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Nick Recanati - Co-Owner / Head Professor
Nicholas C. Recanati is a retired police officer for the Bergen County Police department. He was the lead training advisor for the Bergen County Police Academy for four years. Read More
Anthony Valentin - Professor / GM
Anthony valentin was born in Brooklyn New York. At the age of 12 he moved down to clermont Florida where he was introduced to the sport of jiu jitsu and Mauy Thai. Read more
Joe Tucker - BJJ Fundamentals & No Gi Professor
Joe was born in Huntsville Alabama and grew up in Dublin California. He became active in sports at a very young age. Read more
Brandon "Sunshine" Recanati - Co-Owner/BJJ Coach/Muay Thai coach
- Brandon "Sunshine" is a co-owner at Xtreme Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He has been training in Gracie Jiu Jitsu since he was 5 years of age. He received his blue belt under his father, Professor Nicholas Recanati and World Renowned Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu in 2015 on his 16th birthday. Read moreBrandon is an active competitor with any outstanding record… some being 7 x Gold medal Disney Martial Arts, 6 x Gold Medal COPA, 1 Gold Del Rivra Cup, 3 x Gold NAGA, 1 National NAGA champion (rank #1) 2008, 8 x Gold New Breed & 11 X Gold Grapplers Quest. Brandon also has an amateur record in Kick Boxing. He is currently a 4 stripe Purple Belt and the Co-Head instructor for the Ninja and Warrior program. He also Caches the Mauy Thai program.
Brandon "Sunshine" is a co-owner at Xtreme Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He has been training in Gracie Jiu Jitsu since he was 5 years of age. He received his blue belt under his father, Professor Nicholas Recanati and World Renowned Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu in 2015 on his 16th birthday. Read more
Reggie Nelson - Home School Director/Self Defense Instructor
Reggie is a prior U.S Army Paratrooper with over 17 years of martial arts and fitness training. He is a passionate instructor with a background in professional development. As a father of three, Reggie began training his boys at a young age and works well with adults and children. Read more
His martial arts background includes Military Combatives, Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Kick Boxing and Jiu-Jitsu. He trained for 10 yrs under Sifu George Kee at Wah Lum Kung Fu. He was an assistant instructor under Sifu Kee and performed in numerous demonstrations and competitions, winning several awards at international competitions between 2004 and 2006
Reggie has been training in Jiu Jitsu since 2011 and has been with Professor Recanati since Xtreme Gracie opened. He currently holds a four stripe purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu, and focuses on self defense and practical application.
Danny Mauro - Head Wrestling Coach
Danny has been active in wrestling for over 16 years through extensive training, competing and coaching in wrestling. Read more
Danny has 7 years of wrestling coach experience at the high school level, including 3 years experience as a Physical Education teacher. Previous experiences also include Athletic Director, Physical Education Assistant, and Personal Trainer.
Credentials:
- Master of Arts Degree: Coaching and Sport Administration (University of Central Florida - 2011)
- Bachelor of Science Degree: Sports & Fitness (University of Central Florida - 2008)
- Physical Education Teacher (Orange County Public Schools)
- Certified Athletic Coach (Orange County Public Schools)
Jay Enoch - Summer Camp Director / BJJ Coach
Jay Enoch is a 4 stripe purple belt under Professor Nick Recanati and Master Cyborg Abreu. Read moreHe is the Competition coach for the kids as well as a coach for the regular kids programs. He is an active competitor for the school and has competed in several different tournaments around the nation from the podium at Ibjjf to the Mats of ADCC. Jay is he current Summer Camp Director and Team Competition Coach.
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Justin Henselin - Professor/Muay Thai Coach
Justin was born in Orlando Florida and raised in Winter Garden Florida. He graduated from West Orange High School where he played football all four years. He began his Jiu Jitsu Journey under Professor Jon Burke, Master Royce Gracie, and his main Coach at the time Nick Recanati (Professor). Read more
Justin is also the Assistant Striking Coach along side Head Coach Brandon "Sunshine" Recanati for the Muay Thai program. Justin debuted in his Amatuer Kickboxing fight by getting a big win. He is also an active fighter in Kickboxing as well and will eventually make his Amatuer Mixed Martial Arts Debut. He right now has a (3-0) Amatuer record in Kickboxing, and is looking in the future to become Professional Kickboxer and Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
Luis (Papi) Hernandez - Judo Instructor
Luis was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up in The Bronx. As a
young man, Luis developed an interest in sports. Particularly an interest in
baseball. Read more
level where he excelled. In doing so, it lead him to have the opportunity to
participate in open tryouts for 3 professional baseball teams which included
The Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves.
Accepting the fact that baseball was not in his future, he discovered Judo
accidentally and immediately fell in love with the art. He trained extensively
in Kodokan Judo under the Tutalidge of 4th Dan Brian Yakata. Under Brian's
Tutalidge, he competed against many top national and international Judokas,
where he lost and won numerous tournaments. While he was still attending
college, he decided to enlist in the United States Army and served 8 years
both active duty and reserve. While serving as an Army Medic, he obtained
his Associate degree as a Radiologic Technologist. Today, Luis is not only
continuing the Judo legacy as a Brown Belt, but is also a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
practitioner under the guidance of Professor Nick Recanati, where he
currently holds a 3-stripe Blue Belt. Luis is helping to establish the Judo
program here at Xtreme Gracie to enhance the ground game with the
development of a solid standup game.