Brazilian jiu jitsu is more than just a sport. It’s more than a martial art. It’s a way to change your life.

Often it’s the things you can’t see that have the biggest impact on your lifestyle.

Our classes feature a strength and endurance building warm-up, followed by demonstration and practice of techniques after which students engage in live wrestling with other students of their own level.

It's a truly demanding workout with a strongly cerebral aspect and a sense of purpose and skill that will truly capture your imagination.

Here's my invitation - come down to the academy. Come take a look at a class or better yet, take one of the introduction classes.

We are confident that jiu jitsu will become one of the most cherished and enjoyable aspects of your life.

It will give you a confidence, knowledge and body-dexterity and fitness that few people will ever know.

Professor Daniel “Coyote” Souza

Professor Daniel “Coyote” Souza was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and raised in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In 1981 Professor Souza began training Judo. In 1985 he started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Rui Diniz Ferreira, 7th Degree Coral Belt and Master Hilton Leao Silva, 9th Degree Red Belt. Professor “Souza” earned his Degree in Physical Education in 1998. In 1993, Professor Souza began teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the school of his former master. In 1996 he began teaching under his own name, Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2000, Professor Souza founded Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Brazil, now affiliated with Carlson Gracie Team.

Professor Souza began teaching in the United States beginning in 2002, San Diego, CA. He finally moved permanently to Albuquerque, NM in 2016 holding the rank of a 6th Degree Balck Belt. There, he has built his Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy/Carlson Gracie Team from the ground up. He is married with Gabriela Souza who is also owner of the academy, and has four kids; Ryckson(27), Rollyson(23), Alex, and Sarah, they all practice BJJ.

Professor Souza has won multiple titles and medals as an individual athlete throughout his martial arts career, and his school has earned multiple first place titles and trophies.

Professor Souza’s martial arts career summarized:

42 years of Judo, Godan 5th Dan Black Belt
37 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 6th Degree Black Belt
20 years of Muay Thai, Silver/Red Kruang-Prajied
1994-2008 MMA (21-2)

Chris Wojcik is the instructor of our competition classes. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Jeff Serafin. Chris is one of the top black belts in the world with an incredible list of accomplishments including finishing 4th at the West Coast ADCC Trials at 77Kg, 2019 Purple Belt Middleweight No-Gi World Champion, 2021 Chicago Open Brown Belt Middleweight Champion, 2021 Chicago Open Brown Belt No-Gi Medium Heavy Champion, 2021 Jiu Jitsu Con No-Gi Brown Belt Medium Heavy Champion, 2021 Houston Open Brown Belt Middleweight Champion