Instructors - Americana Jiu Jitsu

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.

Zack Blomquist

Brown Belt Instructor

Zack is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He’s taught kids martial arts for 7+ years and has trained Jiu Jitsu for the past 9+ 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 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.

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.

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 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.

A lot of great teachers here, great school

lisandro polanco

2023-10-17

I am in my early 30s and I was looking for a fun way to work on my cardio and learn a new skill. Ive been a member for about 4 months now and I have been lovin the classes. The instructors and staff are all awesome, super easy to get along with and extremely helpful. See ya on the mats!

Ian Vomero

2023-09-27

If you are looking for a great place to train BJJ in Northern NJ there is no better than Americana Jiu Jitsu. I've been a member since they opened their doors. Excellent Black and higher belt instruction for you and your family. Exceptionally clean facilities as well. I call it my home away from home with child and adult classes Monday to Friday with an open mat on Saturday. If you want to grow and learn in an awesome environment please come to Americana.

94marv

Very welcoming to all. It’s always very clean and well kept. Great learning environment for people of all ages and skill levels.

Pilar Shilad

2023-09-26

I highly recommend Americana! The instructors are excellent teachers, attentive and kind. My children have learned so much and consistently improve from week to week. I also feel that my children are safe. The instructors intervene quickly if they find them doing moves incorrectly or in a way that may harm their practice partner. This is important to me because they have been hurt when trying out another school due to lack of supervision and instruction. The space is also very clean and sanitary. Definitely come to Americana if you are interested in JiuJitsu!

J.G. Smiles

2022-02-04

I have not trained here (yet) but I did buy a gi from their website. It arrive to me with a manufacture defect. Laurie at Americana Jiu Jitsu went way above and beyond to fix the situation. I know the BJJ community is more like two or three degrees of separation, but I was treated as well as a person in their gym community, despite being a thousand miles away. Also thanks to Origin for sending a replacement gi, they also went above and beyond.

Zachary Welch

2022-01-10

I really enjoy the adult classes. Really good bunch of instructors. Not intimidating at all. Great studio and a really personable clientele. My 3 year old gets up every morning and asks “am I doing jiu-jitsu tonight?” He loves going! Clean and professional set up. Couldn’t recommend enough.

Damian O’Leary

2021-10-01

Super clean and modern facility. People are very friendly and you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door. Great atmosphere.

andrew smedley

2021-04-12

Love this place. My daughter has been a part of the kids program since she was 6 years old. She's about to turn 9 and I can't remember her ever saying she didn't want to go to class. The instructors are fun, detailed, and friendly. Ive seen my daughter's confidence grow immensely.

Shuman Roy

2021-04-06

I put myself totally out of my comfort zone trying jiu jitsu, and I’m so happy that I did so with the Americana bjj community! The place is pristine, they have great Covid protocols, the classes are scheduled at convenient times, and you’ll never meet a friendlier or more supportive group of teachers, staff and members. The teachers are all brilliant. My daughter has been training 18 months and could not wait to get back there.

Anna Movsesian

2021-03-31

Instructors & Staff

Kevin Carestia

Black Belt Professor

Vinny LaSpisa

Black Belt Professor

Andy Smedley

Black Belt Professor

Zack Blomquist

Brown Belt Instructor

Mike Chiuchiolo

Brown Belt Instructor

Mike Raff

Brown Belt Instructor

Roel Verlinden

Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Ruben Alvarez

Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Eileen Yeager

Yoga Instructor

Laurie Berenson

Manager

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