Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma

Wrestling/Competition Coach

Jason Townsend

1st Degree Black Belt

Jason Townsend served as coach for the 2007 U.S. Grappling World Team which dominated the competition at the World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey. The USA won a World gold medal in all nine weight classes.

In his role as Manager of Developing Wrestling Styles, Townsend led the delegation and coached the 2008 U.S. Grappling World Team to titles in both the No-Gi and Gi styles at the first Grappling World Championships held in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Townsend was the founder and President of the International Submission Wrestling Association. Townsend's background in coaching Grappling includes coaching positions with Xtreme Couture MMA and Marc Laimon's Cobra Kai jiu-jitsu.

Townsend served as an assistant wrestling coach at Cal-State Fullerton from 2000-2005. He was a varsity wrestler for Syracuse Univ. and Hofstra Univ. Townsend was a two-time Maryland state high school champion, and was an All-American in freestyle at the Junior Nationals and Espoir Nationals.

Jason currently holds the ranlk of Black Belt under Michael Proctor and Marcello C. Monteiro.

Coach

David Gines

1st Degree Black Belt

Master Marcello C. Monteiro

5th Degree Black Belt

Master Monteiro is well known in Brasil as a teacher and coach for creating fighting strategies, teaching the most important tricks and details that speed up the learning process and facilitate the performance of each movement used by fighters.

Since the age of six, Marcello has been hooked on Jiu-Jitsu, starting at Carlson Gracie's Academy and transitioning to W2M in Copacabana. Owned by Ricardo Juca, W2M was the home base for Jiu-Jitsu legend Ricardo De la Riva. From White-Black, Marcello studied with De la Riva and many considered him as De la Riva's protege. In 1998, Marcello opened his first school in Rio and in 1999, Marcello received his Black Belt from De la Riva. In 2001, he received an additional certificate for his black belt from 9th Degree Red Belt Carlos Robson Gracie.

Today Marcello holds a 5th Degree Black Belt. He also leads one of America's largest Jiu-Jitsu Associations with over 100 schools training under him, including Michael Proctor's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma.

More about Marcello Monteiro

gritcitybjj@gmail.com

(253) 426-8197

Professor | Head Instructor

Michael Proctor

3rd Degree Black Belt

Michael Proctor is a Marcello Monteiro protégé. Michael began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career under Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu, transitioning to De La Riva Black Belt Marcello Monteiro in 2008. In 2010 Michael opened the first Marcello C. Monteiro Academy in Washington State. Michael is the proud owner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tacoma and currently holds the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt under Marcello C. Monteiro.

"Jiu-Jitsu is my passion. I absolutely love my school, and I love teaching classes, training on the mats. I want the best for my school and I want the best for my athletes. I'm willing to invest whatever I can to make sure EVERYONE who comes into my academy, no matter what their specific personal goals are, will have a life-changing experience and come away with something valuable each and every time they come train. I credit my career to my instructors over the years and all those that have come before me. I believe that having a strong lineage has made me who I am. I like knowing that my students belong to the best team in the area."