utah. Fusion Academy has classes for kids, teenagers and adults and emphasizes the Gracie Self Defense system taught by Helio Gracie to his student, Pedro Sauer.
Professor Edmunds expresses his deepest gratitude to Pedro Sauer and Dan Berry for continuing to teach martial arts to him for over three decades.

James began his Jiu Jitsu career in Salt Lake, Utah under Professor Sauer in 1997. For a brief time he moved to Southern California where he earned his Blue Belt from Pedro Carvalho. He then moved back to Salt Lake City, Utah where he continued his training with Professor Sauer. In the summer of 2000 James trained with Fabio Santos in San Diego, California. Once again, James moved back to Salt Lake City, Utah where he has remained with the exception of a Winter spent training with Cassio Werneck in Sacramento, California. James received his Black Belt from Professor Sauer in 2005.James is considered, by his peers, the most technical and most humble of all of Professor Sauer's students.

29 years BJJ. Started training in Jan of 1995. Teaching and training martial arts of some kind since 1988. Started Muay Thai, JKD, MMA, and BJJ with Shannon Cambell under Mr. Frank Cucci. Black Belt under Duke Roufus in the Roufusport Curriculum. Owner of the Renaissance Academy of Martial Arts... Proud PSBB.

John began learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Master Pedro Sauer’s State Street academy in the late 1990s. Having done various martial arts his entire life, he was a fast learner. In addition, his knowledge of other arts allowed him to weigh the pros and cons of each. It did not take long for him to realize that Jiu Jitsu had no strikes against it. Eventually, he was made an assistant instructor. After years of commitment, passion and devotion John earned his black belt in 2006.

Over the last twenty-plus years competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu John has had the opportunity to compete nationally and internationally in countless Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Some of his notable achievements competing at the black belt level include, IBJJF International-Open multi-time champion, American National 3-time champion, Pan American Champion, and No-Gi World champion.

Fourth Degree Black Belt John Hosford has been practicing Jiu-Jitsu since 1998 in Knoxville, TN. After joining the association in 2001 John has trained students of all levels achieving the rank of Black Belt in 2008 from Master Sauer. He is currently the owner and Professor at Hosford Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Knoxville, TN.

Founder of Neutral Ground Academy and the head Brazilian Jiujitsu Instructor for the Milwaukee area locations, 4th-degree black belt under Master Pedro Sauer, training BJJ since '97. Army infantry vet, UWM engineering graduate, and proud father of 2. We opened Neutral Ground Academy in 2005, but Jon started training Jiujitsu casually in early 1995, then formally in 1997. Teaching BJJ since 2000, awarded black belt in 2007, rockin’ it ever since. BEYOND excited to help however we can along each journey with us!

Keith Owen, a respected Jiu-Jitsu figure, played a significant role in bringing Jiu-Jitsu to Idaho as one of the original studios to begin teaching this form of martial arts. In 1993, Keith Owen and his wife Shirlane founded Team Rhino Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Twin Falls, Idaho. Under Master Pedro Sauer's guidance, Keith earned a 5th-degree Black Belt. Keith was known for his technical expertise & practical self-defense curriculum.
On February 11, 2022, Keith Owen unexpectedly passed away. Team Rhino carries on his legacy, upholding the high standards he instilled.

Head Instructor, 5th degree Black Belt Mike Diaz, a 5th-degree Pedro Sauer black belt, has devoted over 26 years to mastering martial arts. Beginning his journey in 1997 after serving in the Marine Corps, Mike's dedication to jiu-jitsu under Master Pedro Sauer's guidance earned him his black belt in 2006. As one of the original Pedro Sauer Black Belts, he's not only refined his skills but also built a strong jiu jitsu community. Mike's commitment extends beyond the mat—he established anti-bullying programs, women's self-defense seminars, and law enforcement seminars to positively impact his community. In 2010, he founded his jiu-jitsu academy in Park City, where he shares his extensive knowledge with aspiring practitioners.

Received Black Belt- November 2007
Academy-Gracie Jiu Jitsu of Kentucky & Gracie Jiu Jitsu of Kentucky Shelby Co.
Owner of two academy’s in Kentucky. Started training jiu jitsu in 1995 in Evansville Indiana. Once in Louisville was a part of the Rickson Gracie Association where he met Master Pedro Sauer. He has tested Blue to Black under Master Sauer.

Thiago Bertoni was born in São Paulo , Brazil, had practice several martial arts as a child, taekwondo, judo and capoeira, but was in Salt Lake City , Utah, when his family moved to USA where he encountered jiu-jitsu, at the age 16 through the hands of Master Pedro Sauer. Thiago also lived several years in San Diego California training under Rodrigo Medeiros, going back and forth to Utah (Unified), also trained under João Faria at Gracie San Diego.

After 10 years, Thiago decided to move back to his roots in Brazil, but this time in Rio de Janeiro.

When in Brazil, Thiago kept the lineage training at the legendary Gracie Humaita.

Thiago lived several years at Pedro’s house in Petrópolis where he was awarded his black belt in 2012 by master Pedro Sauer himself. There he also learned with GM Relson Gracie, living and breathing the Gracie way.

Thiago travelled around the globe, spending 3 years in Kuwait teaching and spreading the art. Another remarkable achievement was to receive the second degree from Master Pedro Sauer and his master, the legendary Rickson Gracie at an event in Glasgow.

Moving back to Brazil In 2021 Thiago opened his first school at his hometown, now, led by one of his black belts .

Currently Thiago is based in Italy, holding a fourth degree black belt under his master, dedicating his teachings at Gracie jiu-jitsu Milano School, where he found home away from home.