BJJ in Matthews

Matthews — the southeast Charlotte suburb straddling the Mint Hill / Waxhaw corridor — punches above its size with three lineage-distinct academies. **Mint Hill Jiu-Jitsu** (despite the name, listed in Matthews) is led by Jae Ho Lee, a 3rd-degree BJJ Black Belt under Roberto Traven (Carlson Gracie Coral Belt) and an IBJJF Pan Ams / Abu Dhabi World Pro / IBJJF World Masters champion who founded Top Martial Arts (TMA Charlotte) in 2012; the same ownership runs both schools. The No-Gi program is led by Long Nguyen, a Checkmat black belt under Paulo "Mushu" Elsimaani who has been wrestling since 4th grade and has coached middle-school and high-school wrestling since 2003. **BC Kickboxing & BJJ** (originally Matthews, with a sister Waxhaw location at 27292 Waxhaw Pkwy Unit C — same head coach, same pricing, same phone) is led by Professor Ben Corpuz, a 2nd-degree BJJ Black Belt under Roberto Traven (Coral Belt) and Kru-certified Muay Thai instructor under Master Toddy with additional ranks in Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate; Corpuz's BJJ lineage runs through Matt Serra and Joe Scarola (Gracie Barra) before Traven. The school publishes one of the metro's most detailed pricing menus at $149–$599 across 11 tiers, with a $169 Adult BJJ/Muay Thai monthly automated EFT and a $55 30-min personal training drop-in. **Hayastan MMA Charlotte** (1307 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd Unit B) is the area's Hayastan Submission Fighting outpost — founded by the late Sensei Paul Booe and currently run by owner Kevin Forant with Tony Tan (Hayastan Level 10 / black belt under Sensei Gokor Chivichyan, former undefeated amateur MMA champion and D1 college wrestler) on the wrestling staff and Marine Close Combat veteran James Armlin teaching Kru-certified Muay Thai. The academy fields a pro fight team alongside junior (6-12) and adult (13-80) programs, with no-gi grappling rather than traditional BJJ as the grappling base.