Meet The Coaches

Zane began his exploration into Jiu Jitsu in 2009, training in the gi in Australia. After a two-year hiatus and a move to San Francisco, he discovered 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu and settled into a steady training schedule.

He spent the next 7+ years training and competing under Denny Prokopos (Eddie Bravo's first black belt), progressing from white to brown belt, and training alongside some of 10th Planet's and Northern California's most decorated grapplers. Conor Heun awarded Zane his 10th Planet black belt in June 2022.

After relocating to Denver, Zane found a new home at 10th Planet Denver. Catch his well-rounded, individualistic approach Wednesday mornings at 6:00am. He can be reached by call or text at (773) 571-5285.

A lifelong combat athlete, Brian started grappling as a young wrestler, earning multiple all-state honors and a state finalist finish his senior year. Exposed to MMA through coach Josh Burkman, his focus shifted to add striking and submissions to his game, and he compiled an amateur MMA record of 2-0 and a professional record of 3-0, all by first-round finish.

In 2016 Brian started his jiu-jitsu journey, earning his purple belt under Caio Terra black belt Ranulfo "Gonzo" Gonzalez before his passion for no-gi led him to Conor and the 10th Planet Denver team, where he was awarded his black belt in September 2025.

Brian strives to perform common techniques uncommonly well. Off the mats, he's a financial advisor and the founder of Oakway Financial.

Mars's martial arts journey began over a decade ago at Gumm BJJ & MMA in Littleton, Colorado, driven by a fascination with martial arts films and a desire to overcome being bullied in high school. He found Eddie Bravo's DVDs early on and earned his purple belt under Brad Gumm before that school closed.

After a hiatus, Mars discovered 10th Planet Denver and Coach Conor Heun at the Wheat Ridge location, reigniting his passion for the sport. He's committed to helping students unlock their potential and experience freedom of expression through jiu-jitsu.

Mars earned his 10th Planet Black Belt in spring 2026 and is available for private lessons at $100/hr.

10th Planet Denver General Manager Tim Mohatt is a NASM-certified personal trainer with over five years of experience helping clients build sustainable fitness habits through positive, can-do coaching.

Tim discovered jiu-jitsu when he attended UFC 1 in 1993. He trained in the gi for about ten years and earned his blue belt from Royce Gracie in 2005. He entered the 10th Planet system in 2013 after moving to Boulder to train with Conor Heun and Drew Ash at 10th Planet Boulder, and has trained at over ten different 10th Planet "moons." He earned his brown belt from Conor Heun in January 2025.

Tim is available for personal training at $50/hr, with strong results in body recomposition and behavior change.

Brian began his jiu-jitsu journey in April 2016 at Katharo Training Center in Littleton, CO. In his mid-thirties with no martial arts experience and a laundry list of pre-existing injuries, he was hesitant — but knew what he'd been doing wasn't working either.

His first four years of training were primarily in the gi, with a heavy emphasis on self-defense and takedowns. After joining 10th Planet Denver, Brian was awarded his brown belt in 2023. His style is based almost purely on fundamentals that anyone can do.

Off the mats, he works as a tattoo artist at Dedication Tattoo and lives in Wheat Ridge with his wife, Demi, and their dog, Rumi. He enjoys fishing, cooking, reading, and is a newbie freshwater aquarium hobbyist.

Mike barely knew what jiu-jitsu was when he first stepped onto the mats. Though he had no prior martial arts experience, a lifetime of skateboarding made him tough and resilient. He struggled at first but refused to give up, and found grappling to be a powerful vehicle for personal development.

Having trained in both traditional gi-based jiu-jitsu and the 10th Planet style, Mike brings a well-rounded game to his teaching. He jokes about being a "jiu-jitsu evangelist," helping new practitioners feel comfortable in a sport that can be intimidating.

Mike is a brown belt and is available for private lessons at $80/hr.

Brown belt Shane Roeschlein began training in 2017 and earned his brown belt under Conor Heun. At 10th Planet Denver, Shane teaches the All Levels Ecological Classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am.

Classes are designed under the Ecological Dynamics System Framework for rapid motor learning and skill acquisition — live, task-focused situations that maximize motor-skill development through a constraints-led approach.

A typical class moves through blocked training segments covering standing, guard, passing, pinning, and entanglements, concluding with several "full game" rounds. Students can expect improved grappling knowledge, movement solutions, and mat cardio.

Ali Akalin is from Turkey and has lived and studied in Thailand and the Netherlands. He was introduced to boxing in high school and resumed training in 2011 at Trevor Wittman's Grudge Training Center.

At Grudge, Ali was introduced to wrestling and later to the 10th Planet system of jiu-jitsu through coach Drew Ash. In 2016, after Grudge closed, he joined Genesis Training Academy, where he first met Conor Heun and Heather Jo Clark and resumed training in the 10th Planet system.

Coach Ali was awarded his brown belt by Conor Heun in April 2024. He helps with kids classes Saturday mornings, works with new students in fundamentals classes, and teaches boxing fundamentals Sundays at 9:00am.

