Our
instructors

Relson Gracie · Red belt

Relson Gracie is the second oldest son of Grandmaster Helio Gracie, the man credited with creating what is now known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Relson has trained since he was two and began competing at 10. He was the Brazilian National Champion for 22 consecutive years in both his weight class and the open division, earning the nickname "Campeão," Portuguese for champion. In 1988 he moved to Hawaii, bringing his art with him. He still teaches all over the world and visits Charleston often for seminars, private lessons and competitions. Long retired from competition, he trains, like his father, for self-defense and personal advancement.

Michael Key · Black belt

Mike is a Charleston native who started training jiu jitsu in 2007 and is now a black belt. He owns the gym and teaches adult classes. He also holds a black belt in taekwondo and competed at the Junior Olympics.

Jerry Brewer · Black belt

Jerry Brewer is a certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Grandmaster Relson Gracie. He has trained since 1998 and is credited with bringing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to Charleston. He won gold in the advanced heavyweight division of the 2004 SC State Grappling Championship, took silver in the heavyweight division of the 2003 Arnold Gracie World Championships, and led his team to six consecutive state championships. A shoulder injury ended his competition career in 2006. His proudest accomplishment is teaching, and he is certified as a Level 3 Modern Army Combatives Instructor, a level few civilians reach.

James Foy · Black belt

James is our resident Adult BJJ and Striking Fundamentals coach. He has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts since 2007, received his black belt from Master Relson Gracie in 2022, and has helped many students reach their own promotions since. He holds a 5-2 amateur MMA record, with three wins by submission. Students love how he teaches advanced techniques in a beginner-friendly way and puts the striking-shy at ease. His eldest started jiu jitsu here and joins his dad's striking classes every week.

Sebastian Seagraves · Brown belt

Sebastian is our resident Youth coach. He teaches kids and adults jiu jitsu and helps with MMA fundamentals. He started jiu jitsu at Gracie Charleston in 2016 and earned his blue belt in 2018, then served four years in the US Marine Corps Infantry, where he began fighting MMA. He came home in 2022, earned his purple belt that July, and earned his brown belt in June 2025. He has trained under Relson Gracie, Mike Key, Pat McGuigan and James Foy, and he is on the mats here most days of the week. He now fights professionally.

Aryan · Purple belt

Aryan, or Ari to most of us, grew up in a family of fighters and wrestlers. He started training jiu jitsu and MMA in 2018 under UFC veteran Kamal Shalorus at District Martial Arts. He earned his blue belt at Easton Training Center in Colorado, training under Eliot Marshall and Alex Huddleston, and his purple belt under David Close at UFC Gym in Greenville, South Carolina, and he is a multiple-time gold medalist in submission fighting. His focus is where sport grappling meets real-world self-defense. He also teaches jiu jitsu and combatives to cadets at The Citadel and helps Charleston-area law enforcement officers sharpen their defensive tactics and grappling. Off the mats, Ari is a professional electrical engineer, and it shows in his coaching: he breaks technique down into leverage, body mechanics and efficiency, so it works for you in competition and in real life.