Sudbury BJJ & Muay Thai Academy Kids Instructors

Steve Joncas - Chief Instructor

Steve Joncas is a purple belt under Pat Cooligan and is Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy’s Head Instructor. Steve started his first martial art, Goju-ryu Karate, at the age of ten and received his black belt in 1996. He then went on to train in Judo, Traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Muay Thai and has also had extensive American Kick Boxing training, under 23 time world champion Jean-Yves Theriault. Steve began working with Pat Cooligan, who is one of only a handful of representatives of the world famous Gracie family in Canada, while living in Ottawa back in 2002. Steve relocated to Sudbury to open his own school and continues to train at the Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts under Pat and has the opportunity to train with members of the Gracie family including Renzo, Roger, Igor, Rolles, Kyra, Kayron, and Gregor Gracie as well as other high level black belts and world champions like Marcio Feitosa, John Danaher, Shawn Williams, Braulio Estima and Roberto “Gordo” Correa.

To keep his curriculum current Steve has had the privilege of travelling with his instructors to train at such places as the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City, the Renzo Gracie Los Angeles academy, and Roger Gracie’s academy in London England. Steve is also the only BJJ instructor in Northern Ontario who has had the privilege of training in Brazil at the world-famous Gracie Barra School, and Evolve Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Rio de Janeiro. This training offers Steve the opportunity to train with the likes of George St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Ricardo Almeida, and various students and black belts at the visited academies. Pat holds Steve to such a high regard in October 2010 he invited him to travel with him to London England to help corner OAMA's UFC Fighter Mark Holst at UFC 120, making Steve the only person in Sudbury to ever corner a UFC fight.

Steve loves to teach martial arts, and thoroughly enjoys running the school and training and coaching the competitors.

You can contact Steve via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jenn Ricker - BJJ Kids Instructor

Jenn is the co-founder of Sudbury BJJ & Muay Thai Academy. She began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai under Steve Joncas and Pat Cooligan in 2008. Jenn was one of the first women promoted to blue belt at the Academy and had the honour of receiving it from Renzo Gracie himself. Since 2008, Jenn has had the opportunity to train with many high level BJJ practitioners including Kyra Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Roger Gracie, Gregor Gracie, Rilion Gracie, Rolles Gracie, Igor Gracie, and Shawn Williams to name a few. Jenn’s involvement in BJJ has allowed her to travel all over, training and competing in New York, Los Angeles, Columbus Ohio, and Costa Rica where she participated in the first Gracie Adventure Camp.

Jenn also trains in Muay Thai, receiving her Blue Pratchia in 2010. She has been fortunate enough to train with several Muay Thai legends including Georges St. Pierre’s Muay Thai instructor - Kru Jean-Charles Skarbowsky, Ajahn Burklerk Pinsinchai, UFC fighter Kru Mark Holst, Ajahn Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, Kru Chris Kew, Kru Jeff Harrison and Kru Mel Bellissimo. Jenn also proved her warrior spirit and team dedication by taking a Professional MMA fight on two-days notice on a Wreck MMA card in 2010.

Jenn’s main focus at the Academy is the fitness program. She is the head Strength and Conditioning instructor receiving her Agastu Kettlebell Certification in November 2009 and her Crossfit Level 1 Certification in September 2011. With over five years of yoga training and a Teacher Training Certificate from the world renowned David Swenson, Jenn is also the head yoga instructor. Along with assisting Steve Joncas in the BJJ and Muay Thai programs, and heading the fitness program, Jenn is heavily involved in the development and growth of the children’s programs offered at the Academy.

• NYC Open 2011 – Blue Belt Champion
• Ontario Open 2011 – Blue Belt Silver, No-Gi Silver
• Ontario Provincial BJJ Tournament 2010 – Blue Belt Champion
• Renzo Gracie Invitational 2010 – Blue Belt Silver
• Renzo Gracie Invitational 2009 – White Belt Champion, No-Gi Champion
• Arnold Classic 2009 – White Belt Silver, No-Gi Bronze
• NAGA Detroit 2008 – White Belt Champion, No-Gi Champion

You can contact Jenn via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kyle Fletcher - BJJ kids Instructor

Kyle started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai when he was 14 years old. Since, he has competed and won Gold in high level tournaments such as the Renzo Gracie Invitational, Ontario Open and Ontario Provincial Tournament. Kyle is currently working towards his Blue Belt and has his sights on competing at the Mundial World Championship Tournament. With Kyle’s BJJ experience, wrestling was a nature direction to go in and has since joined his high school wrestling team competing often. Kyle has aspirations to be an MMA Professional Fighter. At the age of 15 he has several Gold medals, his blue pratchia in Muay Thai and wrestling experience, and he is excited for his future in the Mixed Martial Arts community.