When Brock moved to Colorado in early 2018 from Florida, he was looking for a new hobby besides weightlifting and pickup basketball. Growing up, he'd always wanted to train at a 10th Planet academy, but none were close enough to make it worthwhile.

Shortly after arriving in Denver, Brock saw an Instagram post that 10th Planet Denver was opening in November 2018 and decided to give it a shot. He showed up at the original location and has trained at 10th Planet Denver ever since.

Brock earned his blue belt in November 2020, purple belt in September 2023, and brown belt in March 2026. When he's not training or working, he's at home chasing his two kids around. He's available for privates at $80/hr.

Garrett's grappling journey began on the wrestling mats in middle and high school. After a decade away from the mats, he was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2018 and immediately recognized the intensity and camaraderie he'd been missing.

He's a firm believer that "drillers are killers" and built his game around rock-solid fundamentals, transitioning primarily to no-gi in 2023 after one too many heel hooks.

After joining 10th Planet Denver, Garrett quickly established himself as one of the team's best guard players. Head Coach Conor Heun asked him to join the coaching staff in 2025, and he's been running the Tuesday night All Levels Class ever since.

Having trained under numerous coaches during his time in the Northeast, Joe Mayall has acquired a wide range of jiu-jitsu knowledge. After moving to Denver in 2021, he sought the best gym in the area, stopped by 10th Planet Denver for a trial, and never left.

Perpetually curious, Joe's coaching style focuses on technical details — always searching for how a move works and how to make it better. He finds fulfillment in pursuing never-ending knowledge and passing his teachings on to students.

Joe is a purple belt and is available for private lessons at $70/hr.

Sheila started training in 2016 after her partner convinced her that learning self-defense was a necessary skill. She immediately became enamored with both the physical and cognitive challenge jiu-jitsu provided, earning her blue belt in the gi in 2019 before training full-time at 10th Planet Denver.

Shortly after earning her blue belt, Sheila began coaching as a substitute for the women's class, developing a special interest in growing the community of women training jiu-jitsu. In March 2023, after four years with the gym, she was awarded her purple belt.

Outside jiu-jitsu, Sheila and her husband Adam run The Yuppie Kitchen, serving vegan fare at pop-ups around Denver. She's available for privates at $70/hr.

Scot Sherman began his jiu-jitsu journey after realizing the combat skills he learned in the Marine Corps weren't suited to being a 911 paramedic in Southern California. BJJ's focus on controlling an opponent while inflicting minimal damage was what drew him in.

Starting in 2018, Scot trained across the US in a variety of styles. After becoming a blue belt, he convinced his partner to try BJJ, and she brought him to 10th Planet Denver in 2022 — re-learning the basics in the no-gi system made him a great training partner.

After overcoming long-term injuries and health problems, Scot's determination allowed him to excel where others have faltered. He now teaches the 10th Planet Warm Ups Classes and is available for private lessons at $70/hr.

Luke Hightree is a lifelong martial artist with a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo. He's competed in 10 fights across kickboxing and MMA, and his time as a former college football player shaped the toughness and work ethic behind his coaching.

Luke believes martial arts is for everybody, regardless of age, experience, or fitness level. His coaching emphasizes growth, confidence, and resilience, creating an environment where beginners feel welcome and experienced athletes are continually challenged.

He's available for privates at $70/hr.

Sebastian is a 10th Planet purple belt who started his jiu-jitsu journey in 2021. It quickly became a passion — he's constantly studying new techniques and seeking new information.

He loves to travel and train at other 10th Planet locations, regularly visiting 10P ATX, 10P Vegas, and 10P Lombard, but always comes home to 10th Planet Denver to share what he's learned. Sebastian trains daily and competes as much as possible, making his professional debut at F2W 213.

His favorite quote: "Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it." — Mike Tyson. Available for privates at $60/hr.

Alexa began training jiu-jitsu at 19 years old in 2020 at 10th Planet Denver. A dancer since early childhood, she was searching for a new way to get active and rediscover a sense of community after quitting dance years earlier.

Finding that 10th Planet Denver offered free women's-only classes made her confident she'd found the right space. In mid-2025, she began assisting with kids' classes, and later that year was offered the chance to coach her own women's-only class every Tuesday.

The discipline jiu-jitsu gave her led to a career as a Behavior Technician for children with autism and, eventually, a degree in Occupational Therapy. Alexa was awarded her blue belt by Coach Conor Heun in December 2023.

Michelle grew up in Boulder before living in San Diego, New York, and Sydney, building a martial arts background across gymnastics, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and Kali long before finding jiu-jitsu.

She tried 10th Planet Denver's women's class in 2022 and got hooked, and has been a fixture of the women's program ever since.

Off the mats, Michelle races Supermoto and sport bikes and rides dirt bikes in the desert.

Tori stepped on the mats at 10th Planet Denver in the summer of 2024 after hearing about the free women's-only jiu-jitsu program. With two little girls at home and a husband who travels for work, she came in hoping to learn how to defend herself and others — and fell in love with the sport after just one class.

