Welcome to Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy
Our mission
JEREMIAH
Owner/Lead Instructor
Jeremiah is the owner and lead instructor of Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy and a second-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over fifteen years of training experience. He received his black belt in 2020 and continues to refine both his technical skill and leadership on and off the mats.
He began his professional career as a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer before transitioning into Air Force Special Warfare as a Pararescueman. Over the course of more than 20 years of service within the teams, Jeremiah completed multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout Africa, specializing in personnel recovery operations under high-risk, real-world conditions.
With a background rooted in service and real-world application, Jeremiah now focuses on training and equipping men, women, and children with practical self-defense skills while also bringing high-level competitive Jiu Jitsu to his community. His goal is to help students build confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle themselves in all aspects of life.
JULIAN
Instructor
Julian is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over 15 years of experience training in both Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Born and raised in Costa Rica, he began his Jiu Jitsu journey training within a strong Brazilian community, developing a deep foundation in the art from an early stage.
He has been teaching and coaching for many years and, after earning his black belt, continues to train, coach, and compete, bringing both technical skill and real-world experience to the mats.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Julian plays a key role in instruction and can typically be found leading early morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
DAVE
Instructor
Dave is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, earning his rank in 2026 after years of dedicated training and perseverance. He has spent the last 18 years working as a registered nurse, where he has built a career centered on helping others and serving his community.
Dave began his martial arts journey in karate before transitioning into Jiu Jitsu, where he spent years developing his skills and earning his brown belt. After a three-year pause during the pandemic, he returned to training at Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy with renewed focus and purpose, continuing to grow while also giving back through coaching.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Dave is a consistent presence on the mats and typically leads early morning classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
JOEL
Instructor
Joel is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with over 11 years of dedicated training. He received his black belt in 2023 from Ron Keslar at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
Before relocating with his family to the greater Sacramento area, Joel served as an instructor at AKA, where he taught Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fundamentals and helped develop students at all levels.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Joel brings a strong technical foundation and teaching experience to the mats. He typically leads the noon classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Gino
Instructor
Gino is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, earning his rank in the summer of 2025 after a lifelong journey in the martial arts. He began training Jiu Jitsu at just 7 years old, developing a deep foundation and understanding of the art from an early age.
In addition to his Jiu Jitsu experience, Gino has been training Muay Thai since the age of 16 and brings a high level of striking experience to the academy. He has competed extensively, with 17 Muay Thai fights—including 4 in Thailand—and 4 mixed martial arts (MMA) fights.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Coach Gino plays a key role in both instruction and program development. He assists with the overall kids program and leads the academy’s Muay Thai program, helping students build well-rounded skills in both grappling and striking within a disciplined and competitive environment.
Dan
Instructor
Dan began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey in June 2013 and has been consistently training and developing his skills ever since. With a strong background in real-world application, he brings over 10 years of experience as a law enforcement academy instructor, specializing in Tactical training, Arrest and Control, and Physical Education.
In addition to Jiu Jitsu, Dan has studied multiple martial arts including boxing, kickboxing, and Wing Chun, giving him a well-rounded approach to both striking and grappling. He has also spent the past decade training alongside his three daughters, reinforcing his commitment to family, discipline, and lifelong learning.
Dan was promoted to brown belt at Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2026 and plays an active role in instruction. He currently teaches No-Gi classes as well as self-defense and combatives, focusing on practical, real-world application for students of all levels.
Tyler
Instructor
Since joining Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2024, Tyler has become a valued part of the team, assisting as a coach in our kids program. He is passionate about helping young students build confidence, discipline, and respect in a positive and structured environment.
Outside of the academy, Tyler serves as the Lead Pastor at Hillside Church in Cameron Park, where he is dedicated to serving and strengthening his local community.
Tyler
Instructor
Since joining Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2024, Tyler has become a valued part of the team, assisting as a coach in our kids program. He is passionate about helping young students build confidence, discipline, and respect in a positive and structured environment.
Outside of the academy, Tyler serves as the Lead Pastor at Hillside Church in Cameron Park, where he is dedicated to serving and strengthening his local community.
Our Instructors
JEREMIAH
Owner/Lead Instructor
Jeremiah is the owner and lead instructor of Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy and a second-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over fifteen years of training experience. He received his black belt in 2020 and continues to refine both his technical skill and leadership on and off the mats.
He began his professional career as a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer before transitioning into Air Force Special Warfare as a Pararescueman. Over the course of more than 20 years of service within the teams, Jeremiah completed multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout Africa, specializing in personnel recovery operations under high-risk, real-world conditions.
