INSTRUCTORS
Thomas Castro
Thomas Castro: Head Instructor | BJJ Black Belt
Lineage: Octavio "Ratinho" Couto & Rafael Lang (Octagon MMA)
Thomas Castro brings a rare combination of high-level grappling technique and decades of real-world conflict management to Blythewood Jiu Jitsu. A Black Belt under the legendary Octavio Couto and Professor Rafael Lang, Thomas earned his rank in 2021 at the world-renowned Octagon MMA in Dallas, Texas.
His approach to Jiu-Jitsu is grounded in 27 years of service with the Dallas Police Department, where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. Before retiring in 2024, Thomas served as the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, overseeing the department's most sensitive units, including Homicide and the Special Victims Unit.
This unique background—managing major investigations into violent crimes while training at one of the nation’s top MMA academies—has shaped his teaching philosophy. Thomas specializes in practical, efficiency-based Jiu-Jitsu that works for everyone, with a specific passion for empowering the community through Women’s Self-Defense seminars.
Off the mats, Thomas is a devoted family man, husband, father, and proud grandfather to three amazing grandchildren.
Landon Thompson
Landon Thompson: Kids Program Head Instructor | Purple Belt
Lineage: Tillman Keadle / Helio "Soneca" Moreira (Deep Waters BJJ)
Landon Thompson brings a wealth of martial arts experience and a heart for mentorship to the Blythewood Jiu Jitsu kids' program. Landon began his BJJ journey in 2017 and earned his Purple Belt in 2024 under Professor Tillman Keadle at Deep Waters Jiu Jitsu. His lineage traces directly back to the legendary World Champion Helio "Soneca" Moreira, ensuring our students learn the highest standard of technical, foundational Jiu-Jitsu.
Beyond the mats, Landon’s background in youth ministry makes him a natural leader for the next generation. He understands how to communicate complex movements in a way that is engaging, disciplined, and fun for children of all ages.
As a father of two boys who also train at BWJJ, Landon is personally invested in the growth and character development of every student. His martial arts journey—spanning childhood Karate and adult Boxing before finding his home in BJJ—allows him to offer a well-rounded perspective on physical fitness and self-defense. When he isn't coaching, he is likely crafting specialty brews at Beacon Coffee, which he owns and operates right here in Blythewood. Landon is also a creative entrepreneur specializing in web design, photography, and videography.
Mike Atwater
Mike Atwater | Brown Belt
Lineage: Daniel Gottliebsen (Lake Murray Jiu Jitsu)/ Helio "Soneca" Moreira
Mike Atwater brings a decade of dedicated training and a lifelong commitment to teaching and community to Blythewood Jiu Jitsu. Mike began his BJJ journey in 2015 and earned his Brown Belt under Professor Daniel Gottliebsen at Lake Murray Jiu Jitsu, with a lineage tracing back to legendary World Champion Helio "Soneca" Moreira.
A South Carolina native through and through, Mike has deep roots in the Columbia area. As an accomplished musician, he carved out a respected place in the local music scene before channeling that same discipline into teaching. For the past 13 years, Mike has been a professional guitar instructor at Freeway Music in Blythewood, where his ability to break down complex skills into teachable moments translates directly to how he coaches on the mats.
His investment in the Blythewood community is personal. He lives right here in Columbia with his wife and twin daughters, and the students he coaches are his neighbors.
Off the mats, Mike is a devoted husband, father, and a fixture in the community he has called home his entire life.
Tristan
Tristan Robinson: Lead Kickboxing Instructor
Background: 7-2 Kickboxing Record | 20+ Bouts Coached across Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA
Tristan Robinson brings a deep competitive background and a uniquely personal coaching philosophy to Blythewood Jiu Jitsu as our Lead Kickboxing Instructor. His striking journey began in 2014 when he took his first official striking class, and in a story that few can claim, his very first exposure to combat sports was a seminar in Las Vegas with the late, great Stephan Bonnar, a legend of the UFC and a pioneer of the sport.
After training throughout high school, Tristan picked it back up in earnest in recent years, building a competitive team of training partners out of his own garage and competing his way to a 7-2 record in kickboxing. Alongside his own competition career, he has coached fighters through more than 20 bouts spanning kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA, proving himself as effective in the corner as he is in the ring.
