ATLAS JIU-JITSU - Instructors
THROUGH STRUGGLE COMES GREATNESS

Edward Anthony

Head Professor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Owner of Atlas Jiu-Jitsu

Edward is a 3rd-degree black belt under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coral belt Julio "Foca" Fernandez. His BJJ journey commenced in NYC at the renowned Renzo Gracie school, where he trained under John Danaher. Additionally, he holds a Brown Belt in Judo under former Olympic hopeful Nick Kossor. An active competitor, Edward has participated in prestigious tournaments all over the world.

He boasts multiple Pan American gold medals, National Championship titles, and a World Silver Medal. Furthermore, he held the #1 world ranking in his division as a Purple belt, Brown belt, and Black Belt in his age category, as recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

In the 2017-2018 period, Edward achieved a top 6 world ranking among all Black Belts and weight classes in his division. He was also named the #1 Gi Light Featherweight in the world by the IBJJF in his division. In 2022, Edward secured the top spot as the Number 1 Black Belt No Gi Featherweight globally in his division and claimed the Number 4 lightweight ranking worldwide.

As a Black Belt, Edward has competed and medaled in various locations, including Las Vegas, Washington DC, Denver, San Diego, Charleston, Nashville, Berlin, Dublin, Boston, Paris, Mexico City, Barcelona, New York, San Antonio, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, Houston, London, and Cincinnati. His recent victories include winning the No Gi Pan Ams as a Black Belt in New York, securing the American Nationals title in Las Vegas, and achieving a second-place finish in the No Gi World Championship. In 2024 Edward bacame the Men of War 160lb master champion.

IBJJF Certified Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 3rd degree Black Belt
Owner Atlas Jiu Jitsu
CO-Owner Thrive Strength & Wellness

Joe "Josferatu" Zakriski

Head Instructor at Altas Jiu-Jitsu, Glens Falls, NY

Joe "Josferatu" Zakriski, is a seasoned martial artist with a diverse background in various styles, yet his true passion lies in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Holding a B.S. in Physical Education and an M.S. in Health Education, Joe skillfully incorporates his extensive knowledge into his teaching, catering to students of all ages.

Joseph stands out as one of the original members of the esteemed Atlas Jiu-Jitsu Academy. As the first homegrown black belt under the mentorship of Edward Anthony, Joe has carved a distinctive path. His remarkable journey is not only marked by technical prowess but also by numerous triumphs in grappling tournaments, including Superfights and the acquisition of double gold medals at the Washington DC IBJJF Open. Joseph is currently a First Degree Black belt under Edward Anthony

Aidan Sericolo

Head Instructor at Atlas Jiu Jitsu, Waltham, MA

In 2015, Aidan embarked on his Jiu-Jitsu journey at Atlas and quickly became one of Atlas's top competitors. Competing alongside Edward Anthony (a black belt under Brazilan Jiu-Jitsu Coral belt Julio "Foca" Fernandez), Aidan traveled the country immersing himself in the intricacies of BJJ competition and coaching. His accolades include multiple gold medals at IBJJF tournaments and victories in various local competitions. Furthermore, Aidan's journey on the 2022 competition circuit culminated in the esteemed title of the 4th ranked No-Gi Adult Brown Belt in the World, as recognized by IBJJF.

Beyond the excitement of competition, Aidan finds immense joy in guiding his students to success. He strives to help students master new techniques, coach the team through competitions, and guide members to use Jiu-Jitsu to enrich their lives beyond the gym. Aidan is truly devoted to nurturing the overall growth of those under his mentorship.

Shawn Clow

Tiny Titans No-Gi Coach and Adult Assistant Coach, Albany, NY

Shawn began his martial arts journey with Budokai Karate for 2 years before wrestling throughout his school years at Shenendhowa, from 3rd to 12th grade. In August 2011, he started training with Professor Edward Anthony at Atlas BJJ. Initially focused on MMA, he has trained in boxing, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu at Atlas since then.

Following his last MMA victory, he suffered an eye injury, which shifted his focus to BJJ and coaching MMA and striking. He remains an active competitor in BJJ and currently holds the 2nd rank in IBJJF's no-gi division (master 1, brown belt, medium-heavy).

Additionally, he is an avid traveler and has trained at various locations worldwide, primarily through BJJ Globetrotters. His journey began at the BJJ Revolution Camp in Rio in 2016, accompanied by several others from Atlas. He makes a point to visit Revolution affiliates while traveling for competition or leisure, including Julio's in Vermont and Rodrigo's in San Diego. Shawn Is currently Black Belt under Edward Anthony.

Steve "Booyah" Flannigan

Tiny Titans Head Coach and Adult Jiu Jitsu Coach, Albany and Valatie, NY

With over 8 years of dedicated experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, coach Booyah stands as a seasoned practitioner and accomplished competitor, boasting victories in numerous IBJJF tournaments and local competitions.

As a highly skilled and motivated instructor, Booyah goes above and beyond. His ability to connect with young learners and instill a love for BJJ is unparalleled.

His deepest passion lies in guiding the next generation on the mats, especially his daughter. Booyah brings a unique blend of expertise and genuine enthusiasm to the kids' BJJ program, making each session a dynamic and empowering experience for young practitioners under his guidance.

Coach Booyah also assists in teaching our Adult BJJ program and presently holds the rank of Brown Belt under Edward Anthony.

