Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Instructor- Founder

Hi my name is Dennis Thomas, Jr. My goal is to make sure that you know how to defend yourself and teach you the skills to get you into the best shape of your life. I will never give up on you. Please come in and tryout a free class. I promise to provide you with the best coaching, training partners and facility to ensure that your self-defense skills and fitness goals are met.

25+ years of boxing experience. 14+ Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, MMA training & Fitness instruction. 4-0 MMA (Cage Fighting Record). Multiple Time BJJ Champion. Certified First Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under coach Sina Hadad. Dennis currently trains at Ironside Martial Arts under Jiu-Jitsu Professor Sina Hadad and MMA coach Juan Guenechea. Happily married to his beautiful high school sweetheart for 20 years. Proud father of 3 amazing children.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Accomplishments: 2006

• 2nd Place, Silver medal Texas NoGi Championship.

• 3rd Place, Bronze medal Elite Grapplers Championship

2007

• 2nd Place trophy, U.S. No Gi Challenge

• 1st Place Gold Medal, Texas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship

2011

• 2nd place NoGi and Gi, Star Jiu-Jitsu Championship

• 3rd place Europa Dallas, Fight World Championships

2012

• 3rd place, Salute to Arms charity event benefitting the Wounded Warriors Project.

• 1st Place Gold medal, American Grappling Federation

• 2nd place Silver medal, Lone Star State Jiu-Jitsu Championship, NABJJF

• 2nd place Bronze medal, NABJJF Nationals

• 2nd place Silver medal, NABJJF Nationals

• 1st place Gold medal, NABJJF Nationals

• 1st Place Gold medal, Europa Super Show Torque Champion

• 1st Place Gold Championship belt, NAGA expert division.

2013

• 3rd place Bronze medal, NAGA World Championship

• 2nd place Silver medal, NAGA World Championship

• 1st place Gold medal, American Grappling Federation

• 1st Place Gold medal, Newbreed Ultimate Challenge

• 1st place Gold medal, Newbreed Ultimate Challenge

• 1st place Gold medal, Europa Fight to Win

• 1st place Gold medal, NABJJF Nationals

2014

• 2nd place Silver medal, IBJJF Dallas International Open

• 1st place Championship belt, Black/Brown belt division, Five Grappling Championship

• 1st place Championship belt, Expert division, Five Grappling Championship

2016

• 2nd place Silver Medal, ONNIT World Open Submission Only Jiu-Jitsu Tournament

• 1st place Gold medal, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Black Belt Division (Gi) NABJJF Lone Star State Championship

• 1st place Gold medal, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Black Belt Division (NoGi) NABJJF Lone Star State Championship

• 1st place Gold medal, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Black Belt Division (Open Weight, NoGi) NABJJF Lone Star State Championship

  • MMA Cage Fighting Accomplishments:

    • 2007 Defeated Samuel Cyr via tapout with a Lion Killer Choke (2nd round)

    • 2008 Defeated Kevin Salas via tapout with a Lion Killer Choke (1st round)

    • 2015 Defeated Jaime Anaya via TKO (1st round)

    • 2015 Defeated Fernando Salas via Unanimous Decision (3 rounds)

  • Certifications:

    • First Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

    • Professional MMA Fighter

    • Safe Sport Certified Coach

    • USA Boxing Member

    • Professional Cornerman

    • IBJJF Member

    • SJJIF Member

    • USA Boxing Certified Coach

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing & Muay Thai Coach

Coach James "Jambo" Sherry started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2008 and trains at Star Jiu-Jitsu under Yousef Alirezaei. He is a certified Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a USA Boxing member and a Safe Sport Certified Coach.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach and Roanoke Gym Manager

As a special education teacher and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jill Sandoval has a passion for enriching children’s lives on and off the mats. She serves as an ambassador for Girls in Gis, which promotes women’s Jiu-Jitsu and raises money to pay for less fortunate women to participate in the sport. She is also an ambassador for My Bruises are from...Jiu-Jitsu, which raises awareness of domestic violence.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Thomas (Tom) Rodriguez

I started training Jiu Jitsu in Chicago, IL in 2012 under Carlson Gracie Team black belts Jeff Neal and Brian Bishop. I moved down to Texas in 2015 and began training under James Sherry, Jerry Lair and Dennis Thomas at Street Jitsu in Roanoke, TX. Since starting training, I have lost 40 lbs, and have competed in numerous tournaments and pro grappling fights. I am currently a brown belt. I have a bachelors in psychology from Northern Illinois University. I have been married since May of 2010 to my lovely Wife Angela and have 2 daughters, Adriana and Sophia.

• BJJ accomplishments

• 2018

  • Underground Submission series. 1st GI absolute. 2nd GI 145. 2nd No GI 145. 3rd No GI Absolute

• 2018

  • NAGA 1st No Gi

  • Evolve Jiu Jitsu tournament 1st no GI

  • Grappling Industry 2nd GI

• 2016

  • Newbreed 1st GI 145 lb, Silver GI 170 lb

  • NABJJF 1st GI 2nd NO GI

  • TXBJJ 3rd GI

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Coach Chris Flores has been training Brazilian jiu-jitsu since 2017. He holds the rank of blue belt under Professor Dennis Thomas at Street Jitsu. Chris has been enlisted in the Marine Corps for the past 15 years and holds the rank of Black belt 3 rd degree Martial Arts instructor Trainer in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).He has been instructing MCMAP for 10 years. Chris enjoys competing in BJJ tournaments as well as transferring the knowledge he has gained through the years by coaching others. He currently coaches the BJJ kids class at Street Jitsu-Justin. Aside from his BJJ training, Chris enjoys staying physically fit by lifting weights and playing sports. He has been married to his awesome wife Melanie for 11 years.

