James Miranda

EXCELeration / Strength & Conditioning Instructor
Street Defense / Women’s Self Defense Instructor

James is the owner of Excel Defense Studios, a Certified MFS Instructor, Master Defensive Tactics Instructor, Women's Self Defense and MMA Instructor. James began his training at age 20 in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jjitsu. In 1997, James became Police Officer for the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada where he began his career in law enforcement and self defense training. During that time James has become a Master Defensive Tactics Instructor, a Master C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.D. F.O.R.C.E. Instructor, PR-24 and Straight Baton Instructor and a Less Lethal Tactics Instructor for the North Las Vegas Police Department. James has developed and written several lesson plans and has instructed hundreds of classes to a variety of students including new and veteran police officers, new and veteran correction officers, security officers, military personnel and civilians. James continues his training in Jiu Jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, and MMA

Terry Graham

*MMA Manager
*Boxing Kickboxing / Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Street Defense / Women’s Self Defense Instructor

Terry began his training in the sport of boxing in 1980 with the P.A.L. In 1981 Terry began boxing competitively in the inter-military and civilian arenas where he honed his fighting skills and style. Terry trained and sparred with Olympic boxing candidates, including Kenneth Gowins, prior to the Pan Am Games in 1983. After joining the Marines Terry, traveled the world where he began studying martial arts and has extensive training in Hapkido, Aki Jutsu, Kemp, Seidokan, Jiu jitsu, Aikido, Arnis, Muay Thai Kickboxing and Wing Chun Kung Fu. In 1990 Terry turned his professional interests towards law enforcement where he became a Correction Officer, eventually becoming a Police Officer, in the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada. He has become a Master Defensive Tactics Instructor teaching several self defense and close quarter battle (CQB) classes to new and veteran law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians. Terry has been a sparring partner to many world title record holders and MMA fighters.

Suzette Miranda

*Owner
*EXCELeration / Strength & Conditioning Instructor

Suzette is a certified kickboxing instructor and teaches our EXCELeration and Strength & Conditioning classes. She and her husband, James, own Excel Defense Studios. She had been involved in health and fitness since she was very young. The idea for EXCEL Defense Studios came from the realization that there was not a place in Las Vegas that provided a safe, clean, professional, and family friendly facility to train in various self defense techniques and martial arts styles. She and James designed the facility for law enforcement, military and business professionals in mind. If you love to exercise and train ­ and take an hour or more out of your day to do so ­ why not train in techniques that could save your life if necessary! In the evenings, you will find her training at Excel, but during the day, Suzette has a successful career as a commercial real estate broker for Colliers International.

Rachel Smith

*EXCELeration / Strength & Conditioning Instructor

Rachel is a certified kickboxing instructor and teaches our EXCELeration and Strength & Conditioning classes. She recently graduated as a Physical Therapy Assistant. She has been involved in heath and fitness since she was 8 years old and attended the national finals speed skating champions as a young girl.

Luiz Hernandez


*Boxing/Kickboxing Instructor

Luis has trained in Boxing for over 11 years.  He has also trained extensively in Muay Thai Kickboxing since 2002.  He has been a sparring partner for such famed fighters as Nicky Conan, Joe Gilbert, Joe Stevenson, Kendal Grove, Tony Fryklund and the UNLV boxing team.  He has taught boxing and kickboxing for over four years as an assistant coach for Kenny Rayford.  He trained T.C. Redenbacher to a professional boxing career.

*Wrestling Instructor

Brandon has more than 17 years of wrestling experience.  He was a Division 1 collegiate wrestler for the University of Nebraska.   He has trained extensively with former UFC champions Ricco Rodriguez, Kevin Randalman, Tito Ortiz, Mark Coleman, IFL fighter Ryan Shultz, and VFC Champion Jason High.  Brandon began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1997 with the likes of John Lewis, Ricco Rodriguez, Mario Sergio (Black Belt under Ryan Gracie) and Darrin Brudigan.

