Co-founder and Instructor Jim Herman is a BJJ blackbelt with over a decade of BJJ experience and over 30 years of martial arts training. He is a certified level 1 and 2 Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor, was a defense tactics instructor for the Montgomery County Police Department, and holds a black belt in Taekwondo. He is a retired police officer and a full-time coach, teaching BJJ and MMA in the Frederick area. For over 8 years, he has been a BJJ and MMA coach.

Accomplishments

Jim Herman has used his skills to compete and fight in multiple venues. He has boxed in the ring and fought in the VA state championships for kickboxing. Jim decided at a late age to step into the cage against a much younger competitor and won by guillotine in the third round. Competed in Fight 2 win 109.

Amad has been training in martial arts since June 2009. Initially motivated by wanting to learn a martial arts skill and stay in shape, Amad began taking No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) at a friend’s mixed martial arts gym at Frederick Fight Club (FFC) in Frederick, MD, in 2009 and was immediately hooked when he found himself being controlled and constantly submitted by a sixteen-year-old kid who was 70 pounds lighter and much weaker than him. At that point, he knew there must be something special about Jiu-Jitsu and had to learn it. Amad has trained in jiu-jitsu consistently ever since. In August 2010, he started incorporating Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into his training. Amad has competed in various grappling/BJJ tournaments since 2010 and enjoys the nuisances of adapting on the fly to an opponent’s unknown skills. Although he has trained in other martial arts such as Muay Thai, Lethwei, Judo, Wrestling, and Mixed Martial Arts, including Krav Maga, Amad dedicates most of his time to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Martial Art. Amad was promoted to Blue Belt and Purple Belt in BJJ in June 2010 and June 2013, respectively, from Professor Vicente Junior (3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt) Affiliate Academy. Also, Amad was promoted to Brown Belt and Black Belt in December 2017 and June 2021, respectively, while at a Master Pedro Sauer (8th Degree BJJ Red & Black Belt) Affiliate Academy. Due to his dedication and knowledge of the various systems of Jiu-Jitsu, Amad was able to join the instructor’s team at the Mount Airy Jiu-Jitsu & MMA (The Mount) Academy as one of the instructors for the Kid’s and Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Programs.

Amad is passionate about teaching Jiu-Jitsu martial arts because it allows his students to have an abundance of fun, make lifelong friendships, build self-confidence, and learn skills that can protect themselves and others (“Bully-Proof” the kids), all at the same time. He loves the self-defense aspects of the Jiu-Jitsu. His goal is to be a role model to young men and to let them know (and witness) that a man can be skillful and respectful to everyone. “It is wonderful to have the kids compete in the local grappling tournaments and perform up to their ability while being respectful to their opponents.” “It is gratifying to see the students exemplify the definition of Jiu-Jitsu by defending themselves before submitting their very aggressive opponents.

Laura has been training in martial arts since November 2010. She began her training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) after taking a Women’s Self-Defense (WSD) Class at Frederick Fight Club (FFC) in Frederick, MD. Laura participated in her first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) class in December 2010 and was hooked from that day forward.

Initially, she trained in BJJ to protect herself effectively and stay in shape. After eight weeks of BJJ training, she competed in her first Jiu-Jitsu Tournament and won her first Gold Medal by using the Rear-Naked-Choke “Mata Leão” and the Ezekiel Choke on her opponents. She has been competing in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments ever since.

Although Laura predominately studied BJJ, she quickly began training in the martial arts of Muay Thai, Lethwei “Burmese Kickboxing,” Judo, and mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Due to her extraordinary dedication and knowledge, the Mount was honored to have Laura join the instructor team as one of their kids' BJJ Instructors, Women’s Self-Defense (WSD) Instructors, and Women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (WBJJ) Instructors.

Belt Progression:

Blue Belt: April 2012

Purple Belt: March 2015

Brown Belt: November 2018

Black Belt: March 2022

“Gentle or Yielding Way”

(Nidan) Judo Coach Sensei Mike Lathwood has been a judoka since 1992. He is a judo competitor, and his first Judo Shiai was in 1993. That day, he crushed all competitors and won gold. It was a great start to a long judo lifestyle. My first judo tournament was a Ura-Nage (some call it a Supplex), a big Ippon, and so much fun!

Sensei Mike found judo only after practicing karate, kung fu, and other martial arts. Finding Judo in 1993 at Master Yu’s Academy was a perfect match and enhancement to the joy of wrestling he had acquired in High School wrestling.

Judo was Sensei Mike’s next progression into the joy of grappling, and BJJ was the next natural progression where Judo enhances the Big Throws: Nage-Waza, and BJJ enhances the groundwork: Katame-Waza.

Judo Grappling Techniques-Osae-komi-waza. Judo Submissions- joint locks- Kansetsu-waza and Chokes- Shime-waza- can be significantly improved by supplementing your Judo training with BJJ.

Sensei Mike found that his joy in competition (Shiai) was also fulfilled by judo. 100s of judo matches have given him a much greater understanding and knowledge of the Art of Judo.

To quote Jigoro Kano, these understandings and knowledge include;

“Maximum efficiency with minimum effort for the mutual welfare and benefit of all.”
Maximum efficiency because strength is not the answer
I always fought in multiple divisions, including always hitting the tatami weighing 81 kg, fought in heavy, open divisions and higher ranks than himself (with my Sensei approval), and would use the principles of judo that were given to him by Sensei.
Mutual benefit because the health and well-being training in Judo/BJJ provides good health and strength as a great exercise routine in your life also, good friends and relationships gained in Judo
“In randori (free fighting), we learn to employ the principle of maximum efficiency even when we could easily overpower an opponent.”
Create your opportunities and foresee the possibilities
Sensei Mike calls this creativity in opportunities found “Judo Tricks.”
A chance to face challenges and overcome your limitations
There is fear, and fear does not have to be eliminated, but proceeding within fear (within your limitations) and conquering your foe is the greatest reward
“If there is effort, there is great accomplishment.” Practicing and training in the principles of Judo/BJJ is not easy, but the reward of great accomplishment comes with that.
And besides that, it is a heck of a lot of fun!
learning how to throw people around with excellent efficiency and less effort is great fun! ?? GOODTIMES!
I have been practicing judo, BJJ, and Grappling for over 30 years. I Coach and pass on knowledge as Jigoro Kanos's vision is to provide the principles of Judo. See you on the mats! GOODTIMES!

Luiz Augusto Oliveira dos Santos, known as Guto, is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. He started Jiu Jitsu when he was just 11 years old under Ryan and Daniel Gracie. For over 17 years, Guto has known he enjoyed competing. He has achieved first place in the São Paulo and Brazilian championships three times and second place in the world championship in Brazil.

At the age of 21, Guto attended The Federal University of ABC to study Science of Technology and began teaching Jiu-jitsu as a purple belt. Guto moved to the United States in 2018 and lived in Los Angeles for two years, where he earned his black belt at age 27 under Talita Treta, a Daniel Gracie student and current Bellator MMA athlete.

During his two-year period in California, Guto traveled to several states to work as a referee in the World Champion League, FUJI BJJ, DreamJJ, and Gracie Barra championships.