Instructors

Coach Tyler has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 10 years, and instructing classes for over 5 years. On top of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, he has grappling experience with Folk-Style Wrestling, as well as Muay Thai kickboxing training early in his Martial Arts career. After only a few months of training, Coach Tyler started competing in a lot of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling tournaments throughout his career. He reached the podium in almost every tournament, with multiple gold medal finishes. Much of Coach Tyler’s time is now spent on the mat leading classes 6 days a week at Gracie Barra Washington, helping everyone from 5 years old and up.

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Coach Jesse has been practicing martial arts since he was 8 years old including taekwondo, karate, boxing, and kickboxing. He has trained and competed in multiple countries and gained a wide range of skills. In 2011 he was ranked 3rd in the nation for sport karate Kumite (point fighting) in Sydney, Australia. Shortly after he and his family moved back to Missouri, Gracie Barra Washington opened its doors. Jesse is one of the few students to be with our school since the very first day of classes in 2018 and has been a certified instructor with Gracie Barra since 2021. He has earned multiple gold and silver medals in BJJ competitions throughout Missouri.

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Coach Cates has participated in some form of martial arts for most of his life. He found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the art. Ever since, he has spent little time away from the mats and dedicates hours a day to learning and teaching the art. He is a certified coach and active competitor at Gracie Barra. He continues his training daily and competes in gi- and no-gi tournaments in hopes of reaching the highest level of jiu-jitsu. Coach Cates plans on being on the mats for as long as he is able, and looks forward to sharing the art that changed his life in such a positive way. Off the mats he still participates in every form of martial arts he can, including MMA or HEMA.