Instructors

At Indianapolis Jiu-Jitsu we maintain the highest quality of Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction.  All of our instructors followed a structured process to learn how to teach jiu-jitsu.  Our process was modeled after Master Caiques instructor program at his headquarters in California.  

 

Greg Eldred - Professor - Owner

Greg Eldred, owner of Indianapolis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu LLC, is one of very few Americans that can claim he's been practicing Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 33 years, and he was the first jiu-jitsu instructor in central Indiana.  He began his training at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, CA in January 1991.  He spent 3 years as a student at the Gracie Academy training under Rorion, Royce, Rickson, and Royler Gracie.

In 1993 Greg relocated to Cincinnati, OH and started one of the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Associations in the United States, under Rorion and Royce.  Then, in 1996 he relocated to Indianapolis, IN and headed the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Association there for 4 1/2 years.  He was promoted to Purple Belt by Royce Gracie in June 1999 after winning an eight man no time limit invitational tournament arranged by Royce.  Over the years Greg has had the privilege of training with most of Grand Master Helio Gracie's sons; Rorion, Royce, Rickson, Royler, Relson, and Rolker Gracie, and greatly appreciates those friendships and experiences.

In May 2001, Greg became a certified instructor and affiliate under Carlos "Caique" Elias, and was promoted to the elite status of Black Belt in November 2005. Greg continues to train under Master Caique and has him visit his academy in Indianapolis on a regular basis.  Because of his extensive training, knowledge, and experience, Greg provides one of the best sources of Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu martial arts instruction in the State of Indiana.  Greg was promoted to the level of 4th degree Black Belt in November 2019, and is certified from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  He is also a member and certified academy of Rickson Gracie's Jiu Jitsu Global Federation.

Besides his jiu-jitsu experience, Greg is an Indiana native who graduated from Purdue University in 1985 with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology.  In his 23 year professional career, he worked 8 years as an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company in southern California building advanced space systems.  He then relocated back to the midwest and for 7 years held sales and marketing positions for Delphi Automotive Systems, in Cincinnati, OH, and Kokomo, IN.  Then for 8 years Greg was a Systems Engineer for Delphi Automotive Systems in Kokomo, IN developing airbag control systems.  Throughout Greg’s professional career he was labeled an exceptional performer, and received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions and efforts. 

All the while being an engineer, Greg managed to make jiu-jitsu a major part of his life.  His engineering background and experience as a professional transcends into his jiu-jitsu life.  Greg pays attention to detail, and does not merely know how something is done, but why it is done.  He is an effective communicator and is able to explain techniques and moves to his students in a logical and understandable way.  He has a wealth of jiu-jitsu knowledge where his LINEAGE comes directly from the Gracie family and Master Caique.  Some of his students has said Greg is a “walking encyclopedia”.  Now, Greg is retired from engineering and runs his jiu-jitsu academy full time. He has a wife Kim and 3 sons. 


Ryan Marques - Professor

Ryan has been consistently training Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Greg Eldred ever since he originally started back in 2004. He has successfully competed in numerous gi and no-gi tournaments over the span of his training. Ryan thoroughly enjoys being an instructor and considers Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-jitsu as one of his great passions in life.  He received his Black Belt in September 2018, and in November 2019 he received his instructor red bar.  He received his 1st degree Black Belt on Nov. 13th, 2022. In addition to being a prior NCAA D-1 student-athlete in soccer at Butler University, he is an attorney and he and his wife have a girl and boy twin children.


Travis Hawkins - Professor

Travis has been training Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Greg Eldred since October 2010. He received his Red Bar Black Belt in Oct. 2021, and received his Professor Stripes on Nov. 13th, 2022.  He began his formal martial arts training in the late 1980's, and has trained over the years various disciplines such as Jeet Kune Do, Korean and Okinawan Karate, Wing Chung Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Kali, Escrima, Savate, Tae Kwon Do, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo. Travis is a fire fighter with the Noblesville Fire Department.  He enjoys jiu-jitsu competitions, as well as participating in boxing and kickboxing matches in the 911 Police vs. Fire Slugfest each year.   


Anthony Cruz - Instructor

Anthony is a martial artist with over 20 years experience.  He has successfully competed in boxing, kickboxing, karate, and brazilian jiu-jitsu. Over the past 14 years he has focused his training primarily on Gracie/Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Anthony received his Black Belt on November 4th, 2023. He believes in maintaining a high level of skill and conditioning. In addition to training at Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu, Anthony taught jiu-jitsu at the former Seigo Academy in Anderson, IN (an affiliate of Indy BJJ) for several years. He now trains and teaches regularly at Indy BJJ.


Jess Brito - Associate Instructor

Jess started taking women’s self-defense private lessons with Professor Eldred in 2016 after researching that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the best self-defense martial art for women.  After the first lesson, Jess was hooked and went through the program twice.  She then started attending the group jiu-jitsu classes and hasn’t looked back.  Jiu-Jitsu became less of a hobby and more of a passion.  Jess fell in love with the quality instruction and supportive family atmosphere of the academy and wanted to help pass it on.  Holding the rank of Purple Belt Jess is an instructor in the Kids, Women’s Self-Defense, and the Adult programs.