OUR INSTRUCTORS

Meet our team

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Nicolai "Geeza" Holt

Nicolai "Geeza" Holt

Black Belt 3rd Degree

Nicolai “Geeza” Holt is the Professor of Gracie Barra Staple Hill. He is proud to be the only Brazilian Jiu JItsu instructor teaching in the South West that was promoted to Black Belt by a member of the Gracie family (Professor Roger Gracie). With over 18 years of teaching experience in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Geeza understands that each student has different goals, different abilities and different needs and he is happiest when each student grows and develops in their own particular way. Geeza likes to teach the Jiu Jitsu of his Master Roger Gracie, closely follows and teaches the new developments in the sport and adheres to the legacy passed down through the Gracie Barra curriculum. Besides being an instructor, Geeza has earned many titles as a competitor including multiple time Pan American, European and Grappler’s Quest Champion. he is the current European Champion for his age and weight category. .

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > Roger Gracie > Nicolai Holt

Joanna Victoria Maple

Joanna Victoria Maple

Black Belt

Joanna is the Professor of Gracie Barra Staple Hill. She is a Gracie Barra black belt under Professor Geeza. Joanna closely follows the Gracie Barra method and every year completes the Gracie Barra Instructor Certification Program. She shares her passion to Jiu Jitsu with her 3 children and they all train together and are active competitors. Joanna won the British Championship as a brown belt. She also received ‘ the most dedicated female student ‘ award two years in a row for her hard work and dedication to the academy and community. Joanna is also a qualified teacher and an OFSTED registered childminder. She has been teaching both Adults and Kids Classes for the past few years and her students achieve a lot of successes on the competition scene. Joanna has completed Paediatric First Aid Course and Safeguarding and Child Protection training. She is DBS checked.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > Roger Gracie > Nicolai Holt> Joanna Victoria Maple

Elizabeth Anna Maple

Elizabeth Anna Maple

Brown Belt

Elizabeth Maple is a Gracie Barra Brown Belt under Professor Geeza. She has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over 10 years. Elizabeth is dedicated to the sport and loyal to Gracie Barra , Jiu Jitsu is her passion. .Elizabeth teaches Fundamentals Classes and also  Future Champions Classes and all the kids look up to her. She loves competing and recently represented the school in the European Championships in Lisbon, Portugal and also won British Championship in her category. Elizabeth has completed the Paediatric First Aid Course and has had Safeguarding and Child Protection training. She is Enhanced DBS checked.

Felix O’Leary

Felix O’Leary

Purple Belt

Felix is a Gracie Barra Purple Belt under Professor Joanna Maple. He has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Gracie Barra Staple Hill since January 2020. Felix is currently studying the Instructor Certification Programme, while teaching the Sunday kids class and hosting the adults’ open mat. Felix is also a registered teacher, and teaches French and Spanish at a local secondary school. He loves competing and aims to compete multiple times in near future.