The coaches
Eight people leading Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai at Vortex.
01 — Head coach
Tommy Wales
4th-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Master Renato Tavares
Tommy Wales is a 4th-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Master Renato Tavares and a certified Muay Thai Kru. He has been training for more than two decades and has competed in gi, no-gi, MMA, and Muay Thai across that span.
He founded Vortex Jiu Jitsu Academy in Palm Bay in 2008 with one goal: bring serious, technical coaching to every student who walks through the door — the kind of coaching he wished he had when he started. Today the room runs on that same standard.
Today Tommy personally coaches the upper belts and leads an eight-coach staff who were all trained inside this room. Every promotion at Vortex passes through his hands.
- Lineage
- Renato Tavares
- Belt
- 4th-Degree Black
- Coaching since
- 2008
- Disciplines
- BJJ · Muay Thai
02 — The team
Instructors
Seven coaches working alongside Tommy. Every one of them was trained inside this room.
- Christopher Nowlan
Christopher "Squirrel" Nowlan
Purple Belt
under Tommy Wales
Purple belt under Tommy. Competing since age eleven; seven years on the IBJJF, Newbreed, and Jiu Jitsu World League circuits in gi and no-gi.
- Darrio Torres
Darrio Torres
Black Belt
under Tommy Wales
Black belt under Tommy. 19-year law enforcement veteran, including seven years on SWAT and three as a K9 handler.
- Dustin Martin
Dustin Martin
Black Belt
under Tommy Wales
Black belt and Army veteran. Training since 2009, gold-medal IBJJF Open competitor, one MMA win by armbar.
- Jacob Prine
Jacob Prine
Muay Thai
under Tommy Wales
Muay Thai coach under Tommy. 2021 IKF Muay Thai Championship winner.
- Michael Caicedo
Michael Caicedo
Brown Belt
under Tommy Wales
Brown belt under Tommy. 2019 Renato Tavares Association Competitor of the Year; veteran of IBJJF, NAGA, ADCC trials, and pro MMA.
- Shannon Johnson
Shannon Johnson
Black Belt
under Tommy Wales
Black belt under Tommy. Active competitor in gi and no-gi, with Muay Thai training under the Renato Tavares Association.
- Zach Wickline
Zach Wickline
Black Belt
under Tommy Wales
Black belt under Tommy. Marine Corps veteran, All Marine Wrestling Team 2010, two-time third-place IBJJF Pan-American.