Instructors & STAFF
Meet the team at Americana Jiu Jitsu
Kevin Carestia
Black Belt Professor
Kevin received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in February 2019 from Professor Emily Kwok. He enjoys teaching more advanced techniques and is our in-house expert on all things leg lock-related.
Vinny LaSpisa
Black Belt Professor
Vinny is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which he received from Professor Casey Van Brookhoven in December 2017. His classes are known for focusing on fundamentals that work.
Andy Smedley
Black Belt Professor
Andy is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which he received from Professor Casey Van Brookhoven in December 2017. As a former wrestler and currently a youth wrestling coach, Andy’s Jiu Jitsu style is influenced by wrestling.
Zack Blomquist
Brown Belt Instructor
Zack is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He’s our head kids instructor and also teaches an adult fundamentals class. Zack has taught kids martial arts for 6+ years and trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 8+ years and Tae Kwon Do as a child and teen.
Mike Chiuchiolo
Brown Belt Instructor
Mike is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and teaches our ‘Foot Lock Friday’ adult no-gi class. Mike has trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 5 years and is known for his exceptional leg lock game.
Roel Verlinden
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Roel is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and teaches our midday Fundamentals class as well as our kids competition prep classes. Roel has trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 5 years and also holds the rank of brown belt in Judo with 15 years of experience.
Eileen Yeager
Yoga Instructor
Eileen teaches our morning yoga all-level flow classes. She completed her teacher training with Powers Yoga in 2013 and is E-RYT certified in addition to currently studying for her 500-hour yoga certification.
Laurie Berenson
Manager
Laurie is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has been training for 9 years. She teaches our Saturday Women’s Fundamentals class in addition to being the point person on all things member-related, working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the academy running smoothly.