About Rising Tide Hi Tech Martial Arts
There’s a moment that happens for almost everyone who walks through our doors. Maybe in your first class, maybe a few weeks in. Something clicks. You stop thinking about what you can’t do and start discovering what you can. That’s what Rising Tide Hi Tech was built for.
Located at 7030 Hi Tech Drive in Hanover, MD, we’re a martial arts academy grounded in community first, credentials second — though we have plenty of both. Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the very first time, looking for a discipline that grows with you for decades, or searching for a safe, welcoming place for your child to develop confidence and coordination, this is where that journey starts.
Our Story | Rising Tide Hi Tech Martial Arts
There is a moment that happens for almost everyone who walks through our doors. Maybe in your first class, maybe a few weeks in. Something clicks. You stop thinking about what you cannot do and start discovering what you can. That is what Rising Tide Hi Tech was built for.
Located at 7030 Hi Tech Drive in Hanover, MD, we are a martial arts academy grounded in community first, credentials second, though we have plenty of both. Whether you are stepping onto the mat for the very first time, looking for a discipline that grows with you for decades, or searching for a safe, welcoming place for your child to develop confidence and coordination, this is where that journey starts.
Three Owners. One Vision.
Rising Tide Hi Tech is co-owned and led by three black belts: Naqi Sayed, Anton Garcia, and Ted Hartman. Each came to the art differently and stayed for the same reason: it works.
Naqi earned his black belt under legendary Relson Gracie in 2021 after a decade of training. As the father of two daughters, his focus on women’s and children’s self-defense is not abstract. It is personal. His goal, and the academy’s, is to help every student build the kind of quiet resilience that carries well beyond the mat.
Anton Garcia began training in 2013 and started coaching just three years later, having first come to martial arts through traditional karate. He earned his black belt in July 2024 and leads the Women’s BJJ program at Rising Tide. Anton has a particular gift for working with students who feel like they have something to prove, newer students, smaller students, those who might not think of themselves as athletes yet. He has helped dozens of people prove themselves right.
Ted Hartman started training right here at Rising Tide in 2016, which makes him a product of the very program he now helps lead. In 2019 he launched the morning program, now one of the most popular offerings on the schedule, and teaches fundamental, intermediate, and advanced adult classes throughout the week.
An Instructor Team Built on Real Experience
Beyond its co-owners, Rising Tide Hi Tech carries a depth of coaching experience that is rare for an academy of any size. Toney, a 6th-degree Relson Gracie black belt, is the highest-ranked instructor in the entire region. A US Marine Corps veteran with Army combatives certification and over 30 years of experience, he has coached professional fighters in both the UFC and Bellator. Tori holds a black belt directly from Grand Master Relson Gracie himself, has been training since 2005, and runs workshops for Girl Scouts, refugee communities, and church groups across Maryland, making women’s self-defense not just a program here but a cause.
Mike Johnson brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and a black belt under Pedro Sauer to the mat. Jeff Bozier Jr., a Golden Gloves winner and globally ranked amateur kickboxer (IKF Top 10, 2017), leads the boxing program. Justin, who trained in Thailand, coaches Muay Thai. Kyle is a retired military officer, Lean Six Sigma practitioner, and former collegiate football player who found BJJ in his 40s. He leads alongside Ben Grimes in the 40+ Jiu-Jitsu Club, a space built specifically for adults coming to the sport later in life.
Programs for Every Age and Goal
BJJ classes in Hanover are at the heart of what we do, offered in gi and no-gi formats, with beginner courses designed to make your first few months feel manageable, not overwhelming. Little Sharks (ages 5 to 7) and Junior Jiu-Jitsu (ages 7 to 13) introduce martial arts for kids in a structured, fun environment that builds focus, respect, and real skills. Muay Thai, boxing, MMA, judo, strength and conditioning, and a Women’s Self-Defense and Jiu-Jitsu program round out the schedule. Classes run mornings at 7am, midday, evenings from 5 to 8pm, and on weekends. Every Wednesday at 7pm, Community Sparring is open to all, just sign a waiver and show up.
As an official partner and active location of the We Defy Foundation, we extend access to veterans and first responders who deserve a home in this community as much as anyone.
Come Find Your Mat
If you have been looking for Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Hanover or just want to try something that meets you where you are, the door is open. Your first class is free. Come in, look around, meet the team, and see what it feels like to be part of something built on more than just training. Built on people.
Visit us at hitechmartialarts.com or stop by 7030 Hi Tech Drive, Hanover, MD 21076.