With a background rooted in service and real-world application, Jeremiah now focuses on training and equipping men, women, and children with practical self-defense skills while also bringing high-level competitive Jiu Jitsu to his community. His goal is to help students build confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle themselves in all aspects of life.
JULIAN
Instructor
Julian is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over 15 years of experience training in both Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Born and raised in Costa Rica, he began his Jiu Jitsu journey training within a strong Brazilian community, developing a deep foundation in the art from an early stage.
He has been teaching and coaching for many years and, after earning his black belt, continues to train, coach, and compete, bringing both technical skill and real-world experience to the mats.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Julian plays a key role in instruction and can typically be found leading early morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
DAVE
Instructor
Dave is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, earning his rank in 2026 after years of dedicated training and perseverance. He has spent the last 18 years working as a registered nurse, where he has built a career centered on helping others and serving his community.
Dave began his martial arts journey in karate before transitioning into Jiu Jitsu, where he spent years developing his skills and earning his brown belt. After a three-year pause during the pandemic, he returned to training at Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy with renewed focus and purpose, continuing to grow while also giving back through coaching.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Dave is a consistent presence on the mats and typically leads early morning classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Joel
Instructor
Joel is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with over 11 years of dedicated training. He received his black belt in 2023 from Ron Keslar at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
Before relocating with his family to the greater Sacramento area, Joel served as an instructor at AKA, where he taught Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fundamentals and helped develop students at all levels.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Joel brings a strong technical foundation and teaching experience to the mats. He typically leads the noon classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Gino
Instructor
Gino is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, earning his rank in the summer of 2025 after a lifelong journey in the martial arts. He began training Jiu Jitsu at just 7 years old, developing a deep foundation and understanding of the art from an early age.
In addition to his Jiu Jitsu experience, Gino has been training Muay Thai since the age of 16 and brings a high level of striking experience to the academy. He has competed extensively, with 17 Muay Thai fights—including 4 in Thailand—and 4 mixed martial arts (MMA) fights.
At Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy, Coach Gino plays a key role in both instruction and program development. He assists with the overall kids program and leads the academy’s Muay Thai program, helping students build well-rounded skills in both grappling and striking within a disciplined and competitive environment.
Dan
Instructor
Dan began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey in June 2013 and has been consistently training and developing his skills ever since. With a strong background in real-world application, he brings over 10 years of experience as a law enforcement academy instructor, specializing in Tactical training, Arrest and Control, and Physical Education.
In addition to Jiu Jitsu, Dan has studied multiple martial arts including boxing, kickboxing, and Wing Chun, giving him a well-rounded approach to both striking and grappling. He has also spent the past decade training alongside his three daughters, reinforcing his commitment to family, discipline, and lifelong learning.
Dan was promoted to brown belt at Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2026 and plays an active role in instruction. He currently teaches No-Gi classes as well as self-defense and combatives, focusing on practical, real-world application for students of all levels.
Tyler
Instructor
Since joining Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2024, Tyler has become a valued part of the team, assisting as a coach in our kids program. He is passionate about helping young students build confidence, discipline, and respect in a positive and structured environment.
Outside of the academy, Tyler serves as the Lead Pastor at Hillside Church in Cameron Park, where he is dedicated to serving and strengthening his local community.
Our Facility
Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy offers a brand new training facility for those living in the Cameron Park and surrounding areas. The gym was built a the end of 2023 with the grand opening in January 2024. The facility offers spacious 1600 square feet of mat space for training, drilling and rolling. The facility also has changing rooms, water bottle fill station and restroom. 2500 square feet.
OUR affiliation
Refuge Jiu Jitsu Academy is part of the Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association. Founded by Samir Chantre, Osvaldo “Queixinho”, Alan Moraes, and Milton Bastos, Ares BJJ is built on friendship and principles over business. With each founder holding multiple dan black belts and over 20 years of experience, they are dedicated to fostering a family-like community that embodies the true spirit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As an Ares Association member Refuge members will have access through seminars throughout the year to some of the best Jiu Jitsu instructors in the world as well as the ability to train at other Ares Jiu Jitsu Academy’s when travelling across the US or world.
OUR LOCATION
Located inside the Safeway shopping complex, right off Highway 50 Cameron Park Drive exit
Address
3342 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, CA 95682
3342 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, CA
Our hours
6:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Monday – Saturday
Sunday 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Contact us
Phone: 530-409-2071
Email: info@refugejiujitsu.com
Phone: 1 530-464-5184