Our professional instructors are highly trained in several martial arts disciplines.

All Head Instructors have 25 – 35 years of experience in the Martial Arts and are dedicated to bringing out the best in each and every student. Defensive Edge is a proud member of Blackbelt Schools International, MAIA (Martial Arts Industry Association), NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artist). But more important than our blackbelt rankings and Championships is our students achievements! That is why our instructors continue to be students themselves. Our instructors continuously train, attend seminars, and research to improve our ability to help our students reach their goals.

Master Rick Alford – Owner & Head Instructor MMA & Self Defense

• Founded Defensive Edge Martial Arts 1999
• Black Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Andre “Dedeco” Almeida
• 5th Degree Black Belt Lysak’s Sento Method under Walt Lysak Jr.
• 6th Degree Black Belt Castoldi’s Street Jujitsu under Professor David Castoldi
• 4th Degree iCAT Reality Martial Arts Under Richard Ryan and Walt Lysak Jr.
• 3rd Degree Black Belt Small Circle Jujitsu under Soke Ed Melaugh
• 2nd Degree Black Belt Joe Lewis Fighting Systems under Grand Master Joe Lewis
• Muay Thai Level III under Ciano Delucia
• Tribal Leader Level II under Guru Michael Williams
• Studied White Crane & Long Fist Kung Fu under Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming (1990-1994)
• 1st Degree Black Belt Chung Moo Quan
• Training Judo Privately with Olympian Rick Hawn
• iCAT RMA National Director
• iCAT RMA Certified Level V Pro-Coach
• iCAT Team Elite & Masters Alliance Member
• Certified in F.I.G.H.T. (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand-to-Hand Tactics)
• NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor
• NRA Certified Home Safety Instructor
• NRA Refuse to Be a Victim Instructor
• Mass State Police Licensed LTC Firearm Safety Course Instructor
• NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
• Team Captain Wrestling CRLS (1986)
• MVP Wrestling CRLS (1986)
• Licensed MMA Trainer – Massachusetts, RI, NH, ME, CT, AL, FL,
• Former E.M.T. (15 Years)
• Former Emergency Communications Operator City of Cambridge, MA (Police, Fire, EMS)
• Featured Martial Arts Instructor on Lifetime TV’s “Teen Trouble” Hosted by Josh Shipp (January, 2013)
• Featured on Radio Disney (click here to listen to his interview about bullying) (November, 2012)

Connor “Bare Knuckle” Barry – MMA, BJJ, Grappling Coach

• Professional MMA Fighter
• Brown Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Chris Piscione
• Certified NASM Personal Trainer
• Bachelors in Psychology UMassSilver Mitts Champion Boxer

Danny Navarro – Head Youth Instructor – General Manager

• Blackbelt 2nd Degree Defensive Edge RMA/SCJ under Shihan Rick Alford
• Muay Thai Level III Under Ciano Delucia
• BJJ Blue Belt under Ryan Korzeniowski

Dave Lyons – Muay Thai Head Coach

• Blackbelt 1st Degree Defensive Edge RMA/SCJ under Shihan Rick Alford
• Muay Thai Level V Under Kru Ciano Delucia
• Undefeated Kickboxing & Muay Thai Career

Anderson Silverio – Head BJJ Instructor

• Blackbelt 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Black Belt – 2003
• Black Belt 1st Degree – 2006
• Black Belt 2nd Degree- 2009
• Black Belt 3rd Degree –2012
• Black Belt 4th Degree – 2017
  

  BJJ Coach for the following professional MMA athletes:

  • William Patolino, UFC
  • Jacare Souza, UFC
  • Rob Font, UFC
  • Saul Almeida, CES
  • Lucas Cruz, CES, Combat Zone
  • Zeilton Rodrigues, Shoto MMA Brazil

  Competitive Accomplishments

  Professional MMA Bouts:
  Vs. Jose Aldo Jr in Rio de Janeiro event Meca 12
  Vs. Lincoln De Sa in Rio de Janeiro event WOCS 5

