Meet your Coaches

OUR story

Where we come from

about us

Professional martial arts instructors Spring Hill on a foundation of lineage and experience that extends over the decades. Our coaches personally have over 20 years of training and experience and are ranked under some of the most incredible and legitimate instructors anywhere. We are here to provide you quality training at any level that you wish to experience we are beginner friendly as well as capable of training pro fighters. What ever your needs are we are here for you.

Train With Experts

MEET THE TRAINERS

Joe "Formiga" Cortez

Coach Formiga is a veteran capoeirista of more than 20 years, a professional Muay Thai fighter, a Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under World Champion Fabio Novaes, and a Judo Brown Belt. Also Coach Formiga is our head Muay Thai instructor and kids class coach.

Justin Terrell

Coach Justin Terrell started his martial arts journey in 2004 with Kru Dan Rawlings of Griffonrawl Muay Thai, after several years of Muay Thai he discovered his love for Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and also started training No-GI in 2006. In 2011 he met Professor Fabio Novaes and has been under him ever since. Winning medals at Ibjjf, Naga and Newbreed competitions along his journey. Also He is now a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under World Champion Fabio Novaes, also has continued his study of Muay Thai and Judo for over 20 years. Coach Justin is Safe Sport Certified, CPR and First Aid certified and an IBJJF registered Black Belt.

Joe "Jitsu" Campbell

Coach Joe and Campbell is a Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Coach Justin Terrell and Joe Cortez, a level one Muay Thai practitioner, and NASM Certified personal trainer with expertise in fitness and conditioning.

Angie Terrell

Coach Angie Terrell is a lifelong martial artist, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, and Tae Kwon Do brown belt with extensive training in wrestling and Judo. As the instructor of Primal Striking & BJJ’s Women’s BJJ program, Angie is passionate about helping women build confidence, strength, discipline, and real-world skills through Jiu-Jitsu. A devoted wife and mother, she leads by example both on and off the mats and is a positive **role model for all of our women students**, inspiring them to challenge themselves, support one another, and discover what they’re capable of.

Alex Sangiamo

With a B.S. in Exercise Science emphasizing Nutrition and Wellness, Coach Alex brings extensive experience in fitness, rehabilitation, and martial arts. His ISSA certifications include Personal Training, Strength & Conditioning, Tactical Conditioning, Nutrition, and Corrective Exercise, with additional specialization in Functional Fitness and Applied Functional Neurology. He has 15 years of physical therapy experience and 17 years as a massage therapist. A martial artist for 35 years and instructor for 20 years, Alex has trained in Muay Thai, Karate, Kung Fu, Capoeira, Sanda, Boxing, and MMA, with amateur competition experience across multiple combat sports. Coach Alex offers Neuro Training as well. Neuro Training consists of practices for both the regulation and priming of the nervous system to optimize cognitive and physical performance. It emphasizes techniques to develop calm focus, attention, awareness, processing, and decision making under pressure, while enhancing reaction time, speed, coordination, balance, and visual acuity. It consists of breath work, biofeedback systems like Motion Guidance and Emwave HRV tracking, with plyometric, neuromuscular, and applied functional neurology principles to improve stress resilience and explosive athletic adaptability.

Christian Gerhart

Coach Christian is a personal trainer, strength & conditioning coach, lifelong athlete, and combat-sports practitioner specializing in functional strength, athletic performance, conditioning, mobility, and body composition. With extensive experience in strength training and martial arts—including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Judo—he takes a performance-driven approach focused on building real-world strength, power, endurance, and confidence. At Primal Striking & BJJ, Christian works with athletes and everyday clients alike, creating individualized training programs for goals ranging from improved BJJ and striking performance to gaining muscle, losing body fat, increasing athleticism, and overall fitness. As a veteran, husband, father, martial artist, and coach, he believes training is about more than appearance—it’s about becoming stronger, more resilient, and more capable in everything you do.