RAFAEL ROSENDO

Rafael began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in 1997 and attained his black belt from Edmilson Alves in 2002. Head instructor at Alliance Greenville in South Carolina, Rafael is a very technical teacher as well as a fierce successful competitor; he can both teach and do.

As a competitor, Rafael has medaled in countless competitions. His most recent successes include: 2008 and 2009 Lutador Open Class winner, 2008 NAGA Gi and No Gi Winner in Georgia, 2009 Copa America Open Class Gi and No Gi Winner, and 2009 International Open in New York 3rd Place Middleweight and Open Class first place.

Rafael continues his personal improvement as part of the Alliance Team with instruction from Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti and as a part of Alliance Crossfit. He represents and lives all of the best qualities of a true Brazilian Jiu Jitsu warrior. 

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BILLY FLETCHER

Black belt under “Jacare´”

Billy began his Jiu-Jitsu training under the direct tutelage of Romero “Jacare´” Cavalcanti,  a 6th dgree black belt and founder of the Alliance Team. Billy began making the trek from Greenville, SC to Atlanta, GA once a week to learn Jiu-Jitsu from a black belt. Mr. Fletcher has competed for the Alliance Team and medalled many times over including major tournaments such as the Pan Ams.

Billy continues to train at the Alliance Martial Arts Training Center to gain and spread more knowledge of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the upstate of South Carolina.

With a thirst for more knowledge, Billy Fletcher is also the only certified Pat Militech instructor in the state of South Carolina.  Billy is also, owner of Focused Fitness and Crossfit Alliance and is a certified Level 1 instructor.

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C.A. Lee Deurwarder

Lee is the founder of Martial School Combative Concepts, the first full contact school in the upstate. He has been trained in many disciplines and has combined all the styles he has studied into what he calls Combative Concepts. Simply it translates into methods for combat or combat methods. He is our head Muay Thai and bare Knuckle Karate instructor. All manner of training that has strikes will be under his tutilage. All questions pertaining to the stand up program here at Alliance should be directed to Sensei lee.

“I promise to be fully dedicated to the cultivation and development of my students. With  dedication and discipline all goals are possible and I promise to help you achieve your goals to become a better STANDUPFIGHTER.”

C.A. Deurwarder

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Derek Ihnat

Derek began his martial arts training in Judo under the legendary Jim “Ronin” Harrison at Sakura Warrior Arts located in Missoula, Montana. After graduating from the University of Montana, he moved back to South Carolina and began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Billy Fletcher and Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti. Derek has competed and placed in many tournaments across the United States.

More recently, Derek graduated from Clemson University with a Masters degree in the Art of Teaching. Derek uses his Jiu-Jitsu and education training to incorporate a martial arts curriculum and a positive atmosphere in which all children can succeed.

“The Alliance Team is something that I have dreamed being a part of! To have access to learn and train under some of the worlds greatest Jiu-Jitsu players and teachers is incredible. It is something I recommend to anyone in this area that is serious about learning BJJ. On any day I can Drive to Atlanta and learn from World Champion Reubens Charles or drive to Charlotte and train with Professor Sucuri, or stay here in Greenville and train with Black Belt Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos - not to mention the high level practice partners each school offers in their respected stable that do not hesitate to help your evolution in jiu-jitsu and make you feel welcomed in the process. Surely, no other BJJ school in the upstate can offer this.”

Derek Ihnat

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EDMUND WOO

Edmund Woo is an avid lifelong practitioner of the martial arts. Starting as a teenager, Edmund received his black belt after four years of study in the Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan system from Master Billy Hong. Later, as Tae Kwon Do was a predominantly kicking system, Edmund decided to supplement his kicking skills by studying Wing Chun Kung Fu, a rapid punching and trapping style that Bruce Lee made famous.

In his practice of Wing Chun, Edmund studied with many masters including Yip Ching, a kung fu “brother” of Bruce Lee and the son of Bruce Lee’s teacher. After ten years of study in the Wing Chun system, Edmund was awarded his red sash from Master Francis Fong of Atlanta, Georgia. Additional martial arts that Edmund has studied include Western Boxing, Muay Thai Boxing, and Tai Chi.

Edmund spent the last two years studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has received his Blue Belt from Jacare Calvacanti of the Alliance system. Besides the obvious benefits such as self defense and physical exercise, Edmund holds self discipline, perseverance and respect as the highest benefits that he has received from his practice of the martial arts and hopes to pass along these benefits to the students in the children’s class.