About Us

Tyrus Cox

Owner/Head Instructor

Professor Tyrus Cox is a 1st Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under 6th Degree Black Belt, Ricardo Cavalcanti. He received his Black Belt from Sean Cooper/Cleber Luciano in 2019, who is under the Gracie Humaita lineage (Helio Gracie > Royler Gracie > Cleber Luciano > Sean Cooper > Tyrus Cox).

Growing up, Tyrus was an all-around athlete participating in every sport imaginable. Tyrus discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2009 while attending a Kickboxing class at a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu school in Jackson, MS.

Tyrus has been training functional Martial Arts for over twenty years. He has studied many different arts and systems and has held numerous teaching credentials in a number of them, including multiple Filipino, Indonesian, modern eclectic street fighting/combatives arts, and many of the combat sports.

Tyrus has also been a firearms enthusiast most of his adult life. He holds firearms instructor credentials from both NRA & USCCA Firearms Associations.

• 1° Black Belt BJJ
• 2° Black Belt Judo
• 2° Black Belt SAW
• 1° Black Belt Shingitai Jujitsu
• Level 6 Catch Wrestling Coach
• Guro Pekiti Tirsia Kali
• Blue/Purple Defense Lab Fighting Systems

Carla Childs

Associate Adults BJJ Instructor

Carla Childs passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu began in 2019 with Centex Combatives in Pflugerville, Texas. Under Professor Tyrus Cox, an affiliate of Master Ricardo Cavalcanti with Team Cavalcanti (Carlson Gracie). From there her passion for Jiu Jitsu grew. Since the first day, Carla was rarely seen not doing something to better her Jiu Jitsu game. From attending seminars to competing in International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) in 2022 where she won gold. Carla has been a true martial artist, constantly finding ways to better herself. Carla is a student of many arts, integrating different styles to better her Jiu Jitsu. She also trains in Catch Wrestling and Submission Arts Wrestling (SAW). She even took the time to study Judo with her Professor Tyrus Cox to better understand the takedown game and to improve on her footwork. In addition to being a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Carla is a wife and a mother of one and a United States Army Veteran.

Vanessa Dowell

Women’s Self Defense Instructor

Vanessa is a Cavalcanti Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt. She started training Jiu Jitsu in 2021 under Professor Tyrus Cox. In addition, she’s trained in Judo, Submission Arts Wrestling (SAW), Catch Wrestling, Boxing, and Muay Thai. Under Professor Cox, she was given the opportunity to teach the Free Women’s Self Defense program at Centex Combatives & Fitness. Vanessa is passionate about Self Defense and women’s empowerment; she helps promote the importance and benefits of the arts to potential and new members especially to women and the younger generation. Her mission is to inspire and instill self-confidence through their Martial Arts and Fitness journey. Vanessa is a proud mother of 2, an accomplished professional in the tech industry, loves travel and adventure, and serves her community through philanthropy and ministry work both locally and globally.

Nadia Diaz

Women’s Self Defense Instructor

Nadia Diaz is a two-stripe blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a Judo orange belt, Lakan Dalawa in Pekiti-Tirsia Kali System, and a level two catch wrestler (Old School Grappling). Nadia also wrestles at her high school. Nadia is CPR, AED, and First Aid certified and is expected to graduate as a licensed EMT in May 2024.