The Pursuit
Different teams. Same pursuit.
Four Leaders. One Room. Shifting the Standard for Charlotte.
They come for the work. They make each other better. They prove that a rising tide lifts all boats, and the entire Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu community rises with them. On this mat nobody rows alone.
Gialysson "Hiago" Freitas
Black belt. IBJJF No-Gi World bronze medalist. Owner, Arte Suave Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
Black belt under Júlio César Pereira, founder of GF Team. Lineage back through Monir Salomão to Oswaldo Fadda. Master 1 Medium Heavy. Competes as GFTeam Charlotte.
With a No-Gi Worlds bronze medal and three IBJJF Pans podiums in only two years, the nickname "StormHiago" is an easy read. The man does not stop, but what truly sets Hiago apart from the crowd is his heart. He fights for his team and his family, proving that his relentless work ethic is driven by pure passion for the sport. His heart is the reason he is unstoppable.
Suellen "Susu" Lima De Souza
Black belt. IBJJF Pan bronze medalist. Adult division.
GF Team Adult Black, Light. Top 1.5 percent globally by ELO. Pan bronze at Adult Black. Pan No-Gi gold at brown. Runs the ladies program at Arte Suave.
Adult Black Belt at Pans is arguably the deepest bracket the sport offers: open division, no age brackets, every prime-aged black belt woman in the world in the same room. Susu shows up there on purpose, facing the best in the world and walking away with a place on the podium. She doesn't just win medals; she sets a higher standard. "SusuBully" leads from the front, inspiring women everywhere to chase the hardest challenges and to realize their own strength on the mats. The smile in the photos is real and so is everything that built it.
Mike "Mikey" Powell
Black belt. Wrestler. Pro MMA fighter. Owner, Honest Grappling Company.
Wrestling base out of A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis. Amateur MMA titles by 2010, then 2-1 as a pro. Black belt under Rubão Carioca in 2020. Built Honest Grappling Company from the floor up. All gas no brakes.
Mikey earned his name "The Kid" the hard way, building his life on the mats through pure determination. He is always ready for a fight and completely unapologetic about his standards. Mikey might be a bit rough around the edges, and he certainly won't sugar-coat his coaching, but everything he does is driven by a deep desire to see his students and training partners grow. He will push your limits, sharpen your technique, and build your character. He doesn't just call the shots from the sidelines; he cares deeply, lives for the grind, and walks the walk right beside you.
Tom Ziegler
Black belt. MMA coach. Owner, Carolina Combat Sports.
Started training in 2007 under the late Sensei Paul Booe. Black belt under Gokor Chivichyan, founder of the Hayastan Submission Fighting System, in 2021. Coach Tom has developed amateur and pro MMA champions for nearly two decades.
With nearly two decades of experience and eight years on the CJJA mats, Tom embodies the grind, showing up consistently and leaving no room for excuses. When a CJJA student wants to fight, the answer is easy: talk to Tom. No one cares more about your growth as an MMA fighter or puts more dedication into making you better. His grit is undeniable. Even after a serious accident kept him off the mats for a year, he walked right back through the door and started rolling. The photo from that day still hangs on our wall, and that huge smile tells you everything you need to know. Coach Tom is here for the love of the game.
Different Teams. Different Paths. Same Room. Same Work.
This room isn't about protecting egos; it's about a collective pursuit of excellence. Individually, they are elite leaders and gym owners across Charlotte; together, they are the catalyst for a stronger community. They prove every single day that a rising tide lifts all boats. Different teams, different paths, but one unstoppable community. If you are chasing something, the door is open.