Meet our instructors

Lead Instructor:

Brenin DeOliveira is an active law enforcement officer and the founder of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu COPS program. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) accolades include competing internationally, winning titles such as the Delariva Cup, Massachusetts Open, and Dragon’s Lair Absolute Championship. In addition to being a coach at BTT Jax, his leadership style is strongly influenced by his training under the highly-respected Francisco ‘’Toco” Albuquerque, from whom he earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Whether it's his work in law enforcement or his accomplishments in BJJ, Brenin DeOliveira embodies dedication and resilience, serving as an inspiration for many.

Lineage: Carlson Gracie > Francisco ‘’Toco” Albuquerque > Brenin Deoliveira 

 

Assistant Instructors:

 

Wilson Goveia - 10 years as a Law Enforcement Officer, Florida State Law Enforcement DT instructor, Firearms instructor and SWAT operator/sniper. 10x UFC Veteran, MMA Fighter, 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Ricardo Liborio and American Top Team Pembroke Pines gym owner. Hailing from Fortaleza, Brazil and fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Gouveia is often considered to be the most talented fighter in American Top Team above high caliber fighters such as Thiago "Pitbull" Alves and many others.

 


Eddie Pagan - He is a seasoned 26-year law enforcement veteran, skilled in high-risk situations and a SWAT team operator in Coral Gables. With eleven years as a Special Agent for the DEA, he’s extensively trained in law enforcement procedures, firearms, and emergency response. His expertise includes conflict resolution and crisis prevention. Eddie is also a Field Training Officer, Team Leader of the Coral Gables SWAT team, and experienced in undercover operations. He holds certifications as a Firearms, Force on Force, and ASP Baton Instructor, and is a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu trained under Michel Porfirio of the Carlson Gracie Jr. lineage. He is also a Gracie Survival Tactics Instructor, educated in DEA Money Laundering protocols, Combat Rifle by Special Forces’ Bob Keller, and is a Defensive Tactics Instructor at Miami Dade School of Justice.

 

 

Dylan Royce - Active Law Enforcement Officer. No Gi Pan Am and American Nationals Medalist. 12X Superfight Winner for Fight to Win Promotions. Ranked Top 20 in the World at Master 1 Black Belt for IBJJF. Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Physiology.

 

 

          

Luigi  Fioravanti - Active Law Enforcement officer, 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo Liborio, active bjj competitor, 9X UFC veteran, 8X M-1 Global veteran a professional kickboxer and Marine Corps Infantry with 1 combat tour in Iraq.

 

 

Mike Reitmann - Active Law Enforcement Officer of 10 years, Force On Force Instructor, Current full time SWAT Officer and Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Nick Walters (second degree Black Belt under Master Luiz Palhares).

 

 

                 

Pete DeProspo - Active police officer, Current SWAT operator, and instructor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in department’s police academy. BJJ black belt under Gabriel Gonzaga, instructor in jiu jitsu class as well as starting a jiu jitsu for law enforcement class for local agencies.

 

 

Mike Smith - NY Law Enforcement since 2011, now in Special Ops and SWAT. NYS DT instructor, BJJ brown belt at Fat Cat Jiu Jitsu under Anthony Vetro, and head of Law Enforcement training at Fat Cat BJJ.         

 

 

Jesse Cohen - He is currently an investigator with the Westminster, CO Police Department, where he also serves as an arrest control and defensive tactics instructor. He is a published author and regular contributor to Police One. Training since 2008, he holds a 1st Degree black belt under Rafael Lovato Jr. and has over 15 years of experience as a BJJ instructor. As a veteran competitor and medalist in IBJJF, F2W, Grappling Industries, and Grapplers Quest, Jesse has years of experience teaching a diverse range of students, including police officers, military personnel, first-day white belts, and world-class competitors.


 

                   

Mario Reyes - Active California law-enforcement officer, over 15 years. SWAT operator for over 12 years. SWAT Assistant Team Leader and sniper. California State certified Defensive Tactics Instructor. Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under 8th degree coral belt Master Joe Moreira.

