Officially Ranked Students

William Vandry - Head Instructor of Vandry BJJ Academy - Bio & Endorsements

Gary Claxton
I began BJJ in 1996 at Ralph Gracies school in Pleasant Valley, California. I was a wrestler in my younger days and after seeing the UFC I decided I would like to learn this new grappling art........I was 35 yrs. old, off the mat for a dozen yrs. and after vomiting half way through class I thought I probably was kidding myself. There were many tough guys in there who ended up going far in BJJ and comparing myself to them, I honestly thought I had no chance at advancing to even purple belt.  But, I am hard headed. In March of 2009 after 13 yrs(minus two for injuries) I recieved the Black Belt from William Vandry. I have trained with William for 9 yrs. and respect his Jiu Jitsu so much that this is one of my proudest achievements. After being out with neck surgery and thinking I would never do BJJ again, I give thanks everytime I put on a gi and am able to train one more day. Vandrys is a unique place to train with lot's of guys who have been there a long time. I'm glad I found it when I did.

Carter Fisk I started jiu jitsu in Los Angeles, training with several teachers including Ethan Milius and Eddie Bravo. It was definitely a hobby I barely had time for and this always frustrated me. I promised myself that if the circumstances in my life ever changed, I would make jiu jitsu a priority.

Well they did when in June of 2006, I moved out to Austin and found William Vandry's school. The thing that struck me almost immediately was the fact that I didn't recognize any of the techniques he was teaching. Part of me wanted to dismiss this, but the other part wondered if I had just discovered the tip of the iceberg in jiu jitsu. I felt very much at home at the school and decided that learning a whole new approach to jiu jitsu would be a good thing in the long run.

At VJJ, I've been lucky to have some of the best friends and training partners a man could ask for. And even more to have a teacher, in William, who understands the game in such a complex and thorough way. He is patient and insightful with my never-ending questions and scenarios I present. I can't imagine a better training environment than the one I have.

Emmanuel Galvan - Association Instructor
I started rolling for over 6 years but only started to train with William Vandry 2.5 years ago. I got my blue belt Feb. 28,2004. I got my purple belt June 6,2005. I first found out about William on an onthemat interview, in which he said that he wanted to start an association in South Texas - and well you can't get any more South than Brownsville. I was already teaching for free just wanted to work out at first. Not until a couple of blue belts from other schools told me that I was close to blue, I decided to contact William. I didn't want to contact him until I was good enough. I didn't want to get there and make a fool of myself. From then William has guided me through the rest. I teach at Galvans Martial Arts - Brownsville Association. I also hold a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Traditional Tae Kwon Do, and a Black Belt in Tomiki Ryu Aikido. My goals are to get my Black Belt in BJJ under William, a Black belt in Judo, and to finish college. I'm currently 5'10" and weight 190. I don't like no gi - I have always preferred the gi. whether it be stand up or ground - I love the gi.

Jeremy Carbone - Assistant Instructor
I started training with William in early 2002, I had just moved to Texas and like many of the other guys had trained elsewhere before. I made sure I went to every Jiu Jitsu and submission wrestling school in Austin before I made my decision on where to train. I’ll never forget my first class at Williams’s academy. I had been all over town taking classes with everyone, some guys would roll with me and some would try to get there best student to take me out. We’ll just say that my ego had been stroked at several local schools.

Class was winding down and William called me over to wrestle. This was exactly what I was here for, time to see what this guy was all about. We were rolling and I came really close to getting an armbar, just missed it. Not too long after that I just missed a choke, and then a foot lock. At this rate it wouldn’t be too much longer before I landed one of these submissions and walked out of here feeling like a champ. This went on for a few more minutes and I was convinced that I was going to win this match. It was right about at that point that I found myself being held down. Only problem was my escapes weren’t working. So I tried harder…….still didn’t work. Then it hit me “was this guy playing with me the whole time.” As I was thinking this I had to tap because my knee hurt. Only I didn’t know why at the time because I had never seen that lock before. He must have gotten lucky let’s try that again. The only thing that changed was there was no more playing around the second match and I knew where I was going to be training.

The teaching, people, training, and atmosphere at Vandry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have completely changed my life.

Ted Osborne - Assistant Instructor
Ted Osburn is a Brown belt in BJJ under Professor William Vandry, and has trained under Vandry since 2000, and also assist at the Vandry academy in Austin Texas as well as performing as Head Instructor at south locations in Austin. Osburn has competed in BJJ, and specializes in ankle locks in tournaments. Appearing in William Vandry book and videos Osburn has also assisted teaching seminars in BJJ in Texas.

Osburn philosophizes training safe, technical, developing new strategies, and promoting a trust and non-threatening training atmosphere. Training has intensity for techniques, drills, sparring and competition.

Ed Aiken - MMA Instructor
Mr. Aiken has over 30 years experience in the martial arts. He started training in martial arts at the age of 7. Originally training in Karate and Tae Kwon Do, Mr. Aiken then moved on to Jeet Kune Do Concepts at the age of 15. At the age of 18, Mr. Aiken moved to Los Angeles, CA where he trained with many top instructors including; Jeet Kune Do Instructors: Dan Inosanto, Paul Vunak, Erik Paulson, Burton Richardson, Larry Hartsell; Savate Instructors: Nicolas Saignac, Daniel Duby; Thai Boxing Instructors: Walter ‘Sleeper’ Michalowski, Chai Sirisute, Samart Payakaroon, Jiu-Jitsu/Wrestling: The Machado Brothers, Joe Moreira, Pedro Carvahlo, Megaton Diaz, Freddi Sabatini, Mark Lyons, Ricco Chipparelli, Frank Trigg, Erik Paulson and of course William Vandry.

