Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Self-Defense Instructors at Hi Tech (Hanover, MD)

Naqi Sayed

Naqi has been dedicated to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2011 and earned his black belt under Relson Gracie in 2021. He enjoys teaching judo, self-defense, and competition classes, with a particular passion for empowering women and children to learn self-defense, inspired by his role as a father to two daughters.

Naqi's mission is to help students build resilience by developing the confidence to tackle life's challenges. He believes that the keys to improvement in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are consistent training, finding an accountability partner, establishing a strong training rhythm, and maintaining a growth mindset focused on learning and refining techniques. Naqi emphasizes that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers numerous benefits, including improved physical fitness, mental toughness, and stress relief. It's not just about self-defense—it's about building a healthier, more confident, and disciplined lifestyle.

Anton Garcia

Anton Garcia, a seasoned martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, has been dedicated to the discipline since 2013. With a background in traditional martial arts like karate, Anton was immediately captivated by the effectiveness and depth of jiu-jitsu. His journey as an instructor began in 2016 when he started teaching kids' classes, eventually becoming a key instructor for the Women’s Jiu-Jitsu program. In July 2024, Anton earned his black belt, marking a significant milestone in his martial arts career. Today, he imparts his knowledge and passion through fundamental and advanced adult classes.

Anton’s teaching philosophy revolves around the transformative power of jiu-jitsu. He believes that the art not only enhances physical abilities but also fosters mental and emotional growth. His commitment to his students is evident in his approach to teaching; he is especially passionate about guiding new students, including those who may be smaller or less athletic, helping them become proficient and confident practitioners. Anton is a strong advocate for the life-changing benefits of jiu-jitsu, emphasizing its role in building self-awareness, compassion, and confidence in both kids and adults. Through his instruction, Anton aims to empower individuals to achieve their goals and improve their lives, one technique at a time.

Ted Hartman

Ted Hartmanis a brown belt and has been training jiu-jitsu for 7 years. Having grown up playing Ice Hockey and Soccer, he began to study at Rising Tide Academy in 2016.  He began teaching kids classes later that year and continued to do so until 2019.  In 2019, Ted received his purple belt and began the morning program that has become popular at Rising Tide Academy.  He currently teaches fundamental, intermediate, and advanced adult classes. Ted is passionate about teaching Jiu-Jitsu to kids and adults to improve their health, self-defense, and confidence. 

Mike Johnson

A black belt under Professor Pedro Sauer, Mike has been training jiu-jitsu for over 20 years. Mike teaches adult jiu-jitsu classes in Finksburg, Columbia and at Hi Tech. A lifelong martial artist and 25-year police veteran, Mike holds numerous defensive tactics instructor certifications. He brings real-world experience and decades of teaching experience to Rising Tide.

Tori Garten 

Tori received her black belt from Grand Master Relson Gracie in March 2019. Her self-defense and Jiu-jitsu journey started in December 2005 when she took her first self-defense class. She started training once a week, then two, then more. She started assisting with kids class early on in her journey, followed by starting a women's class in 2012. Tori has also led a variety of self-defense workshops for all levels of Girl Scouts, Venture Scouts, church groups, refugees, au pairs and even for Take Your Kid to Work day. Tori strongly believes that jiu-jitsu is for everyone. Her passion is sharing the mental and physical benefits of learning jiu-jitsu - especially from a self-defense perspective. Jiu-jitsu is a puzzle that opens up new layers of knowledge seemingly just in time. She looks forward to meeting you and sharing in your journey on the mats. Tori is certified in Advanced and Wilderness First Aid, AED and CPR, as well as trained for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Toney Waldecker

Toney is a sixth-degree Relson Gracie black belt, making him the highest ranked jiu-jitsu instructors in the region. A veteran of jiu-jitsu, Sambo, Muay Thai, and MMA competitions, Toney now coaches numerous professional fighters in the UFC and Bellator. Toney brings with him more than 30 years of experience teaching martial arts at the highest levels.

Toney is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and is a certified Level 2 Army combatives instructor. He is an expert at teaching specialized Gracie jiu-jitsu self-defense techniques.

Kyle Hair  

Kyle is a purple belt in jiu-jitsu who has been training for over 7 years. He has experience in wrestling, Judo, and other traditional martial arts. He has competed and placed in tournaments at each jiu-jitsu belt rank. Kyle has an academic background in Operations Research and is a retired military officer.  He is a certified as Lean Six Sigma (process improvement) Coach and brings a process-oriented approach to jiu-jitsu instruction that is helps students understand and systemize jiu-jitsu. Kyle is an advocate for introducing 40-50 year old people to the sport and lifestyle of jiu-jitsu and its benefits. As a former collegiate football player, he found jiu-jitsu later in life and helps to keep active and sharp in many aspects of his life. He hopes to pass on the many lessons of mental health, happiness, self-improvement, and leadership that he has learned through training the "gentle art" to students at Hi Tech!

Kris Reeves 

Kris is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has been training for over 6 years. He teaches fundamental jiu-jitsu and Self-Defense classes.  He began training shortly after both of his kids started at Rising Tide Academy and quickly fell in love with it. 

As a Project Manager and former software engineer, he is naturally curious and looks to find creative and logical solutions to problems that are offered in grappling. These same attributes carry over to both his teaching and Jiu-Jitsu styles - applying grappling solutions in a systematic fashion. Kris is passionate about teaching and enjoys sharing his knowledge with both adults and children. He finds it extremely rewarding to watch someone use in a live situation a specific concept or technique he has taught them.

Jeannie Brown

Jeannie is a blue belt in jiu-jitsu who has been training at Rising Tide Academy for the past 4 years. She also has experience in other martial arts such as Krav Maga and Muay Thai. Jeannie has 4 years training Krav Maga and completed her Phase A certification for instruction.

Jeannie holds a certificate in Trauma Informed Coaching and helps lead the women’s self-defense program. She is a mother of 3 herself and is passionate about teaching children. Jeannie has a degree in education with a focus on developmental psychology and completed her BA Thesis on the Importance of Sports for the Developing Brain (Ages 6-10). She taught kindergarten for over 6 years while living abroad in Europe.

Jeannie is an advocate for introducing more women to martial arts so they can learn self- defense, enjoy the sport and develop the friendships that come with it. She believes learning jiu-jitsu will change and improve one’s life in every aspect imaginable.