• May-2018 NAGA World BJJ Championships- Gold No-Gi, Silver Gi (White Belt)

• Sept-2018 IBJJF Dallas fall international Open- Bronze Gi (White Belt)

• Dec-2018 NAGA World BJJ Championships-Silver Gi, silver No-Gi (White Belt)

• Feb-2019 New breed tournament- Gold No-Gi, Gold Gi (Blue Belt)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Coach Bob Drummond started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2008 in Hawaii under Relson Gracie and Mike and Chris Onzuka at O2 Martial Arts. He is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a Black Belt in Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate. Coach Bob has been married to his beautiful wife Gaye for over 32-years and has 5-children.

Boxing Coach

Coach Richard Derrick is from Dallas TX.

• Has been boxing for over 15+ yrs

• 2013 Graduate from UNT

• Former USA Boxing Member for 5+ yrs

• 2014 Ft Worth Golden Gloves Novice Champion Light heavyweight division

• 2nd place in 2014 Silver Gloves Championship light heavyweight division

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Jerry “Manimal” Lair has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since April of 2010 and received his black belt from master Sina Hadad in December of 2018. The 2014 IBJJF Masters Purple Belt World Champion and competition veteran he is also a certified Modern Army Combative Program instructor who loves to share his favorite techniques with his students. Currently an instructor at Ironside Training Academy and Street Jiu Jitsu Jerry has trained with the toughest guys in Texas and has been a training partner in several MMA fight camps.

• Currently instructing at Street Jiu Jitsu

• Currently instructing at Ironside Training Academy

• 2014 Masters Worlds – Gold Medalist

• 2014 Dallas Open – Gold Medalist

• 2014 Houston Open – Gold Medalist

• 2013 Masters Worlds – Silver Medalist

• 2013 Masters Worlds NOGI – Silver Medalist

• 2013 Dallas Open – Gold Medalist

• 2012 Dallas Open – Gold Medalist

Group Fitness Instructor & Sports Specific Coach

Justen (Jut) Smith is CEO of Veteran owned, Fitness Consultant Company TriPoint Athletics, LLC and president of JustenProFitness. He is a sports specific speed & agility coach. Currently partnering with NBA G-League Team Texas Legends and Arena Football Team Texas Revolutions.

Training and education through United States Military, NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and ACE (American Council on Exercise).

11 years Coaching and Fitness Training

7 years United States ARMY and US National Guard

-Combat Veteran, Served OIF and OEF (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom) Iraq/Kuwait

Former Semi Pro Football

USATF (USA Track & Field) National Champion and Masters Outdoor/Indoor 3 time Gold Medalist

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Pedro Henrique Rocha is a Brazilian grappler with vast experience in both freestyle wrestling and jiu-jitsu, holding the black belt rank in the latter of those, a belt awarded by Pedro’s brother — João Gabriel Rocha. Aside from his accomplishments as an athlete, a career in which he earned Brazilian National titles in both wrestling and BJJ, Rocha is also a Navy officer.

Full Name: Pedro Henrique de Oliveira e Silva Rocha

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Carlson Gracie > Crézio de Souza > André Almeida > Rafael Barbosa / Leandro Escobar > João Gabriel Rocha > Pedro Henrique Rocha

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi (2019)

• 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open No-Gi (2019)

• 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Summer Open (2019)

• 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Summer Open No-Gi (2019**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF New Orleans Open Gi (2020 black)

• 1st Place IBJJF New Orleans Open NoGi (2020 black)

• 1st Place IBJJF Kansas City Open (2020 black)

• 2nd Place IBJJF Kansas City Open (2020 black) Absolute Division

• 1st Place IBJJF Austin Open Gi (2020 black)

• 1st Place IBJJF Austin Open NoGi (2020 black)

• 1st Place IBJJF Austin Open NoGi (2020 black) Absolute Division

• 2nd Place IBJJF Houston Open Gi (2020 black)

• 2nd Place IBJJF PanAms (2020 black)

• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2020 black)

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi (2018 brown)

• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2019 brown)

• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2018 brown)

• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi (2017 brown)

Main Achievements (Wrestling):

• 1st Place CBLA Brazilian Nationals (2015 / 2016 / 2019)

• 3rd Place UWW World Championship (2016)

Favorite Position/Technique: Arm in Guillotine

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82,30 kg/181.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Double Five

Pedro Henrique Rocha Biography

Pedro Henrique Rocha was born on May 25, 1993, in Rio de Janeiro’s Tijuca neighborhood – Brazil.

Influenced by his brother, João Gabriel, Pedro asked his parents to join jiu-jitsu at the age of 4, a wish granted to the toddler, then joining coach Marcos Carvalho’s class – who graded Pedro all the way to his late teens, going on to be promoted by Marcos Carvalho with his purple belt and Ricardo Ferreira at brown.

Always active growing up, Rocha practiced a number of sports alongside his jiu-jitsu training, being particularly successful in water polo and freestyle wrestling, a sport he started when he was 17, where he conquered numerous Brazilian National titles (9) and a Junior Pan American silver medal.

By the time he was 22 years of age, Pedro was solely focused on his sporting career, and the following year Rocha enlisted in the Brazilian Navy, quickly becoming part of the organization’s Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Program, also holding the rank of 3rd sergeant.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

"I’ve been training for a total of 8 years now, since I was 14 years old. Currently I am a 4th degree brown belt under Rob Ables from Marcelo Garcia Dallas, he’s a black under the Legendary Marcelo Garcia. I used to be an active competitor, I won a few Dallas Opens, and a lot of tournaments like Naga, Newbreed, AGF.. etc, but more than anything I love to teach and also learn from other people." -Fernando Chavarria Jr.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach