Instructors and Coaches

Professor Josh Madama

Head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach


Professor Josh MadamaJosh Madama is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Matt & Nick Serra. Josh been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 1997 where he started as a student under Renzo and Rodrigo Gracie.

Josh is an ex-police officer who, in 2005, ended his law enforcement career to pursue a full-time career as a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. As such, he sought out and learned his craft under the area’s best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors including: Renzo Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie, Matt & Nick Serra, Ricardo Almeida, and John “New Zealand John” Danaher, among others.

In 1999, Josh started a short but successful competition career. In 2001, he was the North American Grapplers Association’s #1 nationally ranked grappler, but was forced to stop competing in 2001 after a traumatic neck injury.

He has appeared in Renzo Gracie’s bio-documentary, Legacy and as part of Renzo’s entourage in the Pride 8 film. He can also be seen in Mark Kerr’s documentary, Smashing Machine and choreographed & appears in A Deeper Down’s video for their song, “In Your Face.”

Professor Josh Madama now runs and is the head instructor at Ocean County’s most established Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Madama Jiu-Jitsu Academy. He also is an Assistant Instructor at Renzo Gracie’s main jiu-jitsu academy in Holmdel, NJ and at Matt and Nick Serra’s Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Huntington, Long Island.

Promotion History

  • 1997 White Belt, Renzo Gracie, Renzo Gracie Team
  • 1999 Blue Belt, Rodrigo Gracie, Renzo Gracie Team
  • 2002 Purple Belt, Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie Team
  • 2007 Brown Belt, Matt & Nick Serra, Renzo Gracie Team
  • 2010 Black Belt, Matt & Nick Serra, Renzo Gracie Team

Competition Results

  • 1999 Grapplers Quest, Intermediate No Gi, 3rd Place
  • 2000 NAGA, Intermediate No gi, 3rd Place
  • 2000 NAGA Battle at the Beach, Advanced No Gi, 1st Place
  • 2001 NAGA JKA Challence, Advanced No Gi, 1st Place
  • 2001 Advanced #1 Nationally Ranked NAGA Grappler
  • 2001 NAGA Worlds Advanced 4th place

Top

Kru Mike Lanzano

Kickboxing & Primary Striking Coach

Kru Mike LanzanoAn accomplished and powerful striker as well as a skilled grappler, Mike is a Muay Thai Kickboxing first degree armband and a 4-stripe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt.

He received his black arm band in 2007 under Kru James Wellington (who is a black armband under Kru Phil Nurse — Kru Phil is currently training George St. Pierre and Rashad Evans).

Mike’s style of kickboxing has a foundation based on Kru Phil Nurses hybrid Muay Thai style that artfully mixes Western boxing, quick counters, balanced movement, and powerful Muay Thai kicks.

Kru Mike has been training in kickboxing since 1999 and has helped train several successful MMA fighters at our school.

As four-stripe blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Madama, Mike actively competes in sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has won and placed in several tournaments.

Muay Thai, also know as Thai boxing, is  martial art that makes extensive use of vicious punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes. It is sometimes referred to as “Art (or Science) Of Eight Limbs” because it uses eight striking weapons as opposed to two weapons in Western boxing (hands) and four four used in most sport-oriented martial arts (hands and feet).

The word “Kru” is literally translated as “teacher” in the Thai language.

Top

Mike “Shamy” Elshamy

Primary Wrestling Coach and Assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Mike "Shammy" ElshamyShammy wrestled for Brick Memorial High School and Rutgers University. His patient and powerful wrestling style emphasizes crisp, technical takedowns and a swift, powerful “top game.”

As a high school wrestler, he was a Regions Champion, twice a Districts Champion, and a tw0-time States qualifier. His other titles include a second place in the Regions and a third place in the Districts.

Mike is currently a purple belt under Professor Madama and has had continued success as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament fighter. His accomplishments include:

  • 2010 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan Am, Silver Medal;
  • 2010 NAGA Expert No Gi, Champion;
  • NAGA Purple Belt, Bronze (competed as a Blue Belt);
  • Two -time NAGA Intermediate No Gi, Silver,
  • Two-time NAGA Blue Belt, Silver;
  • Eight-time NAGA Place Winner.
Top

Ray Nieves

Assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Ray is currently a purple belt under Josh Madama. (More soon).
Top

Jim McCormick

Assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach and Kid’s Instructor

Jim is a purple belt under Josh Madama. (More soon.)
Top

Ryan “Mick” McEndrow

Primary Personal Boxing Coach & Assistant Striking Coach

Mick is a skilled boxer who won the 2006 New Jersey Golden Gloves Championship and 2005 New Jersey Diamond Gloves Championship. He has had 16 (10-6) USA Boxing sanctioned fights.

He has trained with such notable boxers as Chad Van Sickle, Kendall Holt, Steven Martinez, Glen Tapia, and Dennis Douglin.