Meet Our BJJ & Judo Instructors | ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coopersburg PA

ZEN BJJ INSTRUCTORS

Train with experienced black belts and dedicated coaches committed to your growth on and off the mat.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF

Chris Blowars, BJJ Black Belt instructor at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coopersburg PA
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CHRIS BLOWARS

BJJ BLACK BELT

Chris brings over 10 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience to the mats at ZEN BJJ. He earned his black belt in November 2021 under Jeremy Henderson, who holds a 3rd degree black belt under the legendary Robson Moura.

With a strong background in youth, middle school, and high school wrestling, Chris brings a dynamic, well-rounded perspective to grappling. He trains five days a week and embodies the philosophy that "age is just a number" — proving that dedication and consistency can push anyone to new heights on the mat.

Rich Meriano, BJJ Black Belt instructor at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coopersburg PA
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RICH MERIANO

BJJ BLACK BELT

Rich is a versatile martial artist with over a decade of experience in grappling and striking arts. He earned his BJJ black belt under Jeremy Henderson and previously received his brown belt from Dezy Ryu Jiu-Jitsu under Alex Seira, giving him deep understanding of multiple BJJ lineages.

Rich also spent five years training kickboxing under Eric Utsch, making him a truly well-rounded martial artist. His diverse background allows him to offer students a comprehensive view of combat sports and self-defense.

Wen Hsieh, BJJ Black Belt at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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WEN HSIEH

BJJ BLACK BELT

Wen Hsieh brings 17 years of grappling experience to ZEN BJJ, making him one of the most experienced grapplers in the Lehigh Valley. He earned his BJJ black belt from Jeremy Henderson and Jared Zamboli, and received his BJJ purple and blue belts under Kurtis Taylor.

Wen's Judo training extends to study under the legendary Sang Pil Han — President of Korea Judo in the USA and a 7th Dan coral belt. Beyond the mat, Wen also holds a black belt in culinary arts, demonstrating that his dedication to mastery extends to every area of life.

Will Rodriguez, BJJ Purple Belt children's instructor at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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WILL RODRIGUEZ

BJJ PURPLE BELT

Will Rodriguez is a dedicated father of three who channels the same patience and dedication he brings to parenting into his coaching. Specializing in teaching children, Will focuses on building solid fundamentals through the core principles of balance, leverage, and personal growth.

His background in both BJJ and Muay Thai gives him a comprehensive understanding of martial arts that he uses to create engaging, age-appropriate lessons that keep kids motivated and progressing toward their goals.

Kyle Gorant, Collegiate Wrestler and BJJ Blue Belt at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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KYLE GORANT

COLLEGIATE WRESTLER / BJJ BLUE BELT

Kyle Gorant brings elite-level wrestling credentials to ZEN BJJ. With 20 years of wrestling experience, Kyle competed for four years as an NCAA Division I wrestler at Davidson College, where he served as team captain for two years and ranked in the top 25 nationally.

His wrestling expertise provides ZEN students with world-class takedown instruction and a deep understanding of positional grappling. Kyle is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, bringing a scientific understanding of human movement and injury prevention to his coaching.

Mike Ramos, Judo Brown Belt at ZEN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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MIKE RAMOS

JUDO BROWN BELT

Mike has 10 years of Judo experience and 6 years of Wrestling experience. Mike has grown up around Judo and spent many years actively attending Judo tournaments up and down the East Coast. He obtained his brown belt in Judo from Yoshisada Yonezuka, a 9th degree Judo black belt and two-time US Olympic Judo Coach.

After taking a break from grappling during 2018–2023 to pursue undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Physics from the University of Delaware, Mike moved to Allentown and came back to Judo and started training Jiu-Jitsu as well.

TRAIN WITH THE BEST

Our coaching staff brings decades of combined experience across BJJ, Judo, wrestling, and striking arts. No matter your goals, we have the expertise to help you achieve them.

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