 

 

                

Alessandro Ferreira - Active Law Enforcement Officer, California State Law Enforcement DT Instructor, Alessandro Ferreira is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt/ MMA fighter 15-2, Gracie Worlds Absolute Champion, Worlds Champion, SF Open champion, Cesar Gracie Academy BJJ instructor, BJJ 3rd degree Black Belt under Ryan Gracie/Juliano Pedritta.

 

Ashley Cummins - Active Law enforcement officer, 10th Planet brown belt under Richie "Boogeyman" Martinez and professional MMA with over 30 fights. Ashley was a 2x title contender and ranked top 10 in the world in MMA in her weight class. Ashley is a certified California State DT instructor and also teaches DETAC at two police academies.

 

Anastasia Moore - Active Law Enforcement Officer, training over 12 years and black belt under Professor Vellore Caballero - Easton/Renzo Gracie, former Intelligence Analyst with Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers Division working in the Border Security Operations Center

 

 

 

Oscar Magana - Active Law Enforcement, L.E. DT instructor, Special Operations Team use of force advisor, active BJJ competitor, instructor and BJJ Black belt under professor Thomas Cronin/Carlson Gracie. He originally began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a way to increase his grappling knowledge as a law enforcement officer. This career enhancing move quickly transitioned into a great appreciation for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a passion to continue his grappling education and skill set. 

 

Santino Vallejos- Active Law Enforcement Officer. A black belt and BJJ practitioner for 15 years, holding prestigious honors in the field of BJJ, Vallejos, has competed in numerous regional, National and international tournaments throughout his combat sport career; holding NY State Championships in multiple division. Along with owning, operating and teaching at a premiere BJJ facility, Vallejos has and currently instructs numerous self defense and combat sport venues and seminars for his community. Currently, he is bringing the art of BJJ to his department, utilizing it as a cognitive and physical tool in the law enforcement arsenal; to not only keep his fellow law enforcement officers safe, but also ensure the safety of the the public. Outside the realm of BJJ, Vallejos holds degrees in exercise physiology, from a bachelors level and ultimately the doctoral field.

 

             

 

 

Guillermo “Memo” Mendez - Active law enforcement officer and active reservists in the United States Air Force. Guillermo began his law enforcement career as a correctional officer where he worked for seven years. As a law enforcement and correctional officer, he has been selected to be a part of the Defensive Tactics team as an instructor. Guillermo is brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Fabio ”Pateta” Prado and a first responder class instructor at Team Alpha BJJ in Vacaville, CA. Guillermo is an active competitor who has competed at every belt level. In 2022 and 2023 Guillermo placed 1st at the United States Police and Fire Championships in BJJ.

   

 

 

 


Sgt. Ed Soares - 22-year active law enforcement veteran specializing in gang and narcotics. “Handcuff master,” former Task Force Officer for FBI's "Operation Safe Streets," and former Narcotic K9 Hander. Currently serving as a Patrol Sergeant and Head DT Instructor. Purple Belt under Peninsula Self Defense, a Master Jean Jacques Machado Affiliate.
Sgt. Soares is a highly active Jiu Jitsu competitor with numerous championships. Currently ranked #3 in the world in his division through IBJJF. 2022 IBJJF World Masters 4 Super Heavy Weight Champion and 2023 IBJJF International Masters 4 Super Heavyweight North American Champion. Co-owner of 148 Jiu Jitsu with his wife Jocelyn, a blue belt under JJM and fellow law enforcement officer. They focus on enhancing Law Enforcement through Jiu Jitsu training at 148 Jiu Jitsu Academy.

                    

             

Marco Michels - Active Law Enforcement officer, owner, instructor for RED 9 International and BJJ COPS firearms head instructor, a well knowledge instructor that focuses on the fundamentals of shooting with over a decade of experience in teaching firearms. 

 

 

Matt Mildorf - Former Leo SRT, FLETC Firearms Instructor certified, owner of Mildorf Family Firearms Academy a Marine Corps veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps from 2004 to 2014. He has a wealth of real-world combat experience deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror. Matt was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006.