Our Instructors
Mike Sanda
Jeff Robertson
Jeff Robertson
Mike started training in 2002 under Ricardo Ica Medina, and received his black belt from Bruce Shepherd in 2014. Mike loves to train jiu jitsu not only because it is a beautiful art , but when properly trained it can allow one to live a more confident and healthy life. Mike’s favorite techniques are defensive as he believes this is th
Mike started training in 2002 under Ricardo Ica Medina, and received his black belt from Bruce Shepherd in 2014. Mike loves to train jiu jitsu not only because it is a beautiful art , but when properly trained it can allow one to live a more confident and healthy life. Mike’s favorite techniques are defensive as he believes this is the true strength of the art - total defense through control. Mike's professional background is in aviation, and he is now focused on Holy City Jiu Jitsu and raising his son Katsuo with his wife and two dogs, Cheddar and Brie.
Jeff Robertson
Jeff Robertson
Jeff Robertson
Jeff is the head instructor at Holy City Jiu Jitsu. He has been training since 2002, beginning with Jerry Brewer and Grand Master Relson Gracie. He subsequently trained under Ica Medina and Master Rigan Machado before he started training under Scott Devine in 2013, receiving his black belt in 2015. Jeff is a veteran law enforcement off
Jeff is the head instructor at Holy City Jiu Jitsu. He has been training since 2002, beginning with Jerry Brewer and Grand Master Relson Gracie. He subsequently trained under Ica Medina and Master Rigan Machado before he started training under Scott Devine in 2013, receiving his black belt in 2015. Jeff is a veteran law enforcement officer who lives with his wife, his son (who also trains!) and their dogs Tyson and Waylan.
Tony Licari
Jeff Robertson
Tony Licari
Tony began training in 2008 in SC with the Rigan Machado team. After moving to FL he joined a Rodrigo Pinheiro affiliate, and subsequently opened his own affiliate. Upon retiring from the Navy, Tony relocated back to Charleston and received his black belt from Scott Devine in 2018. He is married and father of 4 children, and is currently pursing his Masters in English from the Citadel.
Baird Hoffmire
Elijah Fletcher
Elijah Fletcher
Like a lot of kids growing up during the 70s and 80s Baird wanted to be Spiderman or Bruce Lee... preferably both. That didn’t work out but it lead to his love of martial arts. A few years of striking led to Judo which inevitably led to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He started training BJJ in 2014 under Leo Viera black belt Bill Dillard and Thiago
Like a lot of kids growing up during the 70s and 80s Baird wanted to be Spiderman or Bruce Lee... preferably both. That didn’t work out but it lead to his love of martial arts. A few years of striking led to Judo which inevitably led to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He started training BJJ in 2014 under Leo Viera black belt Bill Dillard and Thiago Sa at Checkmat in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He now trains and teaches at Holy City Jiu Jitsu where he earned his black belt in 2021. He is married with two teenage girls. He is a professional illustrator as well as a fitness instructor. He still wants to be Spiderman.
Elijah Fletcher
Elijah Fletcher
Elijah Fletcher
Eli is a 3rd degree black belt (Sandan) in Judo. As Head Coach and Owner of American Judo and Jiu Jitsu Academy in Summerville., he has many years of experience teaching the art of Judo safely and effectively. Eli joins us at Holy City every Tuesday to give our students the opportunity to learn Judo from a 2018 US Open Champion!
Andy Karn
Elijah Fletcher
Justin Gravano
Andy began training in 2017 at Holy City Jiu Jitsu. As a former high school wrestler and coach, his Jiu Jitsu game relies heavily on thicc boy pressure and scrambling. Andy has worked in the fire service for the past 15 years and is currently in nursing school. Despite being a full-time student he spends most of his free time with his cat
Andy began training in 2017 at Holy City Jiu Jitsu. As a former high school wrestler and coach, his Jiu Jitsu game relies heavily on thicc boy pressure and scrambling. Andy has worked in the fire service for the past 15 years and is currently in nursing school. Despite being a full-time student he spends most of his free time with his cats, Marge and Zeke. Andy is always down for some nice rolls, whether it be bread or Jiu Jitsu.
Justin Gravano
Justin Gravano
Justin Gravano
Justin started judo in 2014 under the instruction of Al Jacobs and Eli Fletcher at American Judo and Jiu-jitsu Academy. Since then he's had the opportunity to train with many other great instructors such as Ralph Ubah, Joshua White, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, and Brad Bolen. He's a national competitor with multiple regional titles in SC, NC and
Justin started judo in 2014 under the instruction of Al Jacobs and Eli Fletcher at American Judo and Jiu-jitsu Academy. Since then he's had the opportunity to train with many other great instructors such as Ralph Ubah, Joshua White, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, and Brad Bolen. He's a national competitor with multiple regional titles in SC, NC and GA. His goal is to make judo more available, safe, and fun for the jiu-jitsu community. He hopes to share his passion and show how Judo can change anyone's life the way it changed his.
Clinton Sparks
Justin Gravano
Clinton Sparks
Clinton is from Summerville, SC where he began training martial arts at the age of 17. After a few years of striking he discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and subsequently the lack of grappling in his training, and from there he was hooked. His "no stone unturned" approach on the mats coupled with his love of Musashi's "The Way" fuels his passion for the art and his desire to share it.