Instructors & Staff
Meet the team at Americana Jiu Jitsu
Kevin Carestia
Black Belt Professor
Kevin is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which he received from Professor Emily Kwok in February 2019. 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 second-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 second-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.
Mike Raff
Brown Belt Instructor
Mike is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and helps teach our adult classes. Mike has trained Jiu Jitsu for over 8 years and has been a lifelong fitness junkie.
Mike Chiuchiolo
Brown Belt Instructor
Mike is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and helps teach our adult no-gi classes. Mike has trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 6 years and is known for his exceptional leg lock game.
Alex Rios
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
With a 5-1 amateur MMA and 2-0 kickboxing record, Alex brings his real life fight experience and in-the-cage expertise to our adult Jiu Jitsu and striking classes.
Roel Verlinden
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Roel is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and our head kids instructor. He has trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 7 years and also holds the rank of brown belt in Judo with 15 years of experience.
Ruben Alvarez
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Ruben is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and helps teach both our adult and kids classes in addition to actively competing and coaching kids wrestling for another local organization. Ruben has trained Jiu Jitsu for over 3 years and wrestling for 15 years.
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 brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has been training for more than 10 years. She teaches occasional self defense workshops in addition to being the point person on all things member related to keep the academy running smoothly.
Our Jiu Jitsu lineage…
Kevin Carestia received his black belt from Emily Kwok, who is a Ricardo Almeida black belt.
Vin LaSpisa and Andy Smedley received their black belts from Casey VanBrookhoven, who received his from Louis Vintaloro, who is a Royler Gracie black belt.