Marcio Fetosa, Michael Simpson, Kyra Gracie, Rodrigo Lopes

Michael Simpson - Gracie Barra Black Belt

Michael has been training and teaching in martial arts for over 28 years

(18 years of Tae Kwon-Do and over 11 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). 

He began his training in Tae Kwon-Do at the age of 12 and received his Black Belt

 in Tae Kwon-Do in1988.  Starting as a Purple Belt Michael took first place in kata (forms)

in 14 consecutive competitions from 1984 to 1993.  Between 1992 and 1993 Michael won

the Pacific Northwest AAU championship in both advanced kata and free sparring. 

In 1996 he received his 4th degree Black belt in Tae Kwon-Do.

Michael, like most BJJ students first got interested in BJJ after watching the first UFC.

Unfortunately, there were no schools or resources locally to train back then. 

So with a group of friends Michael started training with what little resources they had. 

Then in 1997 an official Carlson Gracie BJJ school opened in Everett, Washington. 

Michael was one of the first to join, after a couple of years there he received his Blue Belt,

unfortunately shortly after the school closed.  Michael, again was training on his own for several years

until he got back in touch with Rodrigo Lopes one of his instructors from the Carlson Gracie School

(Rodrigo is currently a first degree Black Belt and owner of Gracie Barra Seattle).  Michael now trains

under Rodrigo and 3rd degree Black Belt Mamazinho from the world famous Gracie Barra Team.  

In July of 2004 he received his Brown Belt from Rodrigo and Mamazinho.  

In March of 2007 Marcio "Mamazinho" Laudier promoted Michael to Black Belt.

Other than Tae Kwon-Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Michael has spent several years

training in Muay Thai, Boxing, Kung-Fu, Escrima and Jeet Kune-Do.

Assistant Instructor

Shad Barker - Brown Belt

Shad has over 13 years of State and Federal law enforcement experience across the Western United States.

Shad began his martial arts training in Muay Thai under Richard Hamilton in Phoenix, AZ and continued his
training in Los Angeles under Jon Frank (Southern California Pankration Network).

In 2000 Shad's career brought him to Washington State where he has been with Michael Simpson and

Lake Stevens Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ever since.  Shad has been studying martial arts for over twenty (20) years and is
passionate about self-defense. "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has made an enormous impact in my life both physically and mentally.

When I first started training in Jiu Jitsu my body was broken down from years of sports and martial arts.

After just a few months of training I lost weight, my joints stopped hurting, and I was more flexible than I have ever been."
Shad believes that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a life-long journey and that technical aspects of the art are what make it so effective. "

It's the subtle adjustments that make the difference, one inch this way and you have nothing,

a small correction in technique and you'll end the fight."

MMA Coach / Private Lessons

Brandon Ness - Purple Belt

If interested in Private Lessons Contact Brandon

at: Brandon_Ness@hotmail.com