Instructors

Coach Kevin began his martial arts journey in 2000 under Marc Hagebusch (3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt) at Texarkana Jiu-Jitsu in Texarkana, Texas. Promoted to the rank of Black Belt in 2010, he was awarded his 3rd Degree in 2019 by the Founder of GFTeam and ,7th Deg Coral Belt, Master Julio Ceaser Pereira.

Kevin spent 8 years with he Air Force Reserve as a Medic and over 12 years working as a Police Officer in Texarkana, Texas and most recently Grand Junction, Colorado before deciding to run the Grand Valley BJJ full time.

In the 10 plus years training at Texarkana Jiu-Jitsu, Kevin assisted in teaching the Adult and Kids Classes at Texarkana Jiu-Jitsu. Kevin has competed successfully in MMA as well as grappling competitions and has a extensive background in teaching Police Officer Survival Tactics.

Coach Kevin’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage

Kevin Lewis – Marc Hagebusch – Allen Mohler – Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti – Rolls Gracie – Helio Gracie – Carlos Gracie Sr. – Mitsuo “Count Koma” Maeda

Coach Nadia currently teaches our Wednesday Gi and Thursday Nogi evening classes.

Nadia is a black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu. She began training in 2014 and fell in love with competing with only three months of training under her belt. She went on to miss Fighter of the Year as a white belt in the Fight to Win Tournament Series by only 2 points due to an injury causing her to miss a tournament mid season. Nadia came back as a blue belt and won the 2016 Fight to Win Women’s Blue Belt Fighter of the Year. She then went on to the World Master Championships submitting her way to the finals as a blue belt and as a where she won the silver medal and again as a purple belt podiuming with the bronze. Nadia has also been a professional hunting guide for 13 years operating her own business in Mexico and guiding horseback hunts for deer, elk and sheep in Wyoming. She began coaching the adult beginners class and assistant coaching the kids bjj class in 2018, receiving her black belt in 2023. “Jiu-jitsu has fundamentally changed my life, not only on the mats but in my relationship with my self and life it self. Jiu-jitsu has a way opening your perception in how you think about yourself and your capabilities and also how you relate to and respond to others. BJJ is a discipline, one with respect. When you enter the world of jiu-jitsu there is no going back. You will outgrow your old self and discover your true potential and you will always have a family on the mats weather its in your own gym or across the world on some foreign mats. Jiu-jitsu is truly that kind of community. You learn to honor and respect your opponents and you learn to honor and respect your self.” ~ Nadia Sweeten

Originally from Paris France, Franck began his martial arts journey in 1976 at the age of six following in the footsteps of his two older brothers. He has gained extensive experience in martial arts, including Judo, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Kendo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After 16 years of living in Los Angeles and training Jiu-Jitsu under Gracie family members Cobrinha and Shawn Williams Franck moved to Grand Junction and joined Grand Valley Jiu-Jitsu. Franck is a black belt in three different disciplines: Judo, Kendo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is passionate about sharing his passion for teaching Jiu-Jitsu with newcomers and getting them started on the path to the amazing journey of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Originally from Arlington Texas Justin started training brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2006 under Orlando Waugh at the Texas Self Defense Academy. Justin was awarded his Black Belt in 2014 before moving to Denver Colorado where he trained at a variety of gyms often times helping teach classes. In 2020 Justin moved to Grand Junction Colorado where he found his new home with the team at Grand Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Justin shares his passion for teaching with our 6am class. He believes jiu-jitsu is not just beating people up but building them up through the art of jiu-jitsu.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Guam, Ros Galendez started her jiu-jitsu journey in the summer of 2021 by attending a women’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu class which she immediately enjoyed. Journeying and training along with her under head instructor Gabe Baker of Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Guam are Ros’ husband and three children. Ros began coaching kids, age 4 to to 7, under Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and in August 2023, two weeks before leaving Guam, received her blue belt under the Academy’s Women’s BJJ class professor. Ros and her family began training at Grand Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after moving to Grand Junction, Colorado in September 2023. Ros hopes to inspire and motivate kids to learn and grow through Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Keep Shining!