Professor Garen Cakmak is a certified Gracie Barra black belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner training under the direct technical guidance of Professor Demetrios Diavatopoulos. Garen has an absolute passion for teaching the realistic, life-saving self-defense mechanics of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Having taught across all levels of the adult program, Garen brings a complete understanding of the BJJ fundamentals that underpins everything he teaches at the advanced level.

He leads our advanced BJJ curriculum tracks, guiding experienced practitioners through intricate submission grappling flows, timing refinement, and tournament-ready combat strategies. His deep belief in the practical applications of BJJ shapes every class he teaches — equipping students with skills that are as effective on the street as they are on the competition mat.

Professor Garen is dedicated to maintaining an ego-free, welcoming, and structured training environment where every student can push their game to the next level with confidence.