About Us & BJJ Travel

April Parks

Svenja Juffernbruch

Katie Hooven

Founder | Head coach | BJJ Camp Mastermind

Founder and friend. April is a highly accomplished competitor having garnished multiple IBJJF World Championships and Pan Titles in both Gi and No Gi in the Adult Divisions. She has competed across all rule sets from ADCC, sub only as well as combat Jiu Jitsu where she participated in the first ever Medusa hosted by Eddie Bravo. She is a Second Degree Black Belt under Carlos Machado. As a black belt she has dominated the competition scene at Masters winning all majors in both Gi and No Gi (Brasileiros, Europeans, Pans & Worlds) She is a mom of four, educator and academy co-owner of Vien Jiu Jitsu in Syracuse, NY. April’s background in education and event planning bring a special set of skills to our camps. Her creativity for carefully curating unique camp experienced Is unparalleled.

Katie Hooven

Svenja Juffernbruch

Katie Hooven

CFO | Instructor | Graphic Design | Media Specialist

Katie is a brown belt under Garry Tonon. She has competed internationally garnishing medals at IBJJF’s most prestigious No Gi tournaments. She is an ADCC Trails, Subversive, and Main Character veteran. Let us not forget to mention that she trains with New Wave in Austin, Texas as one of the original females in the room. Katie can be described as a loyal friend and staunch advocate for her teammates. She has been seen coaching world class men at WNO, ADCC trials & EBI. With a detailed and thorough approach in her instruction, she will teach you both upper and lower body submissions that are practical and effective. As an engineer by day, Katie’s attention to detail when creating camp media, rashguards , and finalizing logistics for camps is what seamlessly allows for our camps to be such a flawless and enjoyable experience. On the mats or off, where Katie goes, fun follows.

Svenja Juffernbruch

Founding member | Instructor | Web design | Foriegn Brand Ambassador

Svenja is a BJJ black belt from Switzerland and IBJJF European champion. +During our camps she shows how to tie up people with their own lapel and cooks a delicious breakfast after.

Guest Instructors & Ambassadors

Elisabeth Clay

Guest Instructor | Brand Ambassador | Arizona

Elisabeth is one of the most accomplished female grapplers on the current jiu jitsu scene. She is an ADCC Trials medalist, World Champion at all belts, Pan Gi and NoGi Champion.

Elisabeth is a guest instructor who joins us whenever she has the chance

Fatima Kline

Guest Instructor | Brand Ambassador | New York

Fatima began training BJJ at age 10, since then martial arts has become her life as she fights professionally in both MMA & BJJ. Fatima shares that BJJ/MMA has saved her life, and now she seeks to share it with others. She is an ADCC Trials medalist, Medusa 115lb Champion, 145 Sub on the Shores Champion, 1-0 Pro MMA Fighter & currently ranked as FloGrappling's #7 135lb Female

Trinity Pun

Guest Instructor | New York

Trinity started to compete against adults at the age of 12, dominating the blue belt divisions. By purple belt, she was asked to compete at high level shows such as Finishers Subonly. She would move on to win Sub on The Shore at age 14. Since then, she has competed on such stages as Medusa and Emerald City Invitational. She is currently 17 competing at the highest levels, willing to face the best anywhere, and always leaving it all on the mats.

Lauren McAdam

Brand Ambassador | Tennessee

Lauren is a purple belt training at Legion Jiu Jitsu in Tennessee. Bookkeeper by day and an avid competitor on the sub only scene in the North East. Founder and stylist of Jitz Hair Don't Care. (Follow on IG) Helping the ladies of jiu jitsu look like warriors on the mat.

Katie Egan

Guest Instructor | Brand Ambassador | Washington

Katie is a black belt training out of the Seattle, WA area at Foster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a One Jiu Jitsu affiliate as both an athlete and an assistant coach. She has notable wins on the largest stages including Nogi Worlds, Nogi and Gi Pans, Master Worlds, Europeans, American Nationals and F2W. In addition to competing and coaching she is also a referee for numerous organizations including IBJJF, F2W, and Grappling Industries. She also runs the Women Who Roll website, social medias, and soon to be podcast.

Jackie Avelar

Guest Instructor | Brand Ambassador | Texas

2nd Degree Black Belt

Jackie trains with her husband, and 4 children, at their family-owned academy, Ground Dwellers in Spring, TX. Jackie began training at the age of 38. Since then, Jiu-Jitsu has become her hobby, sport, business and life! Jackie has managed to both compete and train through various setbacks including multiple knees injuries and surgeries. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with other women to both empower and inspire.

Jackie founded the women's program at her academy where she serves as an instructor and mentor.

Kimberly Blake

Ambassador | Oklahoma

Kim is a 1st Degree Black Belt under Carlos Machado. She began training martial arts at 42 years of age, and now holds over 17 years of experience teaching, competing and coaching. Kim feels that martial arts has brought er together with like-minded women from across the world. She views her ambassadorship as a platform to impact people and share her personal journey. Kim is a 2x IBJJF Masters World Champion, a 2017 inductee to the hall of fame, a Girls in Gis ambassador, the first female black belt in Oklahoma, a 5th Degree Black Belt in Karate and Carlos Machado's first African American woman Black Belt.

Nicole Mathew

Black Belt | New Jersey

Trains out of Method Jiu Jitsu under Chris Might. Nicole is closely mentored by, and trains with, Gianni Grippo and Paulo Miyao.

Saying that Nicole is active competitor is an understatement as she competes twice a month and holds a 70% submission rate. Nicole is one of the most GAME opponents on the scene right now and is making noise at any event or stage that she performs. Nicole is the current 145lb Finishers Interim Belt Holder.

While Nicole is known for her no gi sub only presence, she also trains in the gi and participates in IBJJF.

Amanda Mackey

Yoga Instructor | Blue Belt | New York

Amanda has a passion for yoga and sharing this knowledge. She is a blue belt and has combined her love for Jiu Jitsu and Yoga with applied Yoga Anatomy and Muscle Activation, also known as AYAMA. This yoga is great for athletes and she looks forward to bringing this along with her joyful personality to the Grappling Getaway's Family. She runs a studio in Troy, NY and teaches both seminars and classes internationally as she continues to grow her business Yogafruit.