Instructors
Joao Da Silva (Junior)
Joao, also known as Junior, began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007. Junior has competed in dozens of tournaments since he began his Jiu Jitsu Journey. He earned his black belt in 2013 and is part of the affiliation TAC Team. He is now a 3rd degree black belt.
Junior was the head instructor for American Top Team from 2007 until 2017. He played an important role in the construction of the kids program. Junior has a passion for helping kids achieve confidence through the art of Jiu Jitsu.
Junior’s goal for Revive is to help his students reach new levels of fitness and education through the unique sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He prides himself on being compassionate and patient while working with his students.
Nick Sanders
Nick Sanders started BJJ in 2006 after leaving active duty with the Army. Nick served in Iraq in 2004-2005 as an infantryman with the First Infantry Division. While in Iraq, he received several awards including the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Nick is still currently serving in a scout/sniper platoon with the Missouri National Guard.
Nick was the first American to receive a black belt from world champion Leonardo Pecanha and is currently a third degree black belt under the legendary Jared Weiner and Tac Team. Nick is an avid competitor, winning both his weight class and the open weight class at multiple IBJJF tournaments. He is also a three time Pan American medalist and has won several pro Jiu-Jitsu super-fights. One of Nick’s goals is to bring more Jiu-Jitsu into the veteran community through the We Defy organization.
Amanda
Josh
Suzy
Coming soon...
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Assistant Instructors
Dakota
Tim
Donn
Coming soon...
Dakota began training in Full-Contact Karate & Kickboxing at Chillicothe Martial Arts in 2008 and fighting amateur MMA in 2011
Former 170lb MMA Champion for Sedalia Fights (4-0 Record)
Pound the Ground 170lb Tournament Champion 2014
Illinois Full-Contact Karate- Black Belt Openweight Silver medalist 2016
Former Head Trainer of Title Boxing Club, Creve Coeur and Striking Coach at UFC Gym- St. Charles
Donn began training in the martial arts in 1964. Much later (1981), he was granted permission to open a dojo and begin teaching his own students – that school celebrated its 40th year of operation in 2021. During that time, Donn has instructed approximately 12,000 students ranging in age from 4 years old to almost 80.
Donn has competed in hundreds of tournaments over the years. He has also participated in exhaustive self-defense training (both ancient and modern applications), and was instructed in old school, classical teaching and training methods by his teacher – Sensei Takumi Tanabe (who is now almost 90 years old with over 80 years of experience.) While Kodokan Judo utilizes much of the same ne waza (ground fighting techniques) as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Donn realizes that BJJ has refined ne waza to a much higher level than Judo ever did.