If you are new to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the word “lineage” might sound like insider jargon. It is worth understanding, because it goes to the heart of what makes a martial arts school trustworthy, and it is one of the things that makes Rising Tide Hi Tech genuinely unusual.
Why Lineage Matters in BJJ
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a technical art that is transmitted through direct teaching. Unlike arts where techniques are documented in books or standardized through governing bodies, BJJ knowledge passes from instructor to student through years of hands-on training. The black belt a coach holds is not just a rank. It is a record of who taught them, who vouched for their skill, and how deeply they understand the art.
When a student asks where their instructor was trained and under whom, they are really asking: did this person learn the real thing from someone who knew it deeply? That chain of accountability is what lineage tracks. A strong lineage does not guarantee anything on its own, but it is a meaningful signal that the techniques being taught trace back to their source with integrity intact.
Most BJJ academies carry one lineage. Rising Tide Hi Tech carries two, both running directly back to the Gracie family.
The Relson Gracie Line
Grand Master Relson Gracie is one of the sons of Hélio Gracie, the patriarch who refined and popularized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into the art practiced worldwide today. Grand Master Relson Gracie has dedicated his life to teaching and spreading his family’s art, and the black belts he has personally awarded represent some of the most direct connections to that original tradition.
At Rising Tide Hi Tech, that line runs deep.
Toney Waldecker holds a 6th-degree black belt under Grand Master Relson Gracie. He is the highest-ranked Relson Gracie black belt in the region, a USMC veteran with over 30 years on the mat, and a coach who has worked in the UFC and Bellator. Toney did not earn that rank quickly or easily. It represents a lifetime of commitment.
Tori Garten received her black belt directly from Grand Master Relson Gracie in March 2019. She runs workshops for Girl Scouts, refugee communities, and church groups throughout the area, bringing the art to people who might never have found it otherwise.
Naqi Sayed earned his black belt under Grand Master Relson Gracie in 2021. He has been training since 2011 and is a co-owner of the academy, which means his investment in the school and its students is not just professional. It is personal.
Ted Hartman earned his black belt under Toney Waldecker, keeping the lineage within our own walls. He started training in 2016, created the morning program in 2019, and is a co-owner who has shaped the day-to-day culture of the gym in significant ways.
The Pedro Sauer Line
Master Pedro Sauer holds a coral belt earned under both Hélio Gracie and Rickson Gracie, and he is widely regarded as one of the most technically precise BJJ instructors in the world. A coral belt represents a level of mastery that goes well beyond the black belt, and it is a rank that very few people in the world have ever achieved. His approach emphasizes clean fundamentals, conceptual understanding, and a style of teaching that produces instructors, not just competitors. The Pedro Sauer Association has produced some of the most respected teachers in the art.
Mike Johnson earned his black belt under Master Pedro Sauer. With over 20 years of training and a 25-year career in law enforcement, Mike brings a perspective to self-defense that is grounded in real-world experience, not theory.
Anton Garcia earned his black belt under Mike Johnson in July 2024, continuing the Pedro Sauer lineage right here on our mats in Hanover. He has been teaching since 2016 and leads our Women’s BJJ program. Anton is also a co-owner, which means students training under him are working with someone who is fully invested in their long-term development.
What This Means for You
When you or your child steps onto the mat at Rising Tide Hi Tech, you are not just taking a fitness class. You are connecting to a tradition that traces directly back to the people who built this art. The techniques being taught here were refined over generations, tested in real competition and real life, and passed down through coaches who earned their credentials through decades of serious work.
That is not something every gym in Anne Arundel County, or anywhere, can honestly say.
We are proud of this lineage not because it makes us special, but because it makes what we teach trustworthy. A beginner in Hanover, Severn, or Columbia who walks in with no background in martial arts will be learning the real thing from people who have a direct chain of accountability back to the founders.
Come Train With Us
If you want to see what that actually feels like, the mat is the only place to find out. We offer free trial classes for new students. Visit us at 7030 Hi Tech Drive, Suite 100, Hanover, MD, or call 410-953-8492. We would love to show you what these lineages look like in practice.
