Brian Michelino
Brian Michelino combines a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a professional background in education and firsthand UFC corner experience. As an owner and head coach at Long Island MMA, he blends traditional instruction with a Constraints Led Approach — helping students understand, apply, and build on technique instead of just memorizing it.
A Coach Who Knows How to Teach
Being highly skilled at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and being able to teach it effectively are two different things. Brian Michelino brings both to Long Island MMA.
As an owner and head coach, Brian has helped shape the way Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling are taught throughout the academy. His background as a New York State certified teacher gives him an additional perspective on communication, structured learning, and adapting instruction to the person in front of him.
Brian's approach is built around giving students a clear technical foundation and then helping them learn how to apply those skills in realistic situations. The goal is long-term understanding, not simply memorizing a sequence of movements.
Knowing a technique is only the beginning. Effective coaching means helping students understand when, why, and how to make that technique work against real resistance.
Learn the Technique. Then Learn How to Use It.
Brian blends traditional technical instruction with constraints-based training. Students first learn the structure and mechanics of a technique, then practice applying those ideas through controlled situations that require timing, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Build Strong Fundamentals
Technical instruction gives students a clear understanding of positions, movements, mechanics, and objectives before they are expected to apply them under pressure.
Apply Skills Against Resistance
Structured live situations allow students to test what they have learned rather than relying entirely on memorized sequences or cooperative drilling.
Develop Adaptable Grapplers
By combining technical detail with decision-making, students develop timing, confidence, creativity, and the ability to solve problems as situations change.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling Development
Brian works with students at different stages of development, from people learning grappling for the first time to experienced athletes refining how they apply technique during live training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Build positional understanding, control, escapes, submissions, transitions, and the decision-making skills needed to apply Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against a resisting opponent.
Explore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu →No-Gi Grappling
Develop movement, control, wrestling-based transitions, submissions, and adaptability in a faster grappling environment without the gi.
Explore Grappling Classes →Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
LIMMA's youth program combines technical martial arts instruction with structured progression designed to develop confidence, discipline, problem-solving, and long-term skills.
Explore Kids BJJ →Coaching for Different Goals and Experience Levels
Brian's teaching approach can be scaled to the experience, comfort level, and goals of the students in the room—from beginners learning the fundamentals to grapplers preparing for more demanding live training.
Beginners
New students can develop an understanding of fundamental positions and movements before being expected to perform them under greater resistance or intensity.
Experienced Grapplers
More experienced students work on connecting techniques, recognizing recurring situations, making better decisions, and developing a more adaptable live grappling game.
Women's No-Gi
Brian coaches LIMMA's Saturday women's No-Gi class, a fundamentals-focused session with live training scaled appropriately to the experience and ability of the room.
Experience That Extends Beyond the Classroom
Brian's background combines professional teaching experience, advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, grappling competition, athlete development, and experience cornering fighters at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
Brian brings black-belt-level technical knowledge and years of experience teaching and developing grapplers at Long Island MMA.
Professional Educator
As a New York State certified teacher, Brian brings professional experience in communication, instruction, structured learning, and adapting lessons to different students.
1st Place — ADCC Americas, Purple Belt (2014)
Brian placed first in the purple belt division at the ADCC Americas tournament in Queens.
UFC Corner Experience
Brian has corner experience supporting athletes competing at the UFC level, bringing firsthand exposure to high-level fight preparation and competition.
Ready to Train With Brian?
Whether you're completely new to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or looking for a gym where you can continue developing your grappling, experience Long Island MMA's coaching environment firsthand.