Head Jiu-Jitsu Instructor -Jeremy Owens
Jeremy began training in Nova Uniao Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1999 under Renato "Charuto" Vermissio at B.J. Penn's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Hilo, Hawaii. While attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Jeremy built a life around the ocean and the mat. After recieving his Purple Belt from Charuto, Jeremy came back home to Wrightsville Beach and brought with him a little bit of Hawaiian culture and a lot of Jiu-Jitsu. Jeremy’s style of instruction is based directly from B.J. Penn’s personal academy. Jeremy is well known in the Wilmington area for being the BEST at what he does. That academy in Hilo is the model by which Evolution MMA is based. On September, 2007 Jeremy recieved his Brown Belt from Charuto.
* 2004 Hawaiian Jiu-Jitsu State Champion (Heavyweight Blue Belt & Advance No-Gi)
* 2006 Budweiser World Cup Champion (Heavyweight Advanced No-Gi)
* Recieved Brown Belt from Charuto in September, 2007
Asst. Jiu-Jitsu Instructor - David French
Dave began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu late in 2004 under Campiao Tramaine in Kona, Hawaii. Soon after, he began making the drive to Hilo twice a week to train at B.J. Penn's MMA Academy. The Hawaiian life style of surfing and training in Jiu-Jitsu quickly became Dave's life-style, and he continues that balance here at Wrightsville Beach. Dave teaches his classes in the same way he has been taught by Charuto and all the other great instructors he has met in the years that he has been involved in this sport. Dave has a very clear approach, and breaks things down in simple steps.
* Recieved Purple Belt from Charuto in September, 2007
* Placed 3rd in N.A.G.A. Atlanta in Advanced No-Gi
Asst. Jiu-Jitsu Instructor - Neal Zumbro
Neal started training in Brazilian jiu jitsu in November, 2005 in Atlanta, GA with Alliance under Byron Stone, shortly after his active, duty ended with the United States Marines Corp. The Marines taught Neal some grappling technique, but Neal learned very fast after starting formal instruction with Byron and with the techniques learned from Jacare, Roberto Traven, and Byron Stone. Neal has always loved the submission, finishing nearly all of his wins in tournaments by submission (mostly triangle or rear naked choke). Neal teaches classes at Evoultion and prides himself on teaching only the best techniques that he currently learns from Jacare, Traven, Byron Stone, and now Charuto.
* NAGA May, 2006 - Submitted all of his opponents in first tournament.
* Casca Grossa October, 2006 - submitted a bjj black belt in the absolute division in his second tournament via flying triangle. He was a White Belt at the time, and recieved his Blue Belt from Byron Stone after the tournament.
* More submission wins came from Myrtle Beach and Coulunbia South Carolina and other South-Eastern submission tournament's in 2007.
* September, 2007 - Renato "Charuto" Vermisso promoted Neal to Purple belt.
Muay Thai Instructor - John Owens
Jon Owens started training Muay Thai in 2002 under Maurice Travis, a world Muay Thai Champion and Super Brawl Champion, and vetern of many K-1 and Bare Knuckle Vale Tudo matches. Jon began fighting 8 months later going on to win the Southeast Regional Muay Thai Championships. In 2006, Jon competed in his first Pro MMA match at the Gracie Proving Grounds in Ohio, winning by Triangle Choke in 46 seconds. In February 2007, Jon fought in the Fight Party's "Invasion", KO-ing opponent Andy Roberts in the first round.Current Record:
* Amateur Muay Thai 3-1 (3 KOs)
* Amateur Boxing 22-2-1 (16 KOs)
* Professional MMA 2-0 (1 KO, 1 Submission)
* Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Strength & Conditioning- Jared Olson
J-Rod is bringing power lifting to MMA to help maximize training results at Evolution. J-Rod started weight training in high school like most kids do (but he never stopped). He opened up a fitness center in 1993 and became a certified personal trainer. He worked with hundreds of mainstream clients using popular training methods. In spite of descent results, he just wasn’t satisfied, he wanted to get the results the best athletes in the world were getting. He wanted to know what made the best so strong and fast. He attended seminars with 2 of the best strength & conditioning coaches in the world and became inspired. He hit the books, the internet, lectures, seminars and the iron. He gets results for himself and others based on real sports science.
- Specializes in dramatic increases in strength & speed in short amounts of time through proper loading parameters and intensity factors
- Specializes in injury prevention (pre-hab) & decreases down-time due to injury
- Pinpoints muscular imbalances and weakness to reduce the risk of injury
- Pinpoints an athlete’s weakest link and brings that vulnerable part up to par
- Emphasis on results through training, nutrition and recovery techniques
- Leads by example – Believes in lifting heavy loads, grunting, sweating, head banging music, blood dripping from the bar, and oh yes clanging weights-try that in a public gym.
- Squatted 635# for 2 reps, Dead-lifted 635# weighing 198 lbs., Floor Benched 585#, squatted 315# for 37 reps, benched 245# for 27 reps
