Dani Ferreira

Dani started training in 2002 in a garage in Dayton, with six people and a mat that slid apart every round. He received his black belt from Professor Caio Brandimarte in 2011 and opened Northgate three years later.

He still teaches more Fundamentals classes than anyone else here. His view is that the first three months decide whether someone keeps training, so he wants to be on the mat for them.

Outside the academy he coaches the jiu-jitsu club at a local high school and spends too much time fixing his old pickup truck.