A former college basketball player, Tori found jiu-jitsu reignited her competitive edge while giving her a real sense of community. She now brings her whole family in to train on a consistent basis.

Tori is a blue belt and was asked to help coach the kids' classes shortly after earning it.

Growing up in Kansas, Victor learned early on the value of perseverance and determination. Coming from humble beginnings, he and his friends would save up to buy two pairs of boxing gloves so they could go head-to-head in a friend's backyard — those matches became his training ground.

Those early experiences taught him grit, discipline, and community — values he carries with him today as a boxing coach at 10th Planet Denver. His brother, also a boxing coach, has been a huge inspiration throughout his journey.

In addition to his striking, Victor has a dangerous ground game and is a 10th Planet purple belt. Available for privates at $70/hr — call or text (303) 888-7955.

Ali Akalin is from Turkey and has lived and studied in Thailand and the Netherlands. He was introduced to boxing in high school and resumed training in 2011 at Trevor Wittman's Grudge Training Center.

At Grudge, Ali was introduced to wrestling and later to the 10th Planet system of jiu-jitsu through coach Drew Ash. In 2016, after Grudge closed, he joined Genesis Training Academy, where he first met Conor Heun and Heather Jo Clark and resumed training in the 10th Planet system.

Coach Ali was awarded his brown belt by Conor Heun in April 2024. He helps with kids classes Saturday mornings, works with new students in fundamentals classes, and teaches boxing fundamentals Sundays at 9:00am.

Luke Hightree is a lifelong martial artist with a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo. He's competed in 10 fights across kickboxing and MMA, and his time as a former college football player shaped the toughness and work ethic behind his coaching.

Luke believes martial arts is for everybody, regardless of age, experience, or fitness level. His coaching emphasizes growth, confidence, and resilience, creating an environment where beginners feel welcome and experienced athletes are continually challenged.

He's available for privates at $70/hr.

10th Planet Denver General Manager Tim Mohatt is a NASM-certified personal trainer with over five years of experience helping clients build sustainable fitness habits through positive, can-do coaching.

Tim discovered jiu-jitsu when he attended UFC 1 in 1993. He trained in the gi for about ten years and earned his blue belt from Royce Gracie in 2005. He entered the 10th Planet system in 2013 after moving to Boulder to train with Conor Heun and Drew Ash at 10th Planet Boulder, and has trained at over ten different 10th Planet "moons." He earned his brown belt from Conor Heun in January 2025.

Tim is available for personal training at $50/hr, with strong results in body recomposition and behavior change.

A lifelong athlete, Dennis grew up playing baseball, soccer, and football before discovering jiu-jitsu in 2019 at 10th Planet Boulder, where he earned his blue belt.

During the pandemic, Dennis began personal training friends and family and found fulfillment helping others stay active — what started as a favor became a career and a passion for coaching. He moved to 10th Planet Denver in early 2023, where he now coaches strength and conditioning Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00pm.

Dennis is NASM-certified as a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Wellness Coach, and is completing his NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist certification. Available for personal training at $50/hr — call or text (719) 651-1950.

Shane joined 10th Planet Denver in 2022 as a white belt, bringing prior grappling experience from his time in the U.S. Marine Corps. After separating from active duty in 2015, he earned a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences before continuing to graduate school to study human anatomy and physiology in Las Vegas.

For over 15 years Shane had wanted to train in grappling — visiting gyms in San Diego, Okinawa, and Colorado before finally stepping through the doors of 10th Planet Denver. After two years of dedicated training in the fundamentals, he was awarded his blue belt by Conor Heun.

Shane now leads Strength and Conditioning sessions Mondays at 5:00pm, applying evidence-based training and nutrition protocols integrated with human psychology to build sustainable, long-term results.

Juicy is a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach with over eight years of experience in medical weight loss and performance nutrition for athletes. Her journey began with her own 85-pound weight loss and complete lifestyle change after being diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

As the nutrition coach at 10th Planet Denver, she specializes in weight management, performance optimization, and recovery. With experience helping clients lose between 10 and 105 pounds, Juicy emphasizes a sustainable, balanced approach built on accountability and grace.

She designs tailored nutrition strategies to support the demands of jiu-jitsu training, enhancing energy, recovery, and overall well-being.

Rachel is our resident nutritionist. She started playing tennis young and became interested in nutrition to improve her performance. As she got older she experienced gut issues, an eating disorder, Lyme disease, and Hashimoto's — and was told by multiple doctors the issues were just part of aging.

Determined to find answers, she enrolled in a master's program for Nutrition Science and studied under multiple functional medicine doctors to take control of her own health. Since healing herself through nutrition, she has made it her mission to help others find the root cause of their ailments.

At Rutgers University, Rachel worked with the wrestling team to help athletes cut weight sustainably, improving both performance and mental health. She offers a free 15-minute consultation to 10th Planet Denver members at the gym.