MEET THE TEAM.
KNOW WHO GUIDES YOU.
Five coaches bring different backgrounds to the mat, united by one standard: teach clearly, train responsibly, and help every student become more capable.
DIFFERENT PATHS.
ONE SHARED STANDARD.
Every coach brings a distinct perspective, but the goal stays consistent: practical skill, honest progress, and a room where students can grow without ego.
JOAO CRUS.
A Brazilian-born black belt, Carlson Gracie student, author, and academy owner with more than 25 years of teaching experience.
Joao founded Joao Crus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Dripping Springs with a clear mission: help children and adults develop emotional strength, healthy boundaries, and practical confidence through martial arts training.
His approach is relational and psychological first, physical second. The mat becomes a place where students learn to recognize emotions, solve problems under pressure, set boundaries, and build confidence grounded in real practice.
That philosophy also shaped his books and the Blackbelt Parenting Life podcast. Joao welcomes students looking for more than techniques and belts: people who want stronger relationships, better self-knowledge, and skills that carry into daily life.
Emotional regulation, responsible strength, boundaries, resilience, and person-centered instruction.
JUSTIN NIELSEN.
A black belt with more than ten years training under Joao, Justin brings the perspective of a practitioner, parent, teacher, and business owner.
Justin’s Jiu-Jitsu path began with a family decision: enrolling his six-year-old daughter in classes. It soon became a lifelong commitment that now includes his sons and reflects the academy’s belief that training can strengthen an entire family.
He finds fulfillment in helping children build confidence and discipline while supporting adults through the technical, physical, and personal growth that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu demands.
Justin brings patience, enthusiasm, and a practical understanding of how parents and working adults fit meaningful training into real life.
Family participation, patient technical development, confidence, discipline, and sustainable progress.
KEVIN LA BARRE.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt whose background spans martial arts, self-preservation, business leadership, cybersecurity, and systems engineering.
Kevin’s training began early and spans multiple martial arts and combat systems. That experience shaped a practical understanding of situational awareness, human performance under stress, and the value of preparation before conflict begins.
Professionally, Kevin leads a national managed-services provider focused on secure, resilient technology operations. The same principles connect both worlds: leverage, efficiency, preparation, adaptability, and maintaining control in uncertain conditions.
On the mat, he brings a systems-level perspective to problem-solving while keeping the goal practical: reduce unnecessary risk and make sound decisions under pressure.
Risk awareness, efficient problem-solving, preparation, adaptability, and composure in uncertain situations.
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ.
A purple belt, active competitor, military veteran, community educator, and coach with four years of teaching experience.
Christian believes in practicing what he teaches. He competes in Austin-area tournaments and earned first place at the Tap Cancer Out BJJ tournament in both 2024 and 2025.
His path into the academy began when he enrolled his young daughter to help build her confidence and ability to navigate challenges. Six months later, he began training himself. The stronger bond they formed led him to help coach young children, then older kids, and eventually adults.
Drawing on community education and military service, Christian designs classes that are fun, engaging, and challenging. He emphasizes fundamentals, body awareness, and problem-solving under pressure.
Fundamentals, creative learning, competition, parent-child connection, body awareness, and confident decision-making.
HARRISON OWENS.
A brown belt with thirteen years on the mat across wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Harrison brings competition-tested control and discipline to adult classes.
Harrison spent eight years wrestling before moving into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After stepping away from wrestling following high school, he felt the pull to return to the mat and found a renewed sense of discipline, confidence, and resilience through Jiu-Jitsu.
A lifelong competitor, Harrison has entered wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and placed third at the 2024 Tap Cancer Out BJJ tournament.
In adult classes, he blends a wrestling-first perspective with the academy’s broader curriculum. His instruction emphasizes positional control, takedowns, and practical strategy that helps students become confident, complete grapplers.
Takedowns, positional control, wrestling integration, resilient training, and competition-proven strategy.
FIND YOUR CLASS.
MEET YOUR TEAM.
You do not need to choose a coach before you begin. Start with the right program, visit the academy, and experience the teaching for yourself.