Mr. Aiken is a Full Instructor under Paul Vunak’s Progressive Fighting Systems and has taught JKD/Kali classes, seminars and workshops at various schools throughout the U.S.
Mr. Aiken was also a staff member at Burton Richardson’s JKD Academy in Hermosa Beach, CA, The Machado’s School in Torrance, CA, Loredo’s Cross Trainers in East Lansing, Mi, and has had countless private lessons and training sessions with top level martial artists from numerous styles (Gene LeBell, Herman Suwanda, Rickson Gracie, Leo Gaje…etc.).
Mr. Aiken has an extensive background in Real Estate and is currently a Certified Real Estate Appraiser where he is the owner/chief appraiser of the Austin based Access Appraisal Group.
Mr. Aiken also has extensive training in body/mind change technologies which include credentials such as Certified Master Hypnotist, Certified Trainer of Hypnosis, Certified Neuro Linguistic Practitioner, and Certified Hemispheric Integration Practitioner. He is currently offering training and coaching sessions in these disciplines with his new company Inner Fusion Trainings.

Jay Hume - Assistant Instructor

Matt Serfoss

Rob Furlano

Bryan Evans - Association Instructor
Bryan “Diabo” Evans - Diabo (pronounced GEE-AH-BO) is my nickname given to me by my Capoeira instructor, it means devil or evil. (Funny I don’t feel evil.) I have been a William Vandry Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student since 1999; I had been searching for a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor after I was briefly introduced to the style in 1995. Once I saw William’s classes I was sold, and to think he was “only” a purple belt back then. I began training in martial arts at a very young age and have studied several styles/systems during my time. I fell in love with BJJ due to it's "Live Sparring" on a daily basis, an element that is missing from a lot of schools. During my time I have had the opportunity to train with some amazing instructors and partners.  The instruction from William Vandry and his students are some of, if not the best I have ever trained with. I have received several Black Belt rankings in various systems in the past, however I must tell you that my most recent promotion to the coveted Brown Belt in Vandry Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been the most fulfilling. After a few years at the Vandry Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy I remember thinking to myself "WOW THIS IS WHAT MARTIAL ARTS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE". Receiving this rank in BJJ has sparked a fire in me to push harder and eventually reach the Black Belt level. I would like to represent our academy and style with an association in the future as well. I would like to thank all of my AMAZING training partners as well as a PHENOMENAL instructor in William Vandry. William Vandry Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the BEST DARN BJJ in Texas! Thanx, Diabo

Jesus Armas Sr. - Association Instructor

Martha Eva Velasco

Craig Burt

Darren McCarthy - Association Instructor

David Limon

Zach Calvert

Troy Etheredge

Dennis Dombrow

Jeff Snow - Children's Assistant Coach
I started training with William in August of 2007. I had tried other
schools around, but could never really find a place to call home. My initial thought was I'd just go in there a couple times a week and get some good cross training, but my addiction to this art came quickly. My first several months in that academy were very eye opening for me because a lot of guys were beating me, some of which were much smaller than I. It didn't seem right to me because I have a background in wrestling, and always felt comfortable on the ground. Needless to say, the fact I was getting beaten so much really intrigued me and I have been training most every day ever since. I got my blue belt from William in September of 08, and all it did was light my fire to become a solid BJJ practitioner that knows wrestling rather than a wrestler that practices a little BJJ. Thank you William for providing such a phenomenal academy, instruction and training partners for all of us!

Adam Bacia
Prior to coming to Vandry's 3 years ago, my mixed martial arts background was strictly stand up. My first night on the mats opened my eyes to a whole new world of combat, and I've been hooked ever since. The best compliment that I can give to the school, beyond the incredible instruction, is that William has built a community of genuinely talented and dedicated students. All of whom add to an exceptional training environment which allows everyone to progress at their own speed, while still receiving constant instruction and feedback on ways to improve their technique. William has also done a great job of incorporating a number of other disciplines, from Muay Thai to Judo to No-Gi grappling, into the school’s offerings, and I believe it allows students an opportunity to test the waters in other forms of MMA, which makes for a much better, more competent and well rounded fighter.

Geoffrey Dennis - Judo Instructor
Geoff began his BJJ training under William Vandry in December 2005. He was awarded his Blue belt by Mr Vandry in September 2007. Geoff began studying Judo in 1996 while working as a Police Officer in Denton , Texas under 5th Dan Mr. Finn Jones. After 9/11, Geoff moved to Seattle where he studied at Seattle Dojo (the oldest Judo school in the US ) under 8th Dan, Mr. Kenji Yamata. In 2003, Geoff moved to Austin , Texas and began practicing with the UT Judo club under 4th Dan Mr. Stan Wentz. In 2005 Geoff began training under 8th Dan Mr. Zednik Matl in Round Rock, Texas . Geoff was promoted to Shodan (1st Dan) in March of 2006. Geoff was promoted to Nidan (2nd Dan) in August 2009.

John Hancock - Children's Assistant Coach

Myron Dixon - Children's Assistant Coach