​He began training at 14 years old in 1991 and started teaching at a young age. In 2000, before earning his Black Belt, he traveled to Europe to teach seminars. After receiving his Black Belt in 2001, he was invited to return and establish Kimura BJJ in Europe, where he continued teaching and expanding the sport.
​
In 2003, Master Jean brought his expertise to the U.S., founding his team and further solidifying its presence. From 2004 to 2014, his team dominated the Northeast, winning nearly every major competition in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and surrounding areas.
​
In 2016, he moved with his family to Boca Raton, Florida, where he opened his own academy, which has since grown into a highly successful school, excelling both technically and as a business.
A fierce competitor and expert in submission wrestling, judo, Muay Thai, Vale Tudo, MMA, and self-defense, Master Jean has won numerous championships. However, his passion for teaching and building something greater led him to shift his focus from competition to developing a world-class training center.
​
Unlike many, he remains actively involved in daily training, personally teaching and mentoring his students every day.
Professor
Diego Faroni
3rd - Degree Black Belt |
23 Years of Jiu-Jitsu
Professor Diego started training at Kimura in 2003 after experiencing bullying, and Jiu-Jitsu completely changed his life. In 2014, Professor Jean gave him the opportunity to teach at Kimura, and he embraced it as a way to give back everything Kimura had given him.
Now a full-time instructor at Kimura Boca Raton, he teaches Monday to Saturday, living the Kimura BJJ lifestyle. A former top competitor at Kimura Boston, he has won multiple IBJJF and major tournaments across the U.S. Today, he channels that experience into coaching while still keeping his competitive spirit alive.
Coaches
Victor Passos Jr. (Vitinho) – Coach
Vitinho is a purple belt and one of Kimura’s Kids Competition Team coaches. He started Jiu-Jitsu in 2017 to build confidence and has been training for nearly eight years.
He began as a volunteer in 2018, and after six months, he officially joined the Kimura staff. Today, he is one of coaches and teaches his own classes and works alongside Professor Jean and Professor Diego, dedicating over 25 hours a week to coaching while also pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy at FAU.
While he enjoys competing, his true passion is teaching and giving back to the kids what Jiu-Jitsu gave him. For Vitinho, Jiu-Jitsu is about consistency, growth, and proving that technique beats strength.
Samantha Jones - Coach
Samantha started her Jiu-Jitsu journey at Kimura in 2019, seeking self-defense and personal growth. After earning her blue belt, she began volunteering with kids’ classes, and six months later, she officially joined the Kimura staff. She now leads her own classes and works part-time at the school.
A purple belt with nearly six years of training, Samantha has competed a few times and performed well, but her true passion is teaching. Her goal is to finish college and continue sharing Jiu-Jitsu with others. She loves Kimura’s supportive community and believes Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a sport—it’s about confidence, control, and lifelong learning.
Dante Aliberti - Coach
Dante is a blue belt and one of Kimura’s top competitors, with multiple IBJJF titles, including a Pan Am championship. Despite weighing just 145 pounds, he has defeated black belts and dominated absolute divisions against opponents over 250 pounds.
He teaches No-Gi classes for adults and homeschoolers while also assisting in kids’ classes alongside Professor Jean and Professor Diego. He started Jiu-Jitsu at 17 after transitioning from baseball and quickly embraced its challenges. To him, Jiu-Jitsu is a mirror—revealing weaknesses and pushing constant evolution.
Dante began volunteering at Kimura in early 2022 and, six months later, joined the staff full-time. While he excels in competition, his true passion is teaching and building a future in Jiu-Jitsu. His ultimate goal is to open his own Kimura branch in the next five years.
Lorenzo Tarouco - Coach
Lorenzo is a blue belt and one of Kimura’s top competitors, winning IBJJF tournaments across the country. He started Jiu-Jitsu in July 2022 and quickly committed to training and competing at the highest level.
He joined Kimura as a volunteer in December 2022, and six months later, he became part of the staff, training to become a coach. With the amount of hours he has on the mats, he is now one of our coaches.
Lorenzo assists Professor Jean and Professor Diego on the mats and serves as a role model for young competitors. He believes Jiu-Jitsu is tough but rewarding, and consistency is the key to success.
Priscilla Figueiredo - Coach
Priscilla is a blue belt, a top Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling competitor, and one of Kimura’s Kids Competition Team coaches. She started training in 2018 and quickly embraced the discipline and challenges of the sport.
She began volunteering at Kimura in 2018 and later joined the staff. Now, she teaches wrestling to the competition team and assists Professor Jean and Professor Diego in kids’ classes.
While studying in college, Priscilla works part-time at Kimura. She believes Jiu-Jitsu teaches patience, accountability, and resilience, helping students grow both on and off the mats.
Watertown
Head Professor
Marbnys Andrade
Outside the mats, Marbnys loves leadership development, spending time with his family, and of course — Brazilian BBQ.
Marbnys Andrade is a 1st-degree black belt who began training Jiu-Jitsu in 2010 at Kimura BJJ in Taunton, MA under Professor Diego Ferroni. At just 17, searching for direction, a friend invited him to a trial class—and that moment changed everything.
He began teaching in 2012, initially just to get more mat time, but quickly discovered a passion for helping others grow. Today, Marbnys is known not just for his skill, but for his ability to connect with students and guide them through their own Jiu-Jitsu journeys.
He’s grateful for the opportunities to travel, compete, and build a life around the art—and credits Kimura’s culture of hard work, support, and family for shaping his path.
