Bios

Current MIT Instructors

• Dave Dunmeyer - Head Instructor
  • Sensei Dave has been training in American Jiu-Jitsu since 1996. He currently holds the rank of Sandan (3rd degree black belt). Sensei Dave received both an S.B. and M. Eng. in Course 6-1, and received his Ph.D. at MIT in the Photonic Systems Group. Sensei Dunmeyer has also studied numerous outher martial arts and greatly enjoys cross-training with other MIT martial arts clubs. Sensei Dave has also taught a number of popular PE classes for the MIT Physical Education department, incuding: Jiu Jitsu PE, Self-Defense for Everyone PE, and Mixed Martial Arts PE. He works at MIT as a researcher during his day job.

• Patrick Menard
  • Sensei Patrick has been training in American Jiu-Jitsu since 2000. He currently holds the rank of Sandan (third degree black belt). He is a graduate of Course 6.

• Lester McCoy
  • Sensei Lester has been training in American Jiu-Jitsu since 2000. He currently holds the rank of Sandan. He is a graduate of Course 16 received his Ph.D. from BU in 2011. He currently works in the area as an engineer.

• Ken Clary
  • Sensei Ken has been training in American Jiu-Jitsu since 1996. He currently holds the rank of Nidan (second degree black belt). Sensei Ken received his S.B. in Course 3 (Material Science).

• Berit Johannes
  • Sensei Berit currently holds the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt), and is a certified instructor in American Jiu Jitsu. She teaches and trains at MIT.

• Hongyi Hu
  • Sensei Hongyi currently holds the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt), and is a certified instructor in American Jiu Jitsu. He teaches and trains at MIT.

Instructor Alumni

• Jason McCarthy - Founder, AJJ@MIT
  • Sensei Jason McCarthy is currently a third degree black belt (sandan) in the American Jiu-Jitsu system of Self-Defense. He has been practicing jiu-jitsu since 1989. He was originally trained in Long Island, NY by O'Sensei Joe Puleio (7th dan), the creator of our style of jiu-jitsu. At MIT he became a brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and started the club with only a few of his fellow Sig Eps. Now the club has grown to incorporate 40+ members from the entire MIT community. Sensei Jason is currently working on Wall Street and living in New York City, where he now resides as an Instructor and founding partner with Sensei Tony Avila for New York Jiu Jitsu, American Jiu Jitsu Centers - Manhattan Dojo.

• Tony Avila - Emeritus Head Instructor
  • Sensei Tony is currently a third degree black belt (Sandan) in American Jiu-Jitsu system of self-defense and was the head instructor here at MIT for four years. He has held rape prevention seminars at local Universities including Simmons College. Sensei Tony currently works on Wall Street and lives and trains in New York.

• Dara Avila
  • Sensei Dara has been studying the art of American Jiu-Jitsu since 1994. She currently holds the rank of Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt. In her Academic endeavors, she earned her B.S. then her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Simmons College. Sensei Dara currently lives in New York.

• Felix Dashevsky - Emeritus Head Instructor
  • Sensei Felix has been training in American Jiu-Jitsu since 1995. He currently holds the rank of Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt). Felix is a graduate of MIT with a B.S. in Course 8. He graduated Boston University School of Law in 2002, and now lives and works in New York City.

• Andrew Frazer
  • Sensei Andrew now teaches at New York Jiu Jitsu (like so many other of our black belts). We were sad to see him go... but he still comes back once in a while.

• Terraun Jones