About Us & BJJ Travel

April Parks

Svenja Juffernbruch

Founder | Head coach | BJJ Camp Mastermind

Mom of four, BJJ black belt and a head Jiu Jitsu Women instructor at Vien JiuJitsu in Syracuse, NY. April is a world champion on all belts and the one that makes our Jiu Jitsu and travel camps possible. Her endless effort guarantees each camp to be a success and makes it a special and unique experience for those seeking bjj travel.

Svenja Juffernbruch

Founding member | Instructor | Web design | Foriegn Brand Ambassador

Svenja is a BJJ brown 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.

Katie Hooven

Svenja Juffernbruch

Julie Manasse

Instructor | Graphic design | Administrative Staff

Katie is a brown belt under Garry Tonon. With a detailed and thorough approach in her instruction, she will teach you both upper and lower body submissions that are practical and effective.

On the mats or off, where Katie goes, fun follows.

Founding member | instructor | infrastructure | social media

Julie has been with us since day one

Julie Manasse

Itzel Bazua Aguilar

Julie Manasse

Founding member | Instructor

Julie has been with us since day one, always a smile on her face Julie shows her BJJ skills and breaks it down so everyone can follow her techniques. Currently a brown belt Julie is a Pan American NoGi champion amongst many other accomplishments.

Val Masai-Aspaas

Itzel Bazua Aguilar

Founding member | Instructor | Head Rash Guard Designer

Val was a professional MMA fighter and has a huge background in Martial Arts. She is IBJJF Pan American champion in Gi and NoGi she loves to show techniques that work in either. Your new favorite quote you will learn in Val's class: "Always punish the face"

Itzel Bazua Aguilar

International Instructor

Itzel is Mexico's 1st Female Black Belt, Leader of Zenith Mexico and IBJJF Referee.

Itzel is an accomplished jiu jitsu athlete, coach and referee. She is an advocate for women and children and has been instrumental in the evolution of jiu jitsu in her country for women.

Guest Instructors & Ambassadors

Elisabeth Clay

Guest Instructor | Brand Ambassador

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

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

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

Lauren is a blue belt at Nitro BJJ under Double Five BJJ. Bookkeeper by day and an avid competitor in 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

Katie is a brown 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

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.