INSTRUCTORS

Click next to an instructor’s name to find out more about them.

Norfolk

Larry Yap

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Larry Yap

Larry Yap – Senior Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor

Lawrence (Larry) Yap is a retired US Army ranger with over 40 years of martial arts experience. He received his black belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu from Rorion Gracie in 2013. He also earned black belts in Hapkido from Grandmaster Song S. Choi, and in Judo/Midori Yama Budokai Japanese Jiu-jitsu from Sensei Frank Barry. He has competed in amateur boxing (AAU and PAL) and Muay Thai (under Kru Takkratoke) since age 10. His wide-ranging fight experiences include all-service military Muay Thai bouts (Nakorn Si Thammarat) and U.S.-Thai friendship competitions (Lumpini and City Hall, Saraburi, Thailand). Larry wrestled at both the high school and collegiate levels at the University of Missouri. In 1989, he began his Gracie Jiu-jitsu training under Relson Gracie and Romolo Barros in the garage in Hawaii Kai and at the University of Hawaii, eventually earning his purple belt. In 1992, he began competing in no-gi, sambo, and MMA competitions (California, Las Vegas, Florida, Hawaii, UAE, Brazil, Thailand, Korea and Japan). Larry retired from competition in 2000. Today, Larry is back in the game and committed to improving his teaching skills as an NKAGJJN instructor, certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy black belt instructor as a coach and instructor. Larry is a Chesapeake resident and the father of two Grassfield High School graduates.

Bill Odom

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Bill Odom

Bill Odom, an 8th degree black belt, is an accomplished martial artist with over 50 years experience as a Tang Soo Do practitioner and instructor. He traces his martial arts lineage to some of the world’s most respected masters. He began martial arts training in Thailand at age ten and developed his foundational skills under the tutelage of James K. Roberts, Sr. in Springfield, Virginia. After ten years of karate training, he joined the US Army. During his 25 years of military service commanding infantry units including Army Rangers, he acquired a wide-ranging knowledge of other martial arts and honed his teaching skills. He developed a combatives program for over 14,000 soldiers serving in Korea, has taught men and women of all ages, and is a former nationally ranked competitor. He continues his martial arts education with regular training sessions at the famous Gracie University and is currently a black belt jiu-jitsu student of Rorion, Ryron, and Rener Gracie. He established the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Certified Training Center® and is a certified Level 4 instructor. Today, he possesses the experience, knowledge, skill, mature judgment, and commitment to excellence found only in the best instructors. He is a Norfolk resident and father of four, including a graduate of Maury High School.

Kevin West

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Kevin West

Kevin West – Senior Karate Instructor

Kevin West is a 5th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association. He has over 35 years of experience in martial arts training including a 3rd degree black belt in Black Dragon Kung Fu, a brown belt in Tenshin Style Aikido and a blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He has also trained in Valencia Lameco Eskrima, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and Yang Style Tai Chi. His aikido, eskrima and kung fu training has included staff, spear, sword, stick and knife. Between 1990 and 1993, he competed in amateur and professional kickboxing. Kevin emphasizes the development of fundamental skills, practical self-defense, and improvised technique. Kevin teaches the intermediate level children’s karate classes and adult karate classes.

Aubrey Odom

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Aubrey Odom

Aubrey Odom – PeeWee Program and Children’s Karate Instructor

Aubrey Odom is a 3rd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association, and is a four stripe blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu having been one of the first six students in the world to complete the Gracie Combatives® course outside of Gracie University. She is the Course Director for the PeeWee, beginner, and intermediate children’s classes and is a co-director for the annual children’s summer camp. She is also a Women Empowered® assistant course instructor. Aubrey has a Masters Degree in Special Education and worked for ten years in the Norfolk Public School System before assuming full-time administrative duties at NKA/GJJN.

Mark Ammerman

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Mark Ammerman

Mark Ammerman – Gracie Combatives® and Master Cycle® Instructor

Mark Ammerman is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and a certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He recently retired from the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) where he was the senior defensive tactics inspector responsible for traveling throughout the state observing law enforcement training. He teaches Gracie Combatives® and Master Cycle® classes. He is also certified to teach the Gracie Survival Tactics® course and assists law enforcement organizations statewide with defensive tactics training.

Jenn Taylor

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Jenn Taylor

Jenn Taylor – Gracie Bullyproof® and Women Empowered® Program Director

Jenn Taylor is a 2nd degree black belt, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu pink belt (Women Empowered® certified instructor) at our Norfolk school. She is a certified Gracie Combatives® instructor and is the Gracie Women Empowered® course director. She is married to NKA instructor, Brad Taylor. The Taylor’s sons are first degree black belts at NKA and have earned their Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belts as well. When not on the floor, Jenn runs the front desk and manages the school store. She spends her “spare” time working as a self-employed speech therapist.

Brad Taylor

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Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor – Gracie Combatives® Instructor

Brad Taylor is a 1st degree black belt at Norfolk Karate Academy and purple belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu. He was one of our first students to compete in full-contact mixed martial arts. Brad was also one of our first students to earn his blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and was among the first certified Gracie Combatives® instructors. Brad’s wife and two kids have also earned black belts at NKA and blue belts in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Brad was the first person in the world to train and promote two U.S. Navy sailors to blue belt through the Gracie University while at sea. He currently teaches Gracie Combatives® classes in Norfolk.

Ian Suhay

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Ian Suhay

Monica Kello

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Monica Kello

Amal Bouh

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Amal Bouh