Instructor Bio

Learn the complete and authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu from a direct student of the Gracie Family for the past 15 years.

Name: Scott Asher Cohen Willner
Weight: 200 lbs.
System/Style: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Rank: Black Belt Professor
School: Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie Humaitá • RGDA)
Other: Cross-trains in Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No Gi Submission Wrestling, Judo, Thai Boxing, Ginástica Natural, Bikram Yoga, Yoga Fit, and Cross Fit

Jiu-Jitsu Quick Caps

Black Belt Professor of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Specializes in Gracie Street Self Defense, Gracie Vale Tudo, and Mixed Martial Arts Fighting
Certified Black Belt by Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie Academy in Brazil) and the Royler Gracie • David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Association
Representative of the Royler Gracie • David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Association
Member of the Rickson Gracie International Jiu-Jitsu Association
Member of the Pedro Sauer Jiu-Jitsu Association
Medalist in multiple Sport BJJ and No Gi Submission Wrestling competitions

MMA and Vale Tudo Quick Caps

VFC III Mixed Martial Arts Champion
12 Wins, 1 Draw in Vale Tudo matches
4 Wins, 0 Losses in Mixed Martial Arts competition

Judo Quick Caps

1st Dan Black Belt in Judo
Studied under Kim Moon Ho (World Champion Medalist), Park Cha Sok (Korean National Champion), and Byun Nam Sub (Korean National Champion)
Gold Medalist L.A. Sports Festival

Thai Boxing Quick Caps

Certified Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) Instructor
Record of 8 Wins, 0 Losses, 6 by K.O. in Amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing competition
Studied at the American Muay Thai Academy, Muay Thai Academy of America, and Fairtex Muay Thai Camp
Currently trains in Thai Boxing at Fairtex Muay Thai Camp, Khun Kao Muay Thai Camp, and Boxing Works Gym
Member of the United States Muay Thai Association
Member of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA

General Quick Caps

Continues to cross-train with World Class Coaches, Competitors, and Instructors.
Instructor to: Civilians (men, women, teens, children), Military, Law Enforcement, Sport BJJ Competitors, and MMA Fighters

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“Asher combines the rare ability to be fighter and teacher at the same time. His innate abilities enables him to explain the concepts and principles of Jiu-Jitsu, allowing a student to progress rapidly in the art.”

Carlson Gracie (9th Degree Red Belt and Founder of the powerhouse Carlson Gracie Team)
Considered by all to be one of the 4 Greatest Fighters in the Gracie Family

“Asher is an incredibly dedicated student and instructor of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He’s as patient and easy going as he needs to be, and humble enough so that he is always learning. This is what makes him a good instructor. He is constantly learning and training with the best Jiu-Jitsu instructors and competitors in the world, and in turn, brings this knowledge to his students.”

Andrew Smith (Black Belt: Carlson Gracie Team • BJJ Revolution Team)
2x World Cup Champion, 2 x Pan American Medalist

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My Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Background

Beginnings

I was first introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 1994 by my Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts Instructor, Paul Vunak, a long time student of the undisputed Gracie Family Champion, Rickson Gracie. After my initial taste of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I was hooked, and began traveling to New York City on a monthly basis to train at the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy with Craig Kukuk, the first American to receive a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

(Rickson Gracie with Paul Vunak)

(Craig Kukuk, Black Belt under Royler Gracie)

Enter Rickson Gracie and the Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Team

In 1995, I decided to pursue my Jiu-Jitsu training seriously and moved to Los Angeles to train at the legendary Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy on Pico Boulevard (the one featured in the documentary film, Choke). After a year of training I received my Blue Belt from Rickson and for a total of two years I trained with Rickson Gracie, his brother Royler Gracie (when he visited the USA), the instructors at the Academy, and supplemented my training by taking weekly private lessons with Rickson at his house. During this time period, I was privy to watch Rickson train and prepare for his Japan Open Vale Tudo fights, and I became a close student and friend of the Gracie Family and trained with many of Rickson’s and Royler’s top students.

Enter Carlson Gracie and the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team

I quit Jiu-Jitsu for a period of time due to craziness in my life. In the following years I moved and started training at the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy with Carlson Gracie and the top Black Belts of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team. I became very interested in Vale Tudo and Mixed Martial Arts fighting and in 1998 I began fighting in MMA Competitions and Vale Tudo matches. I represented Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 4 times in Mixed Martial Arts competition and 13 times in Vale Tudo Challenge Matches with 0 losses and only 1 draw. In the ensuing years, I received my Purple Belt and Brown Belt from Carlson Gracie. I trained with Carlson Gracie, the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, and the BJJ Revolution Team until his untimely passing in February of 2006.

Returning Home to Gracie Humaitá

With the passing of Carlson Gracie, I felt a void in my relationship with Jiu-Jitsu. There is an old saying that, “the master arrives when the disciple is ready”, and so it happened. I was reunited with my Masters Rickson Gracie and Royler Gracie and the Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Team. Shortly after, I was honored with the Black Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu from Master Royler Gracie and Professor David Adiv.

(Receiving my Black Belt from Royler Gracie and David Adiv)

Today, I continue my training under the watchful eyes of my Masters at Gracie Humaitá, as well as under my Professors, and the top Black Belts of the Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Team.

As a Representative of the Royler Gracie • David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Association, I try to carry on the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu legacy the best I can by teaching the concepts, principles, and training methods of the complete Gracie Jiu-Jitsu syllabus at The Fighters Garage in Falls Church, Virginia.

For more on Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, the RGDA and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, go to:

Rickson Gracie www.rickson.com

Royler Gracie www.academiagracie.com.br www.royler.com.br www.roylergracie.com www.rgda.org

Scott Asher Cohen Willner
Black Belt Representative
Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Team
Royler Gracie • David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Association

P.S. I dedicate all of my Jiu-Jitsu training and knowledge to Master Rickson Gracie and Master Royler Gracie. By their accomplishments, lived example, determination, drive, and desire to pass on the “Gracie Way” to the next generation, I owe them with the utmost of my being. My words cannot express how thankful I am for the gift of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu!!!

I would especially like to thank Professor David Adiv (mentor, instructor, and friend) for sharing his vast knowledge and experience in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with me and my students, and also for reuniting me with the Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Team. Words cannot express my gratitude.

To Master Pedro Sauer, thank you for being my friend and for leading by example. Your guidance and instruction will always be cherished. I revere you as my Senior in the Gracie Humaitá Family and my Academy is always open to you and your students.

I would like to thank Carlson Gracie, the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, and specifically Rodrigo Medeiros, Rey Diogo, John Ouano, John Ramirez, and Andreh Anderson. If it were not for you guys, I would have quit and given up on Jiu-Jitsu a long time ago. I miss you guys and owe you more than I could ever give.

I would also like to thank my good friends Andrew Smith, Demetrius Ramos, Ryan Beauregard, and Dimitri Chrisos for sharing their vast knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with me. You guys have opened my eyes to new things and have taken my game to a new level.