Our Team
All of our instructors care about your progress in grappling and health. Their guidance is grounded in years of study, experience, and competition-tested principles.
Victor Vasile Ciocoiu
HEAD INSTRUCTOR, OWNER
2ND DEGREE BJJ BLACK BELT | JUDO NIDAN BLACK BELT
ALL JUDO CLASSES, ALL LEVELS BJJ
Victor is a lifelong martial artist. He started training judo in Romania when he was 9 years old. For the next several decades, he has been training, competing, and teaching in various martial arts. He started training BJJ in 2007, and after a successful competitive career in the colored belts, was awarded his BJJ black belt in 2015. He is one of the first black belt judokas in Northern Virginia to also be a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
As a small guy (standing at 5’ 6’’ and 145 lbs), Victor has adapted his BJJ to be highly technical and efficient, especially against larger and stronger opponents. As a doctor in physical therapy, he is also highly knowledgable in body mechanics as they relate to jiujitsu, as well as safety in the training room. His instruction style is detailed and innovative.
Selected competition achievements:
- 6x IBJJF Pan American medalist (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021)
- IBJJF Nogi Pan American champion (2011)
- IBJJF Masters World medalist (2015)
- IBJJF Nogi World medalist (2011)
BJJ lineage: Jigoro Kano > Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Jorge Pereira > Leo Dalla > Victor Ciocoiu
Judo lineage: Jigoro Kano > Heishichi Ishiguro > Emilian Teaca > Ioan Avram > Serban Vasile > Eduard Nechita > Constantin Ciobanu > Victor Vasile Ciocoiu
Beatrice Jin
BJJ BLACK BELT
INTRO TO BJJ, ALL LEVELS BJJ, WOMEN’S CLASS
Beatrice began training BJJ and judo in 2018 and quickly became an active and successful jiujitsu and judo competitor. As of November 2024, she was ranked #10 female lightweight black belt in the world by Flograppling. As an instructor she focuses on understanding jiujitsu conceptually and systematically. Outside of training she enjoys lifting and her job as graphics journalist.
Selected competition achievements:
- IBJJF World medalist (brown, 2024)
- IBJJF Pan American medalist (purple, 2021; brown, 2024)
- IBJJF Nogi Pan American medalist (purple, 2022; brown, 2023; black, 2024)
- IBJJF Nogi Worlds medalist (purple, 2022)
- IBJJF JiuJitsu Con champion (brown, 2023; black, 2024)
- 11x IBJJF Open champion (purple, brown, 2021-23)
- Finishers superfight winner
- 2x Copa Elite superfight winner
- US Judo Open champion (2021)
Pablo Fabucci
BJJ BLACK BELT
ALL LEVELS BJJ
Pablo started training jiu-jitsu in 2007 in Rosario, Argentina and has been teaching since 2011. After competing long and often through the colored belts, Pablo capped off the 2021 season as the number one ranked master brown belt of Argentina. Soon after, he was awarded his black belt by Carlos Villamor from Academia 360 Argentina. Outside of jiujitsu Pablo works as a physical and respiratory therapist and enjoys soccer, music, and car mechanics.
Selected competition achievements:
- Argentina National champion (brown belt, 2021)
- #1 ranked brown belt in Argentina (masters, 2021)
- International Copa Mercosur medalist (blue belt, 2011)
- National Argentina Nogi Championship medalist (blue belt, 2010)
John Racelis
BJJ BROWN BELT
ALL LEVELS BJJ
John has over fifteen years of grappling experience, training and teaching BJJ and wrestling throughout his life. His instruction style focuses on a strong, foundational understanding of control, both on the feet and on the ground. When not at the gym, John enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife and son.
Tae Shin Lee
MUAY THAI / KICKBOXING COACH
Tae Shin has been training in striking arts since he was five years old, studying Taekwondo, Kickboxing, and Wushu / Kung Fu, the latter two under US national champion Philip Wong and Chinese national champion Zhang Hong Mei. As a certified personal trainer, he taught striking to both private clients and students of Plymouth County, where many suffered outsized educational setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Selected competition achievements:
- Captain of Stanford Wushu, leading team to 2nd and 3rd in the US collegiate ranking (2015, 2016)
- Named promising practitioner by secretary general of World Taekwondo Federation
Brianna Weck
JUDO SHODAN BLACK BELT
Brianna started on the mat at the age of 3 at Kokushi Dojo, based in Westwood New Jersey. She studied judo under Nagayasu Ogasawara (National Judo coach of the year, 1996) and David Otani. After a successful run through the youth divisions of competition, she received her shodan (black belt) in 2018.
Selected competition achievements:
- USJF-USJA Junior National Judo champion (U52kg IJF open division, 2014)
- USJF-USJA IJF Jr Championships medalist (U52kg, 2013)
- Highest national rank: 12th in junior U52kg division
Michael Ide
INTRO TO BJJ INSTRUCTOR
BJJ PURPLE BELT
Michael started training in high school for self-defense and developed a passion for the strategic and technical aspects of jiu-jitsu. He has placed at regional and IBJJF competitions throughout his time in the sport. Outside of jiu-jitsu, Michael is an engineer and a fan of sci-fi & fantasy fiction.
Richard Culbreth
INTRO TO BJJ INSTRUCTOR
BJJ PURPLE BELT
Richard started training jiu jitsu in Arlington, VA more than five years ago. He loves Jiu Jitsu as a sport and also as a form of self development. In his free time he enjoys playing the guitar.