Joe Lilly is a Gracie Certified Instructor as well as the head instructor and owner of Berwyn Heights BJJ. He has been involved in grappling and the martial arts for almost 20 years, training and competing in several disciplines including Brazilian and Japanese Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling. He holds a Master’s Degree in teaching, and incorporates many universal learning strategies into his BJJ classes to maximize his student’s progress and knowledge retention.

Rob Defibaugh is a Gracie Certified Instructor, an Army veteran and has been a police officer since 2004. During his career as a police officer he has been a member of various specialty units including SWAT and K-9. In addition to his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Certification, he holds instructor certifications from the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in various disciplines including Taser and Defense Tactics.

Vivian Cooper is our Gracie Women Empowered® Instructor, Vivian has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2017 in addition to serving as a local Animal Control Officer, part-time Veterinarian Technician, and working towards her Associates Degree in veterinarian technology. Vivian was the second graduate of the Women Empowered® curriculum at Berwyn Heights BJJ and the first Women Empowered 2.0® curriculum graduate at the school.