Jonathan Burke has been teaching self-defense, rape awareness, close quarter and hand-to-hand combat for 16 years.  In 2004, he opened Gracie Orlando in Ocoee, Florida, a full-service Gracie Jiu-Jitsu self-defense training center.

Prior to opening Gracie Orlando, Jonathan implemented his years of training and expert skills to create an innovative, effective, easy-to-learn, self-defense workout program called Cardio-Defense; which is now taught at the school.  Cardio Defense has been featured in “For Me” and “American Health & Fitness” magazines, “The Orlando Sentinel” newspaper, and broadcasted on ABC and NBC television.  Among several notable personalities in professional sports, the music and television industries, he provides personal instruction to nine-time NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, Shaquille O’Neal and Ed O’Neill, former star of “Married…with Children”.

At the United States Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Jonathan trained members of the U.S. Special Forces and 82nd Airborne Division.  His instruction included non-compliant assailant and cuffing techniques, weapons retention, and both upright and ground self-defense techniques.  While there, he also taught rape prevention and street awareness classes for both serving females and female spouses.  Highly skilled and qualified members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Navy SEALS, U.S. Special Forces, U.S. Army Rangers, and U.S. Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies have adopted Jonathan’s expertise and student-friendly teaching techniques and methodologies.

Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Jonathan held the position of a Team Leader and Close-Quarter-Combat (CQC) Instructor with S.A.I.C. to train U.S. Federal Air Marshals. He continues to work with a number of U.S. and foreign government agencies—teaching essential self-defense, hand-to-hand, and CQC skills.

Jonathan has taught classes throughout the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan and South Korea.  He has completed Federal Law Enforcement Training for Basic CQC Classes.  He was awarded his black belt in September 2004, under Gracie family member and world-renowned Ultimate Fighting Champion, Royce Gracie—becoming one of only twenty certified black belt instructors in the world. Soon after, Jonathan attained a one year contract to train Home Depot's East Coast Loss Prevention teams in non-aggressive handcuffing and apprehension techniques.  Jonathan is fluent in Portuguese, and in only three and a half years, he quickly earned a Bachelor of Arts in History at Binghamton University.

Jonathan Burke currently resides in Orlando, Florida with his wife, where he owns and operates the Gracie Orlando Jiu-Jitsu Academy and D.E.T.A.I.N.™  Systems.

As a police officer for twelve years, Nicholas C. Recanati was Bergen County's Police Academy lead training advisor for four years. While there, he instructed and scheduled basic recruit classes, and in-service police courses. Graduating as a technician from the FBI, U.S. Army Ordinance of Hazardous Devices (including Biological and Chemical Devices), Nicholas was one of only six Medical Examiner Investigators in Bergen County. His duties included the investigation of homicides, suicides and sudden death cases. In addition to his career in law enforcement, Nicholas also served in the United States Navy Reserves, Naval Intelligence.

Having been involved in martial arts for over 25 years, Nicholas has earned black belts in both Koei-Kan Karate and Hapkido. He received his purple belt studying under world renowned instructors Royce Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie and Jonathan Burke. Nicholas is now an instructor at Gracie Orlando, under owner and founder, Jonathan Burke, where he is also recognized as being the first certified instructor for D.E.T.A.I.N.™ Systems.

Nicholas was the assistant director for JMS Investigation Firm of New Jersey for two years. He has received many awards throughout his career including the Medal of Honor, Combat Cross, and Valor Award, and continues to perform extensive security work for Zaak Wylde of the band Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne.

Nicholas Recanati graduated from Trinity College and University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida with his wife and two boys.