Baltimore Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
instructOrs
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Nick Tissue is the owner and head instructor of Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He has years of martial arts experience, as well as several amateur MMA fights. After a challenging MMA fight, Nick realized the importance of a successful ground game and began learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 2008. He received his Purple Belt from Grandmaster Relson Gracie in 2011. In 2014 Nick became a certified instructor of Gracie University, and opened Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu later that year. He received his Brown Belt from Ryron Gracie in 2016. In December 2019, he travelled to Gracie University to receive his Black Belt from Rener and Ryron. Nick has extensive experience teaching students of all ages and experience levels.
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Alexis is co-owner of Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with husband Nick Tissue. She's our lead instructor in Women Empowered and assistant instructor in our Combatives and Youth programs. Alexis began training Women Empowered® in 2018, but typically spent her time behind the front desk and running the dojo behind the scenes. Recently she has been spending more time on the mat, now leading the Women Empowered® program, and assisting in our other programs. She received her Pink Belt in 2022 and became a Women Empowered® Certified Instructor in July 2022. Helping other women find confidence and enjoyment in self-defense, while creating lasting relationships, is what motivates her in jiu-jitsu.
Justin Roem is an instructor at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Justin currently teaches in our youth and adult programs. He received his Blue Belt in 2015 after successfully completing the Combatives Qualification test. In July 2016, he became a certified instructor of Gracie University in Torrance, CA. Justin lives in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore and has been training at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu since it opened in October 2014. In June 2021, Justin received his Purple Belt.
Haley Chitty has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2010 and earned a Purple Belt at Yamasaki Academy in Washington, D.C. from Luis Pantoja, an IBJJF certified Second Degree Black Belt training under Mario and Fernando Yamasakai and Francisco Neto. Haley has been training and teaching at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu since 2016 under the tutelage of Nick Tissue. Haley's experience includes competing in several local tournaments as a white, blue, and purple belt. You can also catch Haley assisting in our youth classes with his son. He received his Brown Belt in December 2021.
Patrick is one of our Master Cycle® instructors and started at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as a new White Belt in 2015. He was awarded his Blue Belt in May 2016. He earned his Purple Belt in June 2021. Patrick is a pharmacist that lives in Federal Hill and uses his experiences as a college adjunct faculty to break down complex techniques into easier to learn slices.
Brent Hayward has been training jiu-jitsu since April 2016, earning his Blue Belt in 2017. He started the Gracie Combatives® program with no previous grappling experience, but now enjoys the gentle art of leverage without power. He also represents the school at local competitions when not busy watching football, playing soccer, or doing Crossfit on the weekends. Brent received his Purple Belt in December 2021.
Theo Williams is an instructor at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and currently teaches in our adult programs. He started a Gracie Garage in 2016 and learned Gracie Combatives® from the DVDs with the other members of his garage. Theo earned his Combatives Belt at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Louisville from Allan Manganello in 2018, became a certified instructor of Gracie University in Torrance, Ca in 2018, and received his Blue Belt in 2019.
Jimmy began training at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 2019. After completing the Gracie Combatives® course he received his Combatives belt in 2020, and shortly after earned his Blue Belt. He is an instructor at the dojo helping out in our Combatives classes.
Luis is an instructor at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, currently teaching in our Gracie Combatives® classes and assisting in our Women Empowered program. He has been training since 2017 and received his Blue Belt in 2018. He received his Purple Belt in December 2022.
Emily (she/her) is a Women Empowered® Instructor and also assists in the Combatives Program. She started training at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in August 2019 with no prior martial arts experience. she started in the Women Empowered® Program, which gave her the confidence to continue her jiu-jitsu journey into Gracie Combatives® and Master Cycle®. Her favorite part of training and teaching is growing alongside other amazing women at the dojo. Emily received her Pink Belt in October 2020 and her Blue Belt in May 2022. She became a Women Empowered® Certified Instructor in January 2023.
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David Lee is an instructor at Baltimore Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and currently teaches our adult beginners program. He is a retired law enforcement officer from Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, during his career he was the lead Defensive Tactics instructor and Commander of the Emergency Response Team. David began training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 2016, he received his Combatives Belt in 2017, and received his Blue Belt in 2018. David is currently an assistant instructor with Gracie University’s Gracie Survival Tactics® (GST) team assisting with certifying law enforcement officers in GST. David became a certified instructor of Gracie University in Torrance, CA in July 2018.
This Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center is independently owned and operated. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu®, Gracie Combatives®, Gracie Bullyproof®, Women Empowered®, and Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center®, are registered trademarks used under license from Gracie University.