Instructors.

In order to create a safe and welcoming environment, all of our instructors are trained and certified in CPR and First aid, concussion in sports, and SafeSport’s abuse prevention course.

Marissa.

I began my martial arts journey in 2009, training in mixed martial arts and competing in one amateur MMA fight in 2011. From 2011–2014, I took a break from martial arts to focus on graduate school, earning my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology.

In 2014, I rediscovered Jiu-Jitsu and began training under Professor Giva Santana at One Jiu-Jitsu in California. I competed in both Gi and No-Gi, earning IBJJF Pans Gold at Masters Blue and Purple Belt, IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Gold at Masters Blue Belt, a silver medal at Masters Purple Belt, and an IBJJF Nationals Gold at Masters Brown Belt.

I earned my Black Belt in September 2024 and have since focused more on coaching. Jiu-Jitsu has changed my life both physically and emotionally.  I love being part of the community and helping others on and off the mats, while trying to keep things fun. I moved back to Vermont in 2025 and look forward to continuing to share my passion for Jiu-Jitsu.

Outside of Jiu-Jitsu, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, exploring new restaurants, and reading.

Tyler.

Great instructor. Bio coming soon.

Sergio.

I started training martial arts as a child, when my mother’s response to me being bullied at 5 years old was to enroll me in Tae Kwon Do to help me build confidence and self defense skills. I enjoyed training, and loved the ethos of the martial artist, but quit Tae Kwon Do as a teenager when I got busy being too cool to do much in the way teenagers typically are. I did fence all the way through high school, in spite of my overflowing coolness, but only in an effort to avoid taking PE classes. Thankfully as a freshman at the University of Vermont I started training in martial arts again, and I fell in love with both Judo and Jiu Jitsu during the first week of classes. I currently hold a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a second degree black belt in Judo and a black belt in ITF Tae Kwon Do.

In the years since, I have had the pleasure to train at a number of academies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Denmark, Iceland and Italy. In each of those places I learned from instructors who I respect and admire, and who shaped the way I teach and train to this day. I have trained in a number of other martial arts as well, including several years in Isshinryu Karate, several more in Goju-Ryu Karate, and briefly in Aikido, Tai Chi, and many others. I have constantly sought to expand my understanding of martial arts, and open myself to new challenges.

During my career as a police officer in the City of Burlington, I served as the head instructor in Use of Force and Defensive Tactics, and in that role I advanced the training program to reflect the current realities and expectations that society has for its police officers. I was fortunate enough to be sent to frequent trainings in use of force and grappling based tactics, including Gracie Survival Tactics level 2, C4C Police Jiu Jitsu, Effective Fitness Combatives, the Officer Survival Series, the FLETC UOF instructor course, and the instructor course for Knife Control Concepts. My passion for martial arts is matched by my passion for teaching, and I work tirelessly to share my knowledge while creating a safe, welcoming environment for everyone. I believe learning should be challenging and fun, and I try to infuse lessons with a healthy dose of humor.

On the mat some of my favorite techniques include throws like Harai Goshi and Ko Soto Gake, and shoulder locks from tricky and unexpected angles. I also enjoy executing crushing pressure from the top to pin opponents much larger than me…

Outside of teaching and training, I like to spend time in my vegetable garden and in the kitchen cooking delicious (mostly Italian) meals. I also spend much of my downtime with my two beautiful dogs, outside in the sunshine or the snow. I love reading and travel, and speak several languages with varying degrees of fluency.

Lance.

I wrestled for 12 years and did Greco-Roman in college through USA wrestling. I'm currently a purple belt in Brazilian jujitsu and have been training on and off now for 7 years, since I was 28.

My father was competitive in kickboxing when I was younger on top of my uncles wrestling, I think I grew up pretty much on the mats and going to competitions pretty regularly. I have a picture of baby Lance sitting on my uncle’s wrestling coach’s lap in the middle of a dual. So I've almost always been there. The original pull to martial arts for me is the independence of the sport, it's A or B, I won or lost and that’s on me. Now a days it's a great place to build community and connect with the people around us and we are always meeting new people. My favorite technique is whichever one I'm working now. I'm inclined to work arm locks and shoulder crunch systems but my favorite out of that is Tarikoplatas.

I grew up in the Akron Canton area of Ohio. I studied exercise science/physiology at Kent state and was strength coach for about 6 years. I coached various teams working at the regional Olympic training center in Cleveland, Kent state rugby, and Ohio women's U23 rugby. After coaching I received some post-grad education in Pathology lab sciences and currently work at UVMMC Anatomical Pathology. I been with my amazing wife Lauren 15 years now and we just moved to Vermont in the spring of ‘25 after many adventures all around the country.

My other interests outside of martial arts include baking and building houses lately, but I do enjoy traveling when the mood hits.

Gerard.

As a native Vermonter, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t something I had much exposure to growing up. After moving south, I found a much larger jiu-jitsu community and started training at Uzcategui BJJ in North Carolina. I quickly became hooked on the sport and later continued my training at Renzo Gracie Fort Lauderdale. Now that I have relocated back to my home state, I am proud and excited to be a small part of helping the Jiu Jitsu community grow in Vermont.

What has kept me interested in jiu-jitsu is the combination of high-intensity physical training and the mental problem-solving that comes with it. Some of my favorite techniques and positions include De La Riva, X-guard, and deep half guard. I especially enjoy working with newer students and watching the concepts start to click as they begin to understand what makes jiu-jitsu so effective.

Outside the gym, I work in technology and software sales and spend much of my free time skiing, shooting archery, and spending time on the lake.

Majken.

Hi, my name is Majken (pronounced Miken, like Mike with an N). I share my name with a cousin in Northern Sweden and also, my four year old spirited niece.  My nickname at High Hat is Big Mike which will make abundant sense when you stand next to me.


I started training jiu jitsu in the fall of 2023, and began training judo in the spring of 2026.  I fell in love with jiu jitsu during my inaugural class and continue to, perhaps ad nauseum, thank a few of my law enforcement friends for encouraging me to train.  When I found out that my favorite United States president Theodore Roosevelt trained jiu jitsu on the lawn of the White House, I became even more connected to and fascinated by the art.  


As a petite female, I’ve learned invaluable ways to protect myself and understand that previously perceived physical deficiencies are, in fact, strengths.


I’ve instructed yoga since 2013 and completed two separate 200 hour trainings in Austin, Texas, and Washington DC, respectively.  Yoga guides us into radical authenticity, fosters strong and important connections within ourselves and with others, and, like jiu jitsu, makes us better at living.  


Off of the yoga and jiu jitsu mats, I work full time at a crematorium in South Burlington, Vermont.  If you make a joke about that, I can guarantee I will find it amusing. I majored in public speaking and theater at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York, played four years of varsity tennis and snapped up a bid to Tri Delta sorority like my golden doodles accept their Trader Joes treats.


I still play tennis, I love to cook and I adore arranging flowers.  I like soft lighting and my friends joke that I don’t know how to turn on a TV.  My favorite book is “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine,” and my favorite movie is the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.  My favorite foods are Swedish fish, beef tartare, and Italian taralli.  I can’t wait to meet you at High Hat!

Shayne.

Awesome guy. Bio coming soon.