Amilicar "Mica" Cipili

*Team Mica Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Amilcar 'Mica' Cipili was born in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern part of Brazil. He moved to São Paulo at the age of 12. While growing up, he began his training in the martial arts such as: Capoeira, Boxing, Kung Fu, and Judo. Later in life, after he watched a Vale-Tudo show in São Paulo (Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre), he made a decision to learn jiu-jitsu. He understood the reality of fighting and what really worked. Amilcar started training in Brazil, then, he moved to Utah, under Pedro Sauer, where he progressed to the level of purple belt. In California, Mica trained with the Machado brothers, Rigan and Roger. Mica earned his Black belt from Rigan Machado. Mica has trained with great names in jiu-jitsu of today. Professor Cipili has been recognized for the outstanding level of his techniques. He moved to Las Vegas in 2001, and today is the head instructor of the BRJJ Machado in Las Vegas. Under the influence of great masters of jiu-jitsu, Mica learned and achieved a higher level of technique and teaching skills. As a competitor, Mica competed in almost all tournaments that took place in Brazil and USA. Thus, he obtained titles in almost all competitions. He started to compete in 1995, and still does today. Also, he trains in Judo and Wrestling to become a more complete fighter

Chad Lyman

*Submission Grappling
(No Gi Jiu Jitsu) Instructor
*Kids MMA Instructor

*Progressive FORCE Concepts Instructor

Chad runs Excel’s  Kid’s Mixed Martial Arts Program and teaches No Gi Jiu Jitsu classes. He trained with Straight Blast Gym in Portland Oregon for four years before moving to Las Vegas in 2004. He began his law enforcement career in 1999 and joined the Metro Police Department in 2004. He has trained with Team Mica since moving to Las Vegas and is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jisu. Chad is a certified ISR Matrix instructor, defensive tactics instructor, and a Progressive FORCE Concepts instructor. He is trained in Code 4 Combat and has trained law enforcement and security personnel in defensive tactics techniques. He has a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice and a minor in Terrorism Studies from Portland State University.

Travis Snyder

*MFS Instructor
*Submission Grappling
(No Gi Jiu Jitsu) Instructor

Travis is a MFS certified instructor and teaches our No Gi Jiu Jitsu classes. Travis is an accomplished wrestler, wrestling throughout his High School career. After joining the Air Force Travis continued his training extensively in the Anti-Terrorism and Close Quarter Combat arenas. In 1997 Travis became a Police Officer with the North Las Vegas Police Department where he currently is an operator on the S.W.A.T. team. Travis also continues to train in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has achieved the rank of blue belt. Travis brings his wrestling background to the art of Jiu Jitsu and has won numerous  Grappler’s Quest metals in both Gi and No-Gi divisions.

Wayne Cawthorn

Wayne is a MFS certified instructor and teaches Excel’s MFS Boxing classes. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1995 and is with the North Las Vegas Police Department. In the early 90’s, he fought in amateur boxing competitions in South Carolina where he won the Golden Gloves amateur title.

Chris Kennedy

Chris graduated from UNLV in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education.  While attending UNLV, Chris joined the Boxing Team where he became an All-American Collegiate Boxer. After graduating UNLV, Chris continued his boxing career turning amateur and winning a state Golden Gloves Title.  Chris has since turned his focus from boxing to training in MMA, jiu jitsu, wrestling, muay thai, and boxing.  In 2006, Chris started fighting professionally in MMA.  Chris is a Police Officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and has been with the department since 2004.

Ivan Rangelov

Ivan Rangelov began his training in Goju Ryu Karate at age 17 where he achieved the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt in his home town of Varna, Bulgaria. Ivan continued to train taking up the art of Muay Thai Kickboxing in 1995 training at Odesos Gym also in his home town of Varna, Bulgaria. Since then Ivan has competed in over 200 amateur and professional Karate and Muay Thai Kickboxing tournaments and competitions. Ivan has traveled and trained all over the world building his skills and knowledge in Muay Thai Kickboxing. Ivan fought professionally in Thailand where he competed against some of the countries best Muay Thai Fighters and brings a wealth of knowledge in the sport to Excel Defense Studios.   

Walter Vital "Cascão"

Walter began his training in Jiu jitsu in 1992 with Mário Sukata. He earned his black belt in 2003 under Mario Sukata from Northern Brazil. His titles and competitions include the 2006 PanAmerican Champion, winner of three MMA en Beppu in Japão, two-time champion of MMA Ultimate Combat Experience in Utah, US Open champion in 2005 in Santa Cruz, California, 2005 Grapplers Quest winner in Las Vegas, and Third Place PanAmericano 2005, Carson, California , and third place 2006 Grapplers Quest Black Belt Challenge in Las Vegas. He has hosted four seminars in Oita, Beppu, Fukuoka and Tokyo, Japan representing Conde Koma academy. Today he teaches Jiu Jitsu and submission grappling in Las Vegas, NV with Professor Amilcar Cipili at Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu affiliated with Master Rigan Machado and at Excel Defense Studios.