Stephanie is currently the 2025 IBJJF Blue Belt World’s Silver Medalist under Professor Jake Nickoson and began her Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey in 2018. As both a dedicated competitor and coach, she brings an uplifting, encouraging energy to every class she leads. Stephanie instructs Women’s classes, Kids Intro, and youth programs, with a strong emphasis on building confidence, discipline, and sound technical foundations. With experience coaching students ranging from as young as four years old to adults of all ages, she is passionate about creating a supportive environment where every student can grow and succeed on the mats.
As an active competitor since the beginning of her training, Stephanie has made her mark on the local and international stage, competing in renowned tournaments such as AGC, FUJI, NAGA, and the World IBJJF No-Gi Championship, where she has earned medals in every division she’s entered. Her extensive competition experience enables her to offer invaluable insight into the technical, strategic, and mental aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, empowering students to perform at their best in both competition and real-world self-defense scenarios.
Outside the gym, Stephanie manages rental properties alongside her husband, Mike, after previously working as a librarian at Miami University. She loves that she, her husband, and their son all train together and share a passion for BJJ. For Stephanie, Jiu Jitsu has been truly transformative—strengthening her both physically and mentally—and she is deeply committed to helping others discover the confidence, resilience, and personal growth that the art has brought to her own life.