  • International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation – IBJJF:
  • Boston Open – 2017 – Black Belt Master 2 – Medium – 1st
  • Chicago Open – 2016 – Black Belt Master 1 – Medium – 1st
  • New York Pro – 2016 – Black Belt Master 1 – Medium – 3rd
  • Brazilian Teams Jiu Jitsu Championship – 2013 – Black Belt Adult – Light – 2nd
  • International Master Jiu Jitsu Championship -2013 – Black Belt Master 1 – Light – 2nd
  • European Jiu Jitsu Championship – 2012 – Black Belt Master 1 – Light – 1st
  • International Master Jiu Jitsu Championship – 2012 – Black Belt Master 1 – Light – 2nd
  • Brazilian Teams Jiu Jitsu Championship – 2007 – Brown/Black Belt Adult – Light – 1st
  • World Jiu Jitsu Championship – 2003 – Brown Belt Adult – Feather – 3rd

Fernanda Araujo – Youth Instructor

• Black belt 2nd Degree Judo
• Black Belt Shotokan Karate
• Blue Belt BJJ
• US Womens 135 Amateur MMA Champion
• Pro MMA Fighter
• Pro Boxer

Ryan Korzeniowski – BJJ Instructor

• 2nd degree Blackbelt BJJ Under Andre “Dedeco” Almeida

Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Ricardo Libório > André “Dedeco” Almeida > Ryan Korzeniowski

• 2010 IBJJF Referee Certified
• 2013 IBJJF Referee Certified

Tournaments

• Black: 2014 Spring Boston Open 3rd Place Masters Heavy
• Brown: 2011: – 1st Place Heavyweight Grapplers Quest World Championships – 1st Place Heavyweight NAGA North American Grappling Championships – 3rd Place Middleweight New England Grappling Championships – Grapplers Quest – 2nd Place Middleweight NAGA New England Championship – 2nd Place Middleweight XII Long Island Pride XII – 3rd Place Middleweight IBJJF NY Open International
• Purple: 2010: – 1st place Middleweight Best Way Tournament – 1st place Absolute Best Way Tournament – 2nd place Middleweight Massbjjf – 2nd place Absolute Massbjjf 2009: – 1st place Middleweight CT Open – 1st place Absolute CT Open – 1st place Middleweight Maine Freestyle Open – 1st place Middleweight Long Island Pride VII – 3rd place Absolute Long Island Pride VII – Massbjjf State Champion Middleweight – 3rd place Middleweight Massbjjf 2003:
• Blue: – 2nd place Lightweight Northeast Grappling Championship – 1st place Lightweight NAGA

Physique

• NPC National Qualifier Men’s Physique Competitor

Sensei Josh Johnson – MMA Coach

• 2nd Degree Blackbelt SCJ Under Rick Alford & Larry Ruisi
• Black Belt BJJ Under Andre “Dedeco” Almeida
• 1st Degree Blackbelt DEFS
• Muay Thai Level V (Kru) under Ciano Delucia
• Former Pro MMA Fighter

Manny Cuevas – BJJ Instructor

• Blackbelt – DEFS
• Black Belt BJJ under Andre “Dedeco” Almeida
• Blackbelt Karate
• Muay Thai

Kevin Donle

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Andre “Dedeco” Almeida
• Police Officer

Sensei Larry Ruisi – Head Instructor Small Circle Jujitsu

• 5th Degree Blackbelt Castoldi’s Street Jujitsu under Professor Dave Castoldi
• 4th Degree Blackbelt Small Circle Jujitsu under Soke Ed Melaugh
• Studied White Crane & Long Fist Kung Fu Under Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming (5 Years)
• 1st Degree Blackbelt in Chung Moo Quan
• Tribal Leader Level II under Guru Michael Williams

Ciano DeLucia – Muay Thai Head Coach

• Over 30 Years Muay Thai Experience 33 in Martial Arts
• Trained at Fairtex, Revere MA
• Trained Under Master Toddy
• Trained Under Ajarn Apidae (Fairtex)
• Professional Record of 6-2
• 4th Degree Blackbelt in Shotokan Karate

Max Casa – Youth Instructor / Muay Thai Assistant

• Blackbelt 2nd Degree Defensive Edge RMA/SCJ under Shihan Rick Alford
• Blackbelt 1st Degree Joe Lewis Fighting Systems
• Brown Belt iCAT RMA Under Walt Lysak & Richard Ryan & Rick Alford
• Level I iCAT Instructor Certified
• Muay Thai Level III Under Kru Ciano Delucia

Sensei Derek Mellino – Small Circle Jujitsu Instructor

• 2nd Degree Blackbelt Small Circle Jujitsu
• Level I MuayThai
• Certified Personal Trainer
• Youth Instructor