ABOUT BRABO JIU-JITSU VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Founder & Head Instructor
Oleksandr "Alex" Humen
Professor Oleksandr "Alex" Humen, a Ukrainian native, holds a first-degree black belt under Professor Diego Bispo. He has extensive experience in freestyle wrestling, pankration and amateur MMA. Alex started freestyle wrestling at 12 in Ukraine and, after securing a scholarship, graduated with a biology-technology degree in 2012. During university, Alex continued wrestling and later traveled abroad for studying and working, discovering MMA and grappling in Denmark. Alex came to the US in 2013 for a student exchange program and to learn Jiu Jitsu. Later that year, he found an MMA gym in Greenville, NC, and fell in love with the sport, earning his blue belt in five months and having a few cage fights. After earning his purple belt, he started teaching adult classes and became a full-time BJJ instructor, quitting his daily job. In 2017, Alex became assistant BJJ coach and fitness coach at UFC Gym Virginia Beach, later transitioning to head coach. By 2018, Alex moved to UFC Gym Norfolk, teaching kids' and adult BJJ programs and fitness classes.
In May 2022, Alex founded Brabo Academy, fulfilling his dream. He has two daughters and both of them are training and actively competing in local and international tournaments.
Professor Humen’s Competition Accolades:
- IBJJF No-Gi World Champion (Brown Belt, Master 1)
- Multi-time IBJJF Opens Champion and Medalist (Adult and Master)
- Multi-time US Grappling, NAGA, New Breed Champion and Medalist
- ProJitsu and Submission Pro Hunter Super Fights Winner
Learn from Professor Humen and become the next Jiu-Jitsu star
Coach Jake Stremmel
Coach Jake Stremmel began his Jiu Jitsu journey in 2016 and currently holds a Brown belt under Professor Alex Humen, coaching youth and adults programs. A 2015 Old Dominion University graduate with a Psychology Bachelor's, he pursued Arizona State University's Applied Behavior Analysis Master's. Coach Jake balances his busy schedule to compete in local and IBJJF tournaments, achieving champion and medalist status in IBJJF, NAGA, Grappling Industries, AGF, US Grappling and Bushido invitational.
Coach Camron Robinson
Coach Camron Robinson, a 757 local, currently holds a blue belt under Professor Alex Humen. Cam began wrestling in seventh grade and continued through high school, accumulating 120 career wins, three VHSL Regional Championships, three VHSL State Placements, and one VHSL State Runner-Up title. Camron then wrestled in college at Lander University in D2. Now, Coach Cam plans to pursue his Jiu Jitsu career as both coach and athlete, having achieved wins in both Gi and NoGi in Grappling Industries and Toro Cup super fights.
Coach Julio "Jay" Javier
Coach Julio "Jay" Javier, a Navy veteran and purple belt under Professor Alex, instructs the 6am class. Jay started training Jiu Jitsu with his kids in 2016 for fitness and weight loss. He dedicated himself to training, participated in local tournaments and now enthusiastically shares his knowledge with our students.
Coach Marissa Worsley
Coach Marissa Worsley, 17, started training at UFC Gym Norfolk in late 2017 with her two siblings. Marissa, a blue belt under Professor Alex Humen, is one of our kids' program coaches. She's an accomplished competitor in kids, juvenile, and adult divisions, winning titles like 2x IBJJF Pan Kids Champion, Pan Championship, and IBJJF World medalist, with multiple championships and medals in various tournaments, AGF, Grappling Industries, US Grappling, Fuji, NAGA, Chickjitsu, Toro Cup, Bushido invitational, and others.
Coach Doug Stambaugh
Coach Doug Stambaugh, a firefighter in Virginia Beach, previously served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry and the Chesapeake police department. He began training at UFC gym Virginia Beach in late 2016 under Professor Alex Humen and now holds a brown belt. Coach Doug teaches morning and noon classes and assists with kids' classes.
Coach Mark, Christina and Elias Crews
Crew's family of six have been students of Professor Alex for a long time. Now, Elias, the oldest son, and his parents, Mark and Christina, teach Little Grapplers and Youth classes. Coach Mark, a full-time pastor and blue belt in BJJ, started his Jiu Jitsu journey in 2021 alongside his family. Mark initially aimed to improve his fitness and lose weight but soon became dedicated to studying the art and competing in local tournaments. Coach Christina started training for self-defense and to support her kids, becoming a blue belt and competing in local tournaments. Coach Elias, 16, started training in 2020 and began competing in local and IBJJF tournaments, winning or placing in NAGA, Grappling Industries, Fuji, AGF, and the Pan Kids Championship, now holding a blue belt and competing in adult divisions.