Instructors
Kenny Nero, Jr.
​
Kenny Nero is the founder and Head Instructor of Bowie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. He is a purple belt under Ryron and Rener Gracie of Gracie University. Kenny has practiced various martial arts, mostly Kung Fu, since middle school but found jiujitsu in the mid 1990s when his father showed him the Gracie VHS tapes. He's been on and off the mat since the early 2000s and had earned 2 blue belts under 2 different lineages before finding Gracie University in late 2018.
​
Kenny is a husband, father of 2 and an avid vegan, anime and calisthenics guy.
Mark Miller
​
Mark is Bowie Jiu-Jitsu Academy's first Assistant Instructor. Mark is a purple belt under Ryron and Rener Gracie of Gracie University. Mark and Kenny met at the Annapolis Certified Training Center and have been friends ever since. Mark is also a Lead Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) Certified Instructor and at times travels throughout the country to train law enforcement.
Izumi Kawakami
​
Izumi is a Blue Belt under Ryron and Rener Gracie. Izumi has been training since 2016 and started her Jiu-Jitsu journey by learning the self-defense techniques in the Women Empowered program at Central Oahu Jiu-Jitsu. She earned her Pink Belt and became a Certified Women Empowerd® Assistant Instructor in 2017. She then continued her journey by completing the Gracie Combatives® program and is now continuing her journey in the Master Cycle®.
Izumi received her Official Blue Belt from Ryron and Rener and became a certified instructor in January of 2020. Izumi is a Certified Instructor under Gracie University® and is certified to teach Gracie Combatives®, Gracie BullyProof®, and Women Empowered®.
When Izumi is not on the mat, she is spending time with her husband and 3 kids or working on her graphic design business, Izumi Creations.
Jon Spiers
​
Jon is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Ryron and Rener Gracie. He has been training since 2021 and started his Jiu-Jitsu journey by learning the self-defense techniques in the Gracie Combatives® program. Jon continues his journey in the Master Cycle®. Jon became a certified instructor in July 2023 at Gracie University®. He is certified to teach Gracie Combatives® and Gracie BullyProof®.
When Jon is not on the mat, he is teaching military public relations or spending time with his family.
Donrell "DJ" Johnson
​
Donrell (DJ) is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Ryron and Rener Gracie. He started his Jiu-Jitsu journey as a Gracie University online student in 2012. He is a martial arts virtuoso who began training at age 6. His experience includes a rich background of various arts ranging from Karate and TKD to Muay Thai and Krav Maga.
When DJ is not on the mat, he enjoys hiking, traveling and sports.