Instructors

Our instructors have decades of combined world-class experience. From beginner to advanced, they have the knowledge to help you up your game. We have 3 recognized & certified Carlson Gracie black belts!

Aaron Thomas

Aaron Thomas is a Carlson Gracie Team professor. He has over a decade of coaching experience between Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, and has taught several other black belt coaches in the Greater Cincinnati area. His intense focus on strong fundamentals and reliable techniques has led his team to countless victories. He is a compassionate and inclusive leader with the ability to connect with and guide any student, regardless of their previous experience or natural athleticism. Aaron is truly a special instructor with the ability to make any student proficient in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Andy Bosiljevac

Andy has backgrounds in Judo (4th degree black belt), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (brown belt), and wrestling. He has over 20 years of experience coaching students of various backgrounds and skill levels, and likes to focus on strong fundamentals and honing technical accuracy, with each movement being deliberate. He has a true passion for helping students customize their game to fit their personal strengths and style. He is a certified Emergency Medical Responder in Kentucky and Ohio, and has received multiple awards from his primary employer (a Cincinnati-based Fortune 500 consumer products company) for empowering women.

Steven “Squirrel” Hilton

Steven Hilton began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Aaron Thomas at the age of 16. Often training with people much older and larger than himself, Steven developed a brilliant technical approach to controlling and submitting the bigger, stronger opponent. By focusing on a unique blend of fundamental movements and conditioning, Steven’s instruction is guaranteed to teach you a deeper level of understanding and approach to martial arts.

Bernie Ash

Bernie is currently a Carlson Gracie Jr. 4th-degree black belt. He began his jiu-jitsu journey in 1998 at the tender age of 27, and has since dedicated his life to the invention and perfection of techniques such as the “Bobcat Sleeper Hold” and the “Helicopter Good Night Choke.” His vast knowledge of technique coupled with discipline, intense work ethic, and a sense of humor to boot make training with Bernie a great experience.

Matt Rudolph

With an extensive history of coaching high school athletics, Matt Rudolph brings a compassionate and technical approach to his teaching style. Matt has trained BJJ and other martial arts for almost a decade and currently holds the rank of purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu.

Josh “Vanilla Gorilla” Grevas

Josh has been training MMA for 18 years, starting with Aaron at the age of 15, and has almost as much experience in Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai/Boxing. His coaching focuses on strong fundamentals in all arts and “position before submission” when grappling. He spent 5 years in Las Vegas training MMA at top gyms like Xtreme Couture and Syndicate MMA learning from some of the biggest names in the game. He received his purple belt under world-renowned Neil Melanson in 2012, and trained daily with several top title contenders.

Casey Hall

Casey has been training MMA for 16 years. He trained under striking coach Neal Rowe for 12 years, earning his black belt in Muay Thai. Casey’s understanding of Muay Thai, boxing, and other martial arts enable him to develop skills of practitioners of all levels. He has competed in MMA, Muay Thai, and both gi and no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.