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Gracie Barra is no ordinary martial arts organization. Students enjoy access to over 700 Gracie Barra Schools worldwide, professional-quality Jiu-Jitsu gear and online resources to further their training. We promote a holistic perspective to Jiu-Jitsu, including physical and mental wellness. All GB Schools are supervised by a Gracie Barra certified instructor, who supports students and helps each one achieve their potential through challenging training programs. Each class at Gracie Barra Kirkland is customized to offer maximum benefit for the students in attendance.
OUR INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES
Meet the Team at Gracie Barra Kirkland Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Joshua Bacallao
Head Instructor
Prof. Bacallao is a second-degree black belt in BJJ who has dedicated his life to martial arts. The Florida native actively competes in no-gi and submission-only tournaments and is regarded as one of the best no-gi grapplers in the country.
Most recently, Bacallao has won NoGi IBJJF titles in Los Angeles, Austin, Portland, Phoenix and at American Nationals in Las Vegas. He is also a former MMA fighter with a 6-3 record.
Solange Reyner
Professor & Program Director
Solange is a black belt in BJJ and an active competitor. She is a silver NoGi World IBJJF medalist at purple belt and a bronze World IBJJF medalist at blue belt. Solange teaches women’s classes at GB Kirkland and also has a nonprofit that offers affordable self-defense training for women.
Garrick Bennett
Professor
Professor Garrick has been training in martial arts since 2009. He started with taekwondo and kickboxing then moved into MMA before settling into jiu jitsu at Gracie Barra Ballard, where he realized the techniques he was learning helped him outperform other grapplers. He trained in Ballard for four years then came to GB Kirkland in 2014 as a blue belt. Garrick received his purple and brown belt under Cindy Hales and his black belt under Joshua Bacallao in December 2021. Garrick actively competed through the color belts and has enjoyed building up the schools’ morning crew.
Nicolas Germanos
Assistant Instructor
Nicolas is a purple belt in BJJ and taekwondo black belt with 10 years of experience on the mats. He has a fierce passion for working with students of all ages, and uses a combination of evidence-based teaching methods to best empower students. He is active in the local competition scene as both a competitor and a coach. When not on the mats, he can often be found studying competition footage and keeping up with the latest research in sports science pedagogy. Nicolas teaches our kids’ competition class on Fridays at 4 p.m. and our adults’ leg lock class on Fridays at 5:00 p.m.
Cory Browne
Coach
Cory began his jiu-jitsu journey in 2003 at the age of 13 in Hawaii. He earned his blue belt from Eduardo de Lima at Gracie Barra Clearwater, Florida and his purple and brown belts under Joshua Bacallao, the head instructor at Gracie Barra Kirkland.
An active competitor, Cory is also dedicated to teaching. He is passionate about helping every child reach their full potential, both on and off the mats.