The coaches.
Five full black belts. One advanced purple. Lineage running through Tom DeBlass to Ricardo Almeida to Renzo Gracie. This is the room that builds the team.
Five full black belts. One advanced purple. Lineage running through Tom DeBlass to Ricardo Almeida to Renzo Gracie. This is the room that builds the team.
Every program at Mooresville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is led by an experienced practitioner and coach. A deliberate decision so every member, from a 5-year-old to a 50-year-old beginner, learns from someone who knows the art at the deepest level.
Mike is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under 8th Degree Coral Belt, Master Luiz Palhares. Mike has been teaching both adults and children for almost 10 years. He takes tremendous pride in creating a safe, friendly, and informative atmosphere for his students.
After examining other martial arts, Mike decided on BJJ — a highly efficient, grappling-based form of self-defense. The style relies on controlling an opponent through dominant positions and leverage-based techniques. Because BJJ doesn't depend on striking, it can serve as a more peaceful way to end a conflict without causing undue harm. Students of the art see real improvements in strength, endurance, mental well-being, and confidence.
On top of being a co-owner of Mooresville BJJ, Mike is a full-time artist specializing in medical and 3D animation. With an advanced understanding of the human body, he uses his detailed knowledge of anatomy to help his students learn BJJ technique at an accelerated rate.
Luke Moeller, a co-owner of Mooresville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, holds a black belt under the legendary Tom DeBlass. His journey into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began in 2012 at Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, driven by a desire to enhance his physical fitness. Little did he know that this decision would ignite an enduring passion for the art.
Luke is an avid and devoted student of Jiu-Jitsu, deriving immense joy from exploring its intricate nuances. Beyond the mats, he's a loving father to two children, valuing the balance that Jiu-Jitsu brings to his life.
What truly captivates Luke about Jiu-Jitsu is its remarkable capacity to push not only physical limits but also challenge mental boundaries. The exhaustion it imparts, both physically and mentally, becomes a source of liberation. This fusion of personal growth and physical intensity fuels his dedication to the art.
Luke's commitment extends to sharing his passion through teaching and coaching. He stands ready to guide and inspire you on your journey, whether your goals include self-defense, traditional martial arts, weight loss, or personal growth. Join him at Mooresville BJJ and experience firsthand the power of Jiu-Jitsu.
Long before stepping into a gym, Matt became fascinated with this "new" form of grappling that made its appearance in the early days of the UFC. To see men exhibit complete control and submit larger strikers and brawlers was eye-opening. Self-defense was no longer learning kata at your local McDojo or ordering low-quality fighting system videos from a catalog, and martial arts was no longer strictly a striker's game.
Matt began his study of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2015 as a way to learn effective self-defense while augmenting his routine workouts. He soon found that the benefits reached far beyond the gym. Besides the positive physical impacts, the mental strength and resilience that come from training until you're sore and tired, facing opponents of all sizes, and showing up when you don't want to turns down the volume knob on the rest of the noise in life.
When he isn't training, Matt works as a mechanical engineer, and before that, a math and physics tutor. He brings the same mindset to the gym, finding the most effective ways to teach individual students how to solve the numerous problems Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will throw at them.
Mike Peters, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt at Mooresville BJJ, has been training since 2015. Known for his passion for learning and dedication to his students, Mike brings a unique blend of technical skill and conceptual teaching to the gym.
As an engineer, he approaches BJJ with a meticulous eye, tailoring his instruction to fit each student's current abilities and personal style goals. His greatest reward is seeing his students thrive — learning, growing, and giving their all in class. Outside of the gym, Mike is a loving father and continues to study BJJ deeply, making him both a mentor and a source of inspiration for everyone on the mats.
Brooke Bertram is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who has been training under her father, Mike Bertram, since 2009. Brooke's solid foundation of grappling has helped her win awards in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and high school wrestling tournaments. At Mooresville BJJ, Brooke is an assistant coach in the kids program.
Off the mats, Brooke is studying at East Carolina University as a double major in Criminal Justice and Art, with a concentration in painting.
Joe is a retired NYPD officer, having served on the force until he was injured in the line of duty. With a lifelong passion for martial arts, he holds black belts in Judo and Japanese Jujitsu. Seeking to enhance his ground-fighting skills, Joe embarked on his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey. He is a dedicated family man, happily married with twin girls. Now, he brings his extensive martial arts experience to coaching the kids' classes.
Your first class is on us. The hardest step is the first one in the door — once you're on the mat, the room takes care of you.