Professor Todd Wheeler

Professor Todd Wheeler began studying martial arts at the age of 14 in North Carolina. After moving to Los Angeles, CA, at age 16, he was fortunate enough to meet actor Steven Seagal and began studying Aikido at his school. After several years training with Seagal, Todd met master of Tae Kwon Do and creator of Tae Bo, Billy Blanks. Professor Todd began teaching Tae Kwon Do and worked as a Tae Bo instructor for six years. This interaction led him to study psychology as part of his minor in college, furthering his knowledge of how to interact with and incorporate his martial arts training for adults as well as children. In an effort to broaden his martial arts ability, Professor Todd went on to study traditional Jiu-Jitsu, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, achieving high ranking belts in all systems and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Todd’s primary focus for the last eight years has been in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Todd’s current rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is black belt under the prestigious Team Renzo Gracie family given to him by second degree black belt Professor Shawn Williams. Todd’s first experience with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was studying under renowned practitioner John Machado. While training with Machado, Todd was fortunate enough to take classes with Jean Jacques Machado, Rico Rodriguez and Eddie Bravo. He went on to study under the Team Renzo Gracie flag at Hollywood BJJ and has been an instructor under Shawn Williams at HBJJ/Team Renzo Gracie for the past several years. He placed as a silver medalist in the 2006 American Nationals and competed in the Pan American games. While at HBJJ, Todd has been lucky enough to train with some masters of BJJ as well as some Hollywood celebrities, including Renzo Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie, Daniel Gracie, John Danahar and Dave Camarillo; film/television notables Director Guy Ritchie ("Sherlock Holmes"); actor Harold Perrineau ("Lost"); and actor Sean Patrick Flanery ("Boondock Saints").

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