His message to students:
“Keep going. This journey isn’t easy, but it will show you who you are and what you’re capable of.”
Cormac Bride - Coach
Cormac Bride is a 1st-degree black belt who began training in 2007. A coach at Kimura BJJ Watertown since 2018, his journey started by simply filling in to help—but teaching soon became a true calling.
Cormac is passionate about the defensive side of Jiu-Jitsu and the beauty of the art itself. He believes that real growth comes from shared support, crediting his favorite medals—one as a white belt, one as a black belt—to the strength of his team.
Outside the gym, he’s a lover of music, film, and fishing. His message to students:
“Control your breathing. Calm your energy. Smooth your technique. Navigate the storms.”
Watertown
Nick Moraes - Coach
Nick Moraes is a 1st-degree black belt and the No-Gi instructor at Kimura BJJ. He started training in Brazil back in 2004 and has been part of the Kimura family for 18 years.
Nick is passionate about creating a well-rounded No-Gi program and values training not just for performance, but for growth—as a martial artist and as a person.
What he loves most about Jiu-Jitsu is how it brings good people together and pushes us to evolve.
His philosophy is simple:
“Leave your ego at the door. Be intentional. Train to learn, not just to win.”
Watertown
Joel Bell - Professor
Watertown
Joe Bell is a 3rd-degree black belt with over 20 years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the Head Instructor at Kimura BJJ Boston, where he has been teaching since 2008.
Joe took his first BJJ class on November 2, 2001, bringing with him a strong background in wrestling and a passion for sports. What started as a way to stay active quickly became a lifelong journey.
Known for his technical depth and leadership, Joe is also one of the top competitors to ever represent Kimura. He’s competed extensively—and successfully—throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Boston, earning victories over some of the sport’s toughest opponents.
Joe’s love for Jiu-Jitsu lies in its endless challenge and adaptability. He believes in teaching techniques that work for any body type or athletic level, and he values live training as the key to real growth.
His message to students:
“Jiu-Jitsu is an individual sport—but no one gets far without a strong team. Be patient, be supportive, and always be a great teammate.”
Andrea Muccini - Coach
Andrea Muccini is a seasoned martial artist and one of Kimura’s most respected instructors. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and 3rd Dan in Judo, Andrea brings decades of experience to the mats—leading Kimura’s takedown class, where she blends Judo and BJJ strategies with precision and passion.
Andrea began training in BJJ in 2006 and earned his black belt in 2018. In 2019, he became a World Master Champion in her age and weight division—proof that Jiu-Jitsu truly has no age limit.
As a physical therapist, Andrea understands the body deeply and promotes Jiu-Jitsu as a lifelong practice accessible to everyone. Even in his 60s, he continues to train hard, study fundamentals, and inspire others through example.
Known affectionately as “Sensei,” Andrea believes the key to success is simple:
“Step on the mat, do your best, and have fun. The rest will take care of itself.”
Watertown
.png)
Lyle Del Vecchio
Brown Belt | Instructor & Competitor – Kimura BJJ
Watertown
Lyle started training Jiu-Jitsu in high school and quickly fell in love with the environment and challenges. With over 10 years on the mat and a background in support and sales, he brings a problem-solving mindset to both his training and teaching.
Since joining Kimura in 2022, Lyle has been a key part of the team—both as a competitor and as an instructor. For him, teaching is a way to share his passion for strategy and technique, while helping students overcome challenges and grow through the process.
Jiu-Jitsu has taught him to persevere, to stay calm under pressure, and never give up when things get tough.
His advice to students:
“It’s not about medals or belts. It’s about how you grow through the challenges.”
Nicoletta Hoctor - Coach
Nicoletta Hoctor is a brown belt who began training in 2014. With a background in education and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, she found the perfect blend of her passions when she began coaching Jiu-Jitsu in 2018.
Starting in the kids program and now leading Kimura’s women’s class, Nicoletta is dedicated to helping students grow in skill and confidence—especially the moms and women she trains alongside every week.
A proud mom herself, she loves that Kimura feels like a true family: a place where teammates lift each other up and where her son will grow surrounded by strong, supportive role models.
Her advice:
“Be consistent, be patient, and enjoy the process.”
Watertown
Patrick “Coach Pat” Adams
Patrick “Coach Pat” Adams is a brown belt with over a decade of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He began training in 2012 after a real-life encounter made him realize the importance of self-defense. What started as a practical decision soon became a lifelong passion.
Today, Pat is an assistant instructor for both kids and adults at Kimura BJJ, where he’s known for his technical mindset and calm teaching style. He loves the challenge Jiu-Jitsu brings to both body and mind and believes teaching is his way of giving back.
His advice:
“Be okay with being bad at the start—progress comes through humility. And master your escapes. If no one can hold you down, you’re free to express your game.”
Watertown
Bryan Ueda
Brown Belt | Morning Gi Instructor
Bryan started training Jiu-Jitsu in 2014, introduced by his brother and drawn in by the strong sense of community at Kimura. He began teaching in 2018 and returned again in 2024. Today, he leads morning Gi classes with passion and dedication.
With 10 years on the mat, Bryan believes that the biggest challenge in Jiu-Jitsu is overcoming your own ego. He encourages students to embrace discomfort, as it’s the fastest path to growth — both on and off the mats.
“For me, when I’m at the gym, everything else fades away. It’s just Jiu-Jitsu and family.”