John Will

John Will was awarded the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Rigan and Jean Jacques Machado in 1998; making him the first Australian Brazilian Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor in Australia, coaching and training with many Jiu Jitsu and no holds barred fighters.

John began his martial arts training in 1972 and since has studied all over the world, including in Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, India, USA, and Brazil, with such notables as Benny Urquidez, Gene LeBell, Shuki Ron, Pete Cunningham, Rorion and Rickson Gracie, and the Machado Brothers.

He has black belts in numerous styles of martial arts and has studied forms of grappling ranging from western wrestling to obscure Asian grappling arts. He was the first Caucasian to win the world championship in Pentjak Silat in Indonesia. In the late 1980’s, a friendship with Rigan Machado allowed John to travel to and train in Brazil, and so began his serious study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.John now conducts in excess of 50 grappling seminars throughout Australia and overseas each year.

He also works with Australian law enforcement groups and Special Operations personnel to improve their arrest and control procedures. Between writing books, running seminars, traveling and training with the world’s martial arts elite, this 3-time winner of the Blitz Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award can still be found most often at his schools in Melbourne and Geelong, Australia.  John also created the BJJ America Professional Grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Curriculum.

David Meyer

David Meyer began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1992, and is one of the first Americans to reach Black Belt, receiving his rank in 1997. He is a student of Rigan, Jean Jacques, Carlos, John and Roger Machado.

He is one of the most successful American competitors in the sport, and is the coach and training partner for numerous no holds barred fighters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, currently training with the Cesar Gracie team out of the Fairtex Gym in San Francisco.

His many titles include 2007 IBJJF Submission Grappling Black Belt Senior 2 World Champion, 2004 gold medallist for the Senior Black Belt division of the Pan Am games, winner of the 1998 Korean Air Black Belt Challenge.

He was the first American to win a medal at the black belt level at a BJJ World Championship, earning the Bronze Medal in Black Belt Open Weight Class division in Brazil in 1998. He has been the winner of numerous “superfights” at regional and national Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions in both gi and no-gi competitions, and is well respected as both a competitor and instructor.

David began training Jujitsu in 1968 under Sensei Jack Seki. He received his 1st Dan in 1977. He trained White Lotus Kung Fu under Sifu Douglas Wong and taught Jujitsu at Steven Seagal’s Tenshin Dojo from 1984-1987. He was head instructor of Jujitsu at UCLA from 1980-85. He received his 3rd Dan in Jujitsu under Sensei Jack Seki and holds a 4th Dan under Prof. Wally Jay.

David is also a passionate advocate for animal welfare and has been a vegetarian since 1985. He co-founded Adopt-a-Pet.com, the world’s largest non-profit pet adoption website where you can adopt a dog or cat, promoting dog adoption and cat adoption by listing pets to rescue at animal shelters and humane societies around the country.