What sets Tristan apart as a coach is his emphasis on the complete picture of striking. Where most instructors focus on the how, Tristan builds his teaching around the why and the when. Understanding how to throw a technique is just the beginning. Knowing why it works and when to use it is where real mastery lives. As he puts it, knowing a tomato is a fruit is knowledge. Having the wisdom not to put it in a fruit salad is something else entirely.
At the core of everything Tristan does is a passion for helping people reach their goals, whether that means stepping into competition, getting in shape, learning self-defense, or simply trying something new. Being a positive impact in someone's life is what drives him to show up and teach every single day.
Jordan Mason
Jordan Mason: Kids Instructor | Blue Belt
Lineage: Thomas Castro / Octavio "Ratinho" Couto & Rafael Lang (Octagon MMA)
Jordan Mason brings one of the most well-rounded martial arts backgrounds on our team to Blythewood Jiu Jitsu. His journey in the martial arts spans nearly two decades, beginning with Muay Thai nine years ago and including five years of Danzan Ryu Japanese Jiu Jitsu, two years of Krav Maga, and seven years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That breadth of experience gives Jordan a uniquely practical perspective on self-defense and grappling that shows up in how he teaches.
Jordan earned his Blue Belt under Coach Thomas Castro, and his time training under Thomas has sharpened his technical foundation and deepened his understanding of efficiency-based Jiu Jitsu.
Beyond the mats, Jordan serves as a leader in one of the most important fights of our time. He runs Judges Rescue Task Force, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention of human trafficking and the rescue of victims of sex trafficking. Operating within the United States and internationally alongside law enforcement and other NGOs, Judges Rescue works to see victims rescued, restored, and their oppressors brought to justice. It is a mission that reflects Jordan's character and the values he brings to everything he does.
Originally from Iowa, Jordan now proudly calls South Carolina home alongside his wife Ashleigh, who is a South Carolina native. Off the mats, he is a devoted husband who credits his faith, his family, and his mission as the foundation of his life.
Terren Hall
Terren Hall | Black Belt
Background: Black Belt in Taekwondo | Former Master Army Combatives Instructor | Combat Veteran | Law Enforcement Officer
Terren Hall brings a lifetime of martial arts mastery and real-world experience to the mats at Blythewood Jiu Jitsu. With over 12 years of BJJ training and a Black Belt in Taekwondo earned through competition during his time in the Army, Terren's martial arts foundation is as deep as it is diverse.
A former U.S. Army Paratrooper and Iraq Combat Veteran, Terren served his country with distinction before going on to become a Master Army Combatives Instructor at Fort Bragg, one of the most demanding and respected combatives roles in the United States military. Teaching hand-to-hand combat to soldiers preparing for real-world conflict is an experience that shapes how he sees the martial arts and what he believes they are truly for.
Today, Terren continues to serve his community as a Law Enforcement Officer, bringing the same discipline, composure, and commitment to his work that defined his military career.
Above all else, Terren is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a proud husband, and a father of three. His faith and his family are the foundation of everything he does, on and off the mats.
Kenny Gomez
Kenny Gomez No-Gi Instructor | BJJ Black Belt
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Fernando "Pinduka" > Paulo "Mushu" Elsimaani
Kenny Gomez brings a lifelong passion for martial arts and six years of teaching experience to Blythewood Jiu Jitsu. His journey began at age five, and his introduction to Jiu Jitsu came the way many of his generation's grapplers found it — watching the early UFC events with his father and being captivated by what he saw on screen.
That spark led Kenny to a no-gi school near his home in Centereach, New York, and from there to Xtreme Couture MMA, Vamos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Monster Jiu Jitsu and MMA. After relocating to South Carolina, Kenny continued his journey under Professor Paulo "Mushu" Elsimaani, earning his Black Belt in November 2025.
His no-gi game has been shaped heavily by his MMA background. Kenny's style centers on active guard play, submission hunting, and creating paths to dominant top control, with armbars and triangles as his bread and butter. He brings that same technical sharpness to how he teaches, describing himself as laid-back and detail-oriented, with a firm belief that Jiu Jitsu should be both challenging and fun. His goal isn't just to show students what to do, but to help them understand why it works and when to use it, so they can apply it with confidence.
Outside of Jiu Jitsu, Kenny is a husband and father of two, works as a project manager, and enjoys playing baseball. He welcomes everyone to his classes, from first-timers stepping on the mat for the very first time to experienced grapplers looking to level up their game.