Tom Schmitz, Head Coach
Thomas Schmitz started his martial arts career in 1992 by practicing the traditional arts of Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Kali, Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai Kickboxing. He has taught various disciplines of martial arts for over 15 years at the region’s most prestigious schools and now teaches fulltime at Spartan Martial Arts as head instructor since in 2011.
Tom holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is Combat Submission Wrestling certified, and has had a successful career competing in Mixed Martial Arts, Pancreas, and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Come see for yourself why Tom Schmitz has helped so many Martial Artists compete on high level stages including UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Bodog, MFC, Pancreas, Rings, and many more regional championship shows!
Rafael Borges
I’m a 50 year old optometrist & bjj black belt under professor Marcio Simas Gracie Barra of Orlando FL. I have 18 years experience in BJJ. I have had the opportunity to train and learn from multiple UFC veterans and world class bjj practitioner.
My goal is to pass as much knowledge as I can to the new guys, show that everyone can learn bjj and to keep doing this until I’m 90 years old.
Kelly Schmitz
Coach Kelly Schmitz started her martial arts career in 2001 training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ) and Muay Thai. These disciplines helped her to become a top 10 ranked Mixed Martial Artist earning a record of 17-3-1 competing in promotions such as Bodog and EliteXC.
As a BJJ brown belt, she runs Spartan Martial Art’s Women’s Jiu-Jitsu program and fitness classes open to all members. Kelly teaches all experience levels self-defense, fitness, and jui-Jitsu fundamentals in a fun, safe environment.
Jake Anderson
My name is Jake Anderson. I’m a lawyer by trade and I spend my days writing, reviewing, editing, and negotiating contracts. In need of a way to relieve stress and lose weight, I began training Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Tom Schmitz in July of 2009, and I fell in love with the sport. I have trained under Professor Schmitz for 7 years and he promoted me to brown belt in August of 2015. I teach the white belt jiu jitsu class.
In this class, I focus on teaching the basic techniques of Brazilian jiu jitsu and helping my students refine and perfect their skills. The white belt jiu jitsu class is perfect for a brand new student who is just beginning their Brazilian jiu jitsu journey or for an experienced white belt looking to refine their skills.
Rebecca Nestingen
Rebecca (Becky) joined Spartan Martial Arts in 2016 after being persuaded by her husband and son to join them on the jiu jitsu mats. It wasn’t long after her first couple classes that she became hooked on the physical and mental challenge that jiu jitsu provided. She didn’t waste any time and jumped in with both feet to her first local jiu jitsu tournament only six weeks after she began training! While Becky has always been competitive and was a collegiate runner, this was her first plunge into a grappling sport – she gained a whole new appreciation for the wrestlers in her family and the courage it takes to stand across from an opponent on the mat.
Becky is currently a purple belt in jiu jitsu and resides in Woodbury, Minnesota with her husband and two children who all participate in jiu jitsu as a shared family hobby. While not in the gym or spending time with family, she works full time as a licensed professional engineer and is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves spreadsheets, reading and puzzles. Part of what draws her and other like-minded nerds to jiu jitsu is the kinetic puzzle it provides and she attempts to look at and coach jiu jitsu movements through the lens of why movements work, not just how movements are executed. And if you’re a mom bringing your child to class, consider yourself warned, she’ll probably try to talk you into trying a jiu jitsu class for the chance to fall in love with it just like she did.