Instructors Renzo Gracie Tilburg
Renzo Gracie Tilburg has a specialized instructor available for every martial art.
Kemail Verhoeven
Kemail is head instructor at Renzo Gracie Holland and Tilburg
Kemail Verhoeven has lived and worked for five years in the United States. During this period Kemail came into contact with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Submission Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). After a bet that he lost about what was the most effective martial arts, Kemail started training BJJ in May of 2005 at Renzo Gracie Denville, New Jersey under George Sernack. Additionally, Kemail has trained several years at the Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan, New York City under Renzo Gracie, Gregor Gracie, Igor Gracie, Rolles Gracie, John Danaher and Rafael "Gordino" Correa.
Kemail had the opportunity to train with many greats of the art, including the aforementioned instructors and furthermore with Roger Gracie, Leo Vieira, Frankie Edgar, George St. Pierre, Gordo, Charles "Silverfox" Pravec and many others.
Accolades from Kemail
March 2014, promoted to black belt by George Sernack
June 2011, promoted to brown belt by Rolles Gracie
June 2008, promoted to purple belt by Renzo Gracie
March 2006, promoted to blue belt by Igor Gracie
Competition results
European Championship in 2017, 3rd place black belt, Master 4
European Championship in 2014, 1st place brown belt, Master 4
European Championships 2012, 2nd place brown belt, Master 3
Nogi Open German Championship in 2012, 2nd place brown belt adults
European Championship in 2010, 1st place weight category and 2nd place open class purple belt, Master 3
Open Brazilian championships (Brasileiros) 2009, 1st place purple belt, Master 3
New Jersey state championships in 2008, 2nd place purple belt adults
Naga Battle at the Beach 2007, 1st place blue belt
Naga Battle at the Beach 2005, 3rd place white belt
Bennie Monsma
Bennie teaches Boxing, Kickboxing, Cardio Kickboxing and Kids Kickboxing.
Bennie loved boxing from an early age. Roy Jones Jr. but especially Tyson Fury are his examples. "The combination of entertainment, tactical chess, perseverance, discipline and fun are the reasons why I started boxing."
Bennie has been boxing intensively since 2015 and later MMA was added. In 2017 Bennie decided to train with Renzo Gracie Holland because of the atmosphere and the quality. He now likes to transfer that motivation as an instructor.
Pepijn Schupp
Pepijn teaches Cardio Kickboxing, MMA, Boxing and Kickboxing lessons.
Pepijn started kickboxing in Goirle when he was sixteen. "Someone came to train from Breda and he was so super relaxed about Renzo Gracie Holland in Breda. I wanted to do more MMA, but I didn't want to train at a macho gym. Fortunately, Renzo Gracie Holland turned out to be very accessible."
Pepijn is a product of modern MMA where you have to master all aspects of a fight. "I want to be a complete MMA player. The sport is still evolving at a rapid pace and you have to be able to go where the fight goes."
"I like all aspects of MMA, the boxing, kicking, the ground fight. I'm really in love with the sport. I like to pass that on to students by helping them and making them join the class with a good feeling".
Henk van Mierlo
Henk van Mierlo teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons.
Henk has been training martial arts since childhood. Started at Ooms gym with Judo, and switched to Kyokushin Karate when he was eighteen. "At that time everyone wanted to fight like Bruce Lee". He then spent 20 years training more traditional martial arts such as Pencak Silat, Wushu Kung Fu and Wing Chun.
"These were beautiful skills, but when it came to self-defense I felt most confident in my Judo and Karate background"
"The decisive factor to start training BJJ was UFC 1, where Royce Gracie showed that, with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you can win from all traditional martial arts, even if you are a lot lighter. Today you cannot be a full-fledged MMA fighter without BJJ. In recent years I practice BJJ mainly as a challenging game and a fun way to keep working on my fitness."
- Gold IBJJF German National Championship 2017 Blue Belt Master 5
- Silver IBJJF Paris National Open 2017 Blue Belt Master 5
- 2023 promoted to brown belt by Kemail Verhoeven and Rayron Gracie
Roos Vermeulen
Roos Vermeulen is a Cardio Kickboxing instructor and has been training at Renzo Gracie Tilburg for two years.
Roos started boxing herself when she was experiencing a burnout. For her, it was primarily about destressing and becoming mentally healthy again. This way, she could release her frustrations with each training session and felt completely relaxed when she walked out.
And that ultimately also helped her to fight her very first kickboxing match through Renzo Gracie Tilburg.
"We are very open and honest with everyone, and I feel like I can always say anything to anyone. I find it very pleasant."
"If there are any women who are hesitant, they are always welcome to train with me!"
Achievements:
- Won by TKO at the Boxing Gala June 2023
- Won on points at the Boxing Gala Heesakkers October 2023
Djessie Aards
Djesse Aarts is an instructor for kids' BJJ.
Djesse is one of our upcoming talents. He started kickboxing at a very young age, at eight. "Of course, it wasn't very serious then, we were allowed to spar but not hit the head. It was more cardio kickboxing with a bit of sparring."
At the age of thirteen, he read that there was a new MMA school in Tilburg. "I really wanted to do that. I can still remember how awesome the atmosphere was when I first walked in. Everyone was very friendly. They came up to me to ask what I thought of it. I felt at home right away."
Djesse quickly realized that to be truly good at MMA, you need to train in all disciplines. So now, in addition to MMA, he also trains in boxing, kickboxing, BJJ, and grappling.
"I want to become a professional MMA fighter, and I train every day for it.
- Gold at "Let's Roll Utrecht II" 2024
- Gold at VERSUS 21 - Kids Edition BJJ 2023
- Gold at Lion Cub Jiu Jitsu Competition 2023
- Gold at Grappling Industries Amsterdam
- Silver at NAGA Brussels Grappling Championship 2024
Aleksander Sredanovic
Aleksander teaches the MMA and Kids Kickboxing classes at Renzo Gracie Tilburg. Aleksander started with Kyokushin Karate at the age of thirteen and became 3rd at the World Youth Championships. Then came kickboxing and about ten years ago he was introduced to MMA. "That was more like kickboxing with an arm bar at the time".
"A friend asked me if I wanted to train with Renzo Gracie Holland. I had already done some MMA at a few gyms and thought that I could already do something. After I had to tap for a girl fifteen kilos lighter I was sold."
After a number of MMA professional matches at European level, Aleksander has closed his career and focusses now on teaching.
"I want the training to be a challenge for everyone, for both the pro and the amateur. Discipline, perseverance, respect for each other. That is important to me. And techniques that really work. Bruce Lee said it: I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
