About Northgate

Dani Ferreira opened Northgate in 2014 in a former print shop on North High Street, with 600 square feet of mats and eleven members. Today we have 3,000 square feet of mats, two changing rooms and about 240 members, from four-year-olds to a 68-year-old blue belt.

The academy: blue mats, a wooden bench with folded gis and belts on wall hooks

How we train

Tap early

Tapping isn’t losing. Tap as soon as something hurts, and let go the moment your partner taps.

Train with everyone

Pick partners of different sizes and belts. Upper belts go lighter with newer members.

Keep it clean

A clean gi every class, short nails, no shoes on the mat, and stay home when you’re sick.

Ask questions

Coaches would rather explain something twice than watch you guess.

Coaches

Every class is taught by a coach with at least a purple belt. Dani has run the academy since 2014.

Dani Ferreira

Black belt, 3rd degree

Head coach and owner

Opened Northgate in 2014. Teaches most Fundamentals and Gi classes.

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Mei Tanaka-Ross

Black belt

Coach, women's program

Runs the women's program and teaches Fundamentals. Northgate's first homegrown black belt.

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Jordan Pike

Brown belt

No-Gi and competition coach

Former college wrestler. Teaches No-Gi and coaches the competition team.

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Tomás Reyes

Purple belt

Kids and teens coach

Teaches every kids and teens class. Former elementary school teacher.

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Lineage

Dani received his black belt from Professor Caio Brandimarte in 2011. Mei, Jordan and Tomás were all promoted by Dani at Northgate. Promotions happen twice a year, in June and December, without tests or fees.