THE INSTRUCTORS
The depth of knowledge amassed by our instructors in competitive application will be a great advantage to anyone who desires about learning the art. If you are looking for a new fitness routine our Academy has something for you.
Rogerio Sena
Newaza Co-Founder/Head Professor
Professor Rogerio
Black Belt 3rd Degree | Co-Founder & Head Instructor at Newaza BJJ
Professor Rogerio began his journey in the United States in 1997 when he and his family moved from Brazil. Growing up in a household deeply rooted in athletics—his father a professional soccer player and his mother a gym teacher—Professor Rogerio was immersed in sports from an early age. As a child, he participated in a wide range of activities, including soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, track and field, and handball.
At 15, he began competing in handball at a state level and continued until he was 20, when he made the life-changing move to the U.S. With limited options for adult sports, he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1998, and it quickly became his passion. After years of dedication, he earned his black belt in 2014 under the guidance of Professor Daniel Gracie.
Now a 3rd-degree black belt, Professor Rogerio continues to share his love for jiu-jitsu as the co-founder and head instructor of Newaza BJJ, guiding students of all ages and skill levels.
Peter Vo
Black Belt 1st Degree.Kids/Adult Professor
Peter Vo is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt with over 10 years of experience and has a passion to train and teach. His love for grappling began in high school where he wrestled from his sophomore through senior year. The absence of a wrestling program in college led him to try Aikido and Caporeira however, neither satisfied his passion to grapple as, he would come to find, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu would. Shortly after graduating college, Peter began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Cesario de Souza who at that time was a 2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Edvaldo Maguila. As a brown belt, Peter moved and began training and teaching under another Edvaldo Maguila black belt, Adila Pereira. Peter received his Black Belt from Adila Pereira on the podium at the 2014 Summer Boston Open.
Kade Shipley
Brown Belt Kids/Juniors Instructor
Jose Fernendez
Black Belt Kids/Adult Instructor
A child of the 80s, I grew up inspired by Bruce Lee and Kung Fu movies. My first introduction to martial arts came from my dad, who taught me some basic judo and a few karate techniques from his own training days. Back then, martial arts schools were typically limited to Karate or Tae Kwon Do, and my dad eventually took me to train under his old Karate instructor from the service. I started learning Okinawan Goju Ryu Goshin-Kai and earned my junior black belt at 16.
In my late 20s, after a few personal encounters, I realized I needed to further my self-defense skills. This led me to Jeet Kune Do (JKD) concepts under Sifu Joe Maffei. Over several years of training, I earned my Personal Trainer certificate, gaining foundational knowledge in stick fighting, knife fighting, and various martial arts principles that make up JKD.
It was during this period that I first encountered Brazilian jiu-jitsu, primarily practicing no-gi at the time. However, life took me in different directions, and I focused on raising my family. Eventually, I became a part-time instructor at Modern Martial Arts Center (MMAC), helping with the kids' program and sharing my martial arts knowledge with my children.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu found its way back into my life, and I rejuvenated my martial arts career, training at Newaza for several years. Today, I continue to live the martial way, teaching my students and passing down my knowledge to the next generation, including my own children.
