GERRY YOUNG - HEAD COACH

Qualifications: BJJ 3rd degree black belt, Hapkido black belt, Cert 4 in Fitness, Diploma in Remedial Massage, Practitioner in Ortho-Bionomy

Gerry began his martial arts training in Hapkido in the 90s and started to incorporate BJJ in his training in 2002 with Adam Newton. Gerry has instructed at several gyms including Tigers Eye Muay Thai and BJJ Hobart. Gerry also studied and instructed at the first Hybrid Training Centre and is also the owner and head instructor of Hobart Martial Arts Academy. Gerry was awarded his black belt in BJJ by Adam Newton and Thiago Stefanutti in October 2016, making Gerry one of the first in the state to reach this rank.

In addition to martial arts, Gerry has a passion for functional strength and fitness training. As such he has a long history of kettle bell and barbell training as well as developing goal specific fitness programs.

Gerry has extensive experience coaching all aspects of BJJ, Submission Wrestling and MMA and has coached dozens of successful BJJ competitors and MMA fighers. Gerry is also an experienced MMA and BJJ referee and judge.

Gerry is also a qualified Ortho Bionomy Practitioner and Remedial Massage Therapist working with clients of all ages on a variety of soft tissue and joint issues.

 

LUKE BERRY - MUAY THAI COACH

Luke has been training in Boxing and Muay Thai for 7 years and has fought 3 times. As a fighter, Luke brings poise, a high fight IQ and solid power punching to the table.

As a coach Luke’s genuine passion for helping people is evident in the care and attention he provides to students in the gym. That fight IQ and sense of calm are also an asset to fighters he coaches.

You can often find Luke running Muay Thai classes at Derwent Valley Martial Arts as well leading the fight team through the fighter conditioning sessions.

 

SAM COWIE – BJJ COACH

Qualifications: BJJ 1st degree black belt, Judo green belt

Sam began his training with MMA classes under Priscus Fogagnolo in December 2010. After about a year he realised the love for grappling was far stronger than striking, and started attending BJJ classes more frequently. In 2013, Sam started to train in Judo alongside BJJ to improve his competition and takedown game.

From 2014 to 2016, Sam started teaching BJJ to beginners and competed at every competition possible. The highlight of this was winning gold at the Pan Pacific Championships two years in a row. In 2017 Sam joined the Royal Australian Navy and moved first to Victoria, and then to Cairns. He continued to train and compete in BJJ whenever possible, including at sea! In March 2023, Sam was awarded his black belt by Minol Tavares Tutida at Grounded Mat Sports in Cairns. He finally moved back to Tasmania in 2024, and came to train and teach at Hobart Martial Arts Academy and Derwent Valley Martial Arts.

Sam's approach to BJJ is "no nonsense, find the simplest thing that works". Sam shares his skills freely with everyone and brings great experience and leadership to the team.