OUR INSTRUCTORS

Our instructors are passionate about helping you develop your skills in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere. Their expertise is grounded in years of grappling experience and competition.

We are a welcoming and fun community of people learning and growing through Jiu Jitsu.

Whether you're looking to get fit, find a new hobby, or compete, Capital MMA DC is the place for you.

Alfredo Atencio

Head Coach of Adult BJJ

  • - BJJ Brown belt
  • - Over a decade of grappling experience
  • - Loves to see “the spark of enthusiasm” when his students start to really enjoy the sport
  • - Proud owner of the best mustache in the gym
  • - Favorite submission: Triangle

Nick Johnson

Head Onboarding Coach

  • - BJJ Black belt
  • - From Nashville, Tennessee
  • - Has been grappling since 2008 with a wrestling and MMA background
  • - Loves jiu jitsu because it reminds him to be social
  • - Favorite submission: Head and arm choke

Danielle Gallo

Head Coach of Kids and Women's BJJ

  • - BJJ Purple belt
  • - IBJJF 2024 No-Gi Pan American Champion (Purple), World Championship silver medalist
  • - #1 World Ranked Purple Female Rooster Weight
  • - Has yet to learn how to flow roll
  • - Favorite submission: Flying armbar

Graham Buckhalter

  • - BJJ Black belt under Roan Jucao Carneiro
  • - 18 years grappling experience (12 years BJJ)
  • - Best submission is the bow and arrow choke
  • - Favorite submission: Whatever he saw on Instagram right before class

Heidi Kaila

  • - BJJ Blue belt
  • - Proud and often only representative of Finland in local tournaments
  • - Ask her about moss
  • - Favorite submission: Triangle

Aidan Oates

  • - BJJ Purple belt
  • - Living proof that you can learn jiu jitsu through the power of sparring and Youtube
  • - Is convinced that jiu jitsu is better than dating apps (met his fiancée on the mats)
  • - Favorite submission: Rear triangle

Brendan Dailey

  • - BJJ Purple belt (and has been with Capital DC since it opened!)
  • - From Charleston, West Virginia
  • - When he isn’t choking people, he can be found baking cakes
  • - Favorite submission: Kimura

Alex Dowd

  • - BJJ Blue belt
  • - From Buffalo, NY
  • - “Trying new things pays off, even if they don’t work the first 100 times”
  • - Favorite submission: Guillotine

Will Crew

  • - BJJ Blue belt
  • - From Destin, Florida
  • - “Why learn takedowns when you can pull guard?”
  • - Favorite submission: Rear naked choke