John Fleming
Master Instructor
of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Centreville
John Fleming has more than 30 years of experience in martial arts. He is a Purple Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) under Rener and Ryrion Gracie in Torrance, California, HQ of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu / Gracie University, and a Certified Instructor in Gracie Combatives, Bullyproof, Women Empowered, and Gracie Survival Tactics (for Military and Law Enforcement applications).
John Fleming is also a black belt and Seventh Degree Master Instructor in the art of Taekwondo. He established Fleming’s Martial Arts in Montgomery in 2001 with specialized self-defense programs for men women and children of all ages and in 2012 was verified by the Gracie Academy as a Certified Training Center (CTC) for Jiu-Jitsu. In 2022, he moved his base of operations to The Studio in Centreville.
JOHN B. Waits
John Waits is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Samuel Puccio of Samuel Puccio BJJ, who is under Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Revolution Team/Carlson Gracie Team.
John started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2001-2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma during his medical residency at the advice and encouragement of a fellow resident physician and BJJ Blue Belt, Dr. Sam Winter.
After moving to Centreville, Alabama, he resumed his training in 2014, joining and affiliating with Samuel Puccio BJJ in 2015. Professor Samuel Puccio’s Black Belts, Clay Williamson and Skyler Prince, have been instrumental influences in John’s development, and he has trained directly with Professor Samuel Puccio twice monthly since 2017.
In 2021, pondering deeply about issues around safe but scalable training for both law-enforcement and healthcare workers, John Waits was introduced to the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu curriculum at Gracie University (Rener and Ryrion Gracie) and subsequently began training GJJ with John Fleming. John (Waits) is now a Certified Combatives Instructor (2023) in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) and a Certified Women Empowered Instructor (2024), and is continuing his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training in the Gracie University Master Cycle under John Fleming.
John Waits assists John Fleming with Gracie Combatives on Tuesday and Wednesday;
… assists Jamie Bishop with Women Empowered on Monday and Thursday;
… assists Skyler Prince with Master Cycle / Advance Belt Class on Thursdays;
… teaches limited private lessons by appointment only.
Lineage: Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Rodrigo Medeiros → Samuel Puccio
Jamie Bishop
Jamie Bishop is currently working on her Blue Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) under Rener and Ryrion Gracie in Torrance, California, HQ of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu / Gracie University and competes under Samuel Puccio BJJ. She fell in love with BJJ after learning about the Gracie Women Empowered Program and earning her Pink Belt in 2023.
She became a Certified Women Empowered Instructor in January of 2024 and enjoys teaching women’s self-defense in the GJJ program.
Jamie became passionate about Women Empowered Gracie Jiujitsu in 2022, after a life experience that included an ex-significant other who threatened her verbally and physically as well as stalked her around town for several days before the police intervened. She did not feel safe in her own home, town, or work place. After learning about the Women Empowered program and starting to learn the techniques herself, she gained confidence in knowing how to defend herself. This is her main goal, to teach other women self defense and give them the confidence that they are worth defending.
Mitch Haubert
Mitch Haubert is a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Samuel Puccio or Samuel Puccio BJJ, who is under Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Revolution Team/Carlson Gracie Team.
Mitch has an extensive background in wrestling and has spent 9 years honing his skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has also studied Tang Soo Do and Kickboxing, complementing his well-rounded combat expertise.
A retired Combat Veteran, Mitch has successfully graduated from multiple Civilian and Military Police Academies, equipping him with a deep understanding of discipline, strategy, and leadership. Over the past four years, Mitch has dedicated himself to teaching self-defense, Catch Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to kids and teens.
Beyond the world of martial arts, Mitch serves as a local Pastor and Prison Chaplain, is married to his wife of 20 years and has seven wonderful children.
Clay Williamson
Clay Williamson is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Samuel Puccio BJJ, under Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Revolution Team/Carlson Gracie Team.
( Wrestling / military / law enforcement background / BJJ personal goals and teaching goals)
Skyler Prince
Skyler Prince is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Samuel Puccio BJJ, under Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Revolution Team/Carlson Gracie Team. In 2023, he earned Gracie Combatives certification under Rener and Ryrion Gracie and John Fleming, Combatives Instructor.
Skyler has been training BJJ for 15 years and has been an instructor for four years. His passion for the sport has inspired others and fuels his ambition to continually strive for excellence as he aims to compete at the world-class level as a respected contender. With a notable track record, he has competed and won over a dozen tournaments, including two submission-only open-weight tournaments.
Skyler leads the Master Cycle / Advance Belt Class at The Studio on Thursdays.
Lineage: Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Rodrigo Medeiros → Samuel Puccio
Samuel Puccio
Samuel Puccio is the highest ranking Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in Alabama (5-stripe Black Belt) with 28 years of experience in training under Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Revolution Team/Carlson Gracie Team.
Samuel started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1997 in São Paulo, Brazil. In 1999 he moved to Los Angeles and trained BJJ and boxing for one year with UFC Champion Vitor Belfort and Al Stanke. Samuel trained extensive No-Gi freestyle and Vale Tudo in 2000 with many professional fighters on the Carlson Gracie team. He also worked as an instructor at Left Cross Training Center.
In 2001, Samuel began training with Rodrigo Medeiros Competition Team and continues to train with his instructor and close friend Rodrigo Medeiros. In 2002, Samuel moved to Birmingham Alabama with the hopes of bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the southeast. He has since made that goal a reality, as Samuel Puccio Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu now has 10 locations training more than 500 students, with the Studio in Centreville becoming an affiliate in 2015.
Lineage: Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Rodrigo Medeiros → Samuel Puccio