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

Salvatore Spinelli

1st Degree Black Belt under Tom Cronin

Salvatore Spinelli is a Co-Owner/Black Belt Instructor and active competitor who enjoys helping students reach their goals in competition and self defense skill in their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey.

Salvatore has been avid student of all martial arts history and culture from and early age. His father studied Japanese JuJitsu and was an inspiration to learn self defense which in turn helped build confidence, focus and respect. Salvatore is very proud to also now have his own son, Leonardo, Age 5 on the mat as well.

As an adult, it is an honor to be able to provide a facility where others can now start or continue their own training in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

• – Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Carlson Gracie Lineage) under Professor Thomas Cronin recognized by Carlson Gracie Jr.
• – Black Sash Senior Instructor Kai Sai Wing Chun and Chinese Boxing under Sifu Ken Mills of Chinese Boxing Institute International.
• – Katalong Assistant Instructor Filipino Martial Arts (Kali/Arnis/Eskrima) under Guro Darryl Vidal

Professor Christian started his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey in 2007 with the Godfather of Alberta Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Josh Russell. After being drafted to the Calgary Stampeders and playing the 2004 and 2005 season, Christian was looking to still compete in a combat sport and fell in love with the gentle art. Christian was awarded his black belt in 2015, then moved to New Jersey in fall of 2016. While living in New Jersey, Christian studied at multiple schools learning from the top instructors and trained with the highest level grappling athletes in the North East.

Christian trained consistently at Silver Fox BJJ, Renzo Gracie Northern Valley, Renzo Gracie Denville, and the legendary Renzo Gracie HQ in New York, New York on West 30th Street. On a weekly basis, Christian took the train into New York City to attend the lunch competition class taught by John Danaher. Christian’s training partners typically would include Jake Shields, Gordon Ryan, Daniel Gracie, Nick Rodriguez, Brian Glick, and Igor and Gregor Gracie.

In 2019, Christian returned home to Calgary and opened Rocky Mountain Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Christian has medaled in the New York Open, World Masters, ADCC Open, ADCC trials, Grappling Industries, has won numerous super fights and countless CBJJF gold medals.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlos Gracie JR > Josh Russell > Christian Simmerling

Full Name: Otávio Ferreira de Sousa

Nickname: Although seldom used, ‘The Steamroller’ has been mentioned as a nickname by some of the media, this would be due to his strength and the fast pace he usually imposes in his fights.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > Otavio Sousa

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF World Champion (2016/2013/2012)
• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2020/2017/2010/2009)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2015)
• CBJJ Brazilan Nationals Champion (2019)
• IBJJF New York Open Champion (2012)
• IBJJF Las Vegas Open Champion (2011)
• IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2014)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Runner-up (2009)
• IBJJF Pan American Championship Runner-up (2019/2009*/2008)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Runner-up (2017)
• IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2017/2009/2008)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2015/2011)
• IBJJF Pan American Championship 3rd Place (2016/2011)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• IBJJF World Champion (2007* brown)
• IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2007 brown)
• IBJJF Pan American Championship Runner-up (2007 brown)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Runner-up (2004 purple)
• IBJJF European Open Championship Runner-up (2008/2007 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Omoplata

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs)

Team/Association: Gracie Barra

Otavio Sousa was born in July 1986 in Recife, State of Pernambuco – Brazil. He started training jiu-jitsu when he was 13 years old, after an invitation from a friend who already trained at Recife’s Gracie Barra headquarters. The Gracie Barra – Recife was an academy led by José Olímpio (also known as “Zé Radiola”), a charismatic instructor who developed several high-level athletes, including Braulio Estima, Victor Estima, Bruno Alves to mention a few.

At the Gracie Barra academy, Otavio Sousa became one of the main names in the lower ranks of BJJ earning himself several titles, including a world championship in 2007 as a brown belt. After his win at the Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, Otavio Sousa earned his black belt from the hands of Carlos Gracie Junior, the head of the Gracie Barra franchise. E.N.: Though Otavio Sousa was mainly coached by José Olímpio, it was common practice within Gracie Barra to have the founder of the academy hand the black belts.

After receiving his black belt, Otavio Sousa was invited to lead the Gracie Barra Academy in Irvine, California which was owned by Chris Pizzo. Sousa worked there a few years, but that relationship ended unexpectedly in unfortunate circumstances. According to the many internet forums who debated the issue at the time, Otavio was fired by E-mail while on vacation, by the gym’s owner. The reason for the dismissal (according to Pizzo) was that Otavio ​​spent too much time competing and touring for seminars, while not dedicating enough effort to the gym. This went against many of Sousa’s student’s beliefs who left the academy in a show of support for their instructor. Among the people who followed Otavio out were A-listers such as ‘Budo’ Jake, sports commentator, and CEO of the company BudoVideos.

John Graham is a Certified Master Trainer, speaker, and fitness professional with 15 years of experience in the fitness industry. Founder of JohnGrahamFitness and renowned golf academy director at Mission Hills, he is a leader in fitness technology and has collaborated on popular video series for home workouts and boxing tutorials. John's personal journey through training and competitions exposed him to injuries, fueling his quest for optimized injury prevention and recovery methods. During this pursuit, he discovered the remarkable benefits of red light therapy while recovering from a knee injury. This led to the creation of Lumaflex, a game-changing flexible, portable, and waterproof panel, providing convenient and efficient red light therapy treatment for individuals, including athletes.