Dennis Nayor

Adult Striking Coach,Tiny Titans Striking Coach and assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach

Dennis, a 30-year martial artist with 18 years of training in traditional Japanese Karate (Shito Ryu), holds first and second-degree black belts under karate legend, Fumio Demura. Through training camps and conferences with Dan “The Beast” Severn and Frank Shamrock, Dennis has had the amazing opportunity to learn from two of the best MMA competitors in the world.

As a veteran defensive tactics instructor for law enforcement, Dennis has also made it a point to always focus on quality, functionality, and reliability in training.

For the past ten years, Dennis has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is currently a Brown belt under Edward Anthony. Dennis teaches the adult kickboxing class where he focuses on proper techniques. As a coach for the Tiny Titans striking class, he places a strong emphasis on discipline and practical application. Dennis is also an assistant instructor for the kids/teens jiu jitsu program and the pro MMA classes at Atlas headquarters.

Leslie Pigott

Tiny Titans Assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach Albany, NY

Leslie brings her passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and years of experience to the mat as the assistant coach for our kids' program. With a patient and encouraging teaching style, she creates a positive and supportive environment where young students can learn, grow, and build confidence.

Her expertise in BJJ shines through her ability to break down complex techniques into simple, fun, and engaging lessons tailored to kids of all skill levels. Coach Leslie is dedicated to fostering discipline, teamwork, and respect in her students while helping them develop essential self-defense skills.

Don't let her smiles fool you, Leslie is also a very accomplished competitor with multipole IBJJF wins under her belt as well as a 1-0 MMA record.

Jordan "Bomb Cyclone" Scrom

Combat Conditioning Coach

Jordan is a combat sports athlete and a certified nutrition and weight management coach under 4-time world MMA Trainer of the Year and world-renowned nutrition and weight management coach, Mike Dolce. Dolce helped shape much of Jordan’s guiding nutrition principles and has worked with and overseen the nutrition and weight management of some of the world's highest level of athletes, such as Rhonda Rousey, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belford, Rampage Jackson, Duane Ludwig, and Thiago Alves, to name a few.

Jordan’s passion for nutrition came about through competition in weight-class-based sports. Being a competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as fighting in mixed martial arts, Jordan quickly sought to find the best possible nutrition strategy to give himself a competitive weight class advantage while not subscribing to any of the extreme starvation and dehydration tactics used by many in the industry. Jordan immediately sought to learn more, which led to him receiving his Dolce Diet coaching certification. Jordan is a No Gi BJJ World Champion, MMA 125lb title holder and currently a purple belt under Edward Anthony.

Tayvonne Thomas

Advanced Striking Coach

Tayvonne has been an active and skilled striker for the past 7 years, making a name for himself as a dedicated competitor. Currently competing as a PRO MMA Fighter with a 1-0 record under the nickname "TNT," as an ameture he held the coveted Reality Fighting ,AKBF Featherweight Titles and Cage Wars Bantamweight Title, maintaining an impressive record of 7-1.

In addition to his prowess in the cage, Tayvonne plays a vital role in preparing our students for diverse scenarios on their feet through kickboxing training. As a passionate Jiu-Jitsu competitor, "T" has notched up several victories, showcasing his versatility. Presently a Purple belt under the guidance of Edward Anthony, Tayvonne's dedication to both his accomplishments and mentoring the next generation is evident in his multifaceted contributions.

Nate “Smoke Show” Rowe

Kids Wrestling Coach, Albany, NY

In this class, Wrestling Fundamentals and effective BJJ techniques are taught to introduce students to a different grappling approach, beneficial for competitive BJJ players and wrestling enthusiasts.

Nate began wrestling at age 6 under the guidance of legendary coach and USA Wrestling Hall of Famer Joe Bena in Niskayuna, NY, alongside two other esteemed Hall of Fame coaches. Over two decades, Nate competed in 500 matches with a 75% win rate and has 10 years of coaching experience across different age groups. Nate is currently a Blue Belt under Edward Anthony.

Top Accomplishments:

Three-time qualifier for the Empire State Games in both Freestyle and Greco Roman styles.
Achieved 47 wins by pin or technical fall throughout my career.
Twice qualified for the Section 2 NYS Tournament, securing 3rd place finishes on both occasions.
Consistently reached the podium in every varsity tournament competed in.
Achieved 4th place in the NYS Freestyle Championships

Red Safdi

Kickboxing Instructor at Atlas Jiu Jitsu, Waltham, MA

Red Safdi is a passionate and experienced kickboxing coach who started training at the age of 12. His martial arts journey began in Morocco and he later spent two years sharpening his skills in Germany. Red has competed in several amateur fights at Gala Kickboxing and continues to grow under the guidance of his coaches, Aidan Sericolo and Tayvonne Thomas.

As a Dutch-style kickboxer, Red is known for his discipline, dedication, and love for the sport. As a trainer, Red focuses on helping people get in shape, improve their technique, and build confidence. He believes that kickboxing is a tool to build a stronger, more confident version of yourself.

Whether you’re new to kickboxing, looking to improve your skills, or just want to raise your cardio, Coach Red is ready to help you reach your goals.

ATLAS JIU-JITSU - Instructors THROUGH STRUGGLE COMES GREATNESS