Fabio Araujo
Black Belt, Head BJJ Instructor
Fabio Araujo is CTMMA's head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor. He is a Carlson Gracie Black Belt under Amaury Possidente.
Roger Denton
President, Lead Instructor
Roger Denton has 25+ years of martial arts experience. He is an owner and instructer at CTMMA, where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts, and coaches/manages professional and amateur MMA fighters. He has also trained the Police and SWAT Team of Bridgeport, CT.
Roger began his martial arts career with Tang Soo Do, a Korean form of Karate. He later began studying Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do, which was developed by Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto. He received Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do/Filipino Martial Arts Certification from Paul Vunak (Progressive Fighting Systems) in 1994. He relocated to Arizona to further his martial arts practice, and received additional Jeet Kune Do Certification from Sharam Moosavi (Jeet Kune Do International).
Roger began studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1991 and was promoted to Black Belt in 2007. He was Fabio Araujo's first BJJ Black Belt in the United States.
In addition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do, Roger also studies and teaches Western boxing, Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), Panantukan (Filipino boxing), Filipino Weapons and Stickfighting, and Savate (French kickboxing).
Andy Seras
Wrestling Coach
Andy Seras, a former undefeated NCAA champion and five-year Division I head coach, currently runs the Atlas Wrestling Program out of the United Athletic Centers' Stratford Field House in cooperation with CTMMA.
The 44-year-old Seras has been involved in the sport for 36 years as an athlete and coach. He worked as an assistant coach at Albany from 1985-96 and at Sacred Heart from 1999-2002 before taking over as head coach. As an athlete Seras compiled an impressive resume, earning a spot on the 1988 US Olympic Team which competed in Seoul, Korea, placing ninth. Seras earned the No. 1 ranking in the country for six of seven years from 1988 through 1994. He competed in the World Championships five times, placing sixth in 1991, ninth in 1989 and 10th in 1994. He also won Gold Medals at the 1994 World Cup, 1990 Pan American Championships and 1991 Pan American Games. A five-time National Open Champion, Seras reached the finals of the nationals for 12 consecutive years.
For more information, please visit the Stratford Field House home page.
Cesar Pereira
Black Belt Instructor
Amaury Possidente
Black Belt Instructor
Dominick Nusdeu
Black Belt Instructor
Dominick Nusdeu has been with CTMMA for 8 years and is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a 10-time NAGA Champion and 2-time AGC Pro Division Team Champion. Dominick is also proficient in strength and conditioning, specializing in muscle activation.
Chris Watson
Black Belt Instructor
Chris Watson is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with over 10 years experience.
Marcio Stambowsky
Black Belt Instructor
Marcio "Maccarao" Stambowsky is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is one of Rolls Gracie's original six Black Belts. Marcio has 30+ years of BJJ experience. Before coming to the US to teach, Marcio was a top level competitor in Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Greco-Roman Wrestling.
Neiman Gracie
Purple Belt Instructor
Neiman Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt and is currently a worldclass competitor. He has competed successfully at the Pan American Championships and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. When Neiman is not teaching or competing, he spends most of his time training in New York with his uncle, Renzo Gracie.
Gaspar Ortega
Boxing Coach
Our academy's boxing program is run by Gaspar "Indio" Ortega, a pro boxer for 15 years with 185 fights to his credit and a Hall of Fame inductee. The sessions are run twice a day with Gaspar conducting the early session and both Gaspar and Luis Rosa running the evening sessions. The program is for amateurs to pros or for those just looking to train along side the best and get in the best shape of their life.