Instructors
Head Instructor
Professor Rob Thompson, 2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Lvl 1 Yoga For BJJ Instructor
Rob Thompson started grappling in 1996 at the age of 12. He was a Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestler through Jr. High and High school and competed at Canadian Nationals in both disciplines. Rob was also a NCCP level 2 certified wrestling coach.
In 2004 at the age of 20, Rob started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Steve Bartley at Elite. Rob was one of the early members of Elite’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program. After more than a decade of dedicated training and since blue belt, under the guidance of Professor Rodrigo Resende, in 2015 Rob received his Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In 2017 earned the title “Professor” and in 2018 was awarded his 1st Degree Black Belt and earned his 2nd degree in 2021. In 2020 Professor Rob also became a certified Yoga For BJJ Instructor.
Since White belt, Professor Rob has competed very actively in both Gi and No-Gi BJJ. He was a fixture in the nearly every BJJ competition in Alberta and won multiple Provincial Titles and Absolute Divisions. Rob won the 2014 “Mind, Body, Soul” Brown Belt Super Fight and in 2015 he won the Black belt Super Fight. Professor Rob is also a well respected BJJ Referee and likes to give back to the sport by providing upcoming generations the opportunity to compete locally.
Since Purple belt, Professor Rob has been instructing BJJ children’s and adult classes at both Elite BJJ in Edmonton and at Rodrigo Resende Academy in Spruce Grove. In 2018, with the blessing and guidance of Professor Rodrigo Resende and Professor Steve Bartley, Professor Rob opened his own BJJ academy, Leduc Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in his home town of Leduc.
Professor Rob is committed to teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and sharing the values of traditional martial arts with his students. He firmly believes in the positive changes that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brings to the lives of its practitioners and is enthusiastic to be able to share the art. He is constantly striving to improve himself and his students both on and off the mats. Professor Rob is elated to have the opportunity to share his knowledge and bring the highest caliber of BJJ instruction to Leduc and area!
Lineage
- Mitsuyo Maeda
- Carlos Gracie
- Helio Gracie
- Rickson Gracie
- Marcelo Bering
- Waldomiro Perez Junior
- Max Trombini
- Rodrigo Resende
- Rob Thompson