Chris Civello
Chris Civello founded Sakura BJJ in 2010 to teach the martial art style called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since his childhood, Chris has had an interest in learning martial arts and started learning at the age of 11. He realized early on that grappling was a dominant tool to win a fight and started training Jiu Jitsu at the age of 22.
After years of training and hard work, he earned his black belt in May 2017 from the one and only Marcelo Garcia himself.
Over the years he has experienced how the BJJ training has allowed him to become more focused, disciplined, healthier and simply better in almost every aspect of his life, both mentally and physically. However, Chris also saw how the modern world has changed people and made them lazy, afraid, depressed and unhealthy!
In order to help people overcome their fears and unhealthy lifestyles, Chris founded Sakura BJJ and has personally designed the BJJ programs for adults and kids. He instructs these classes himself. Chris is a First Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a Brown Belt in Judo. He has been practicing martial arts for decades and is committed to making Sakura BJJ the premier martial arts academy in the region!
Yen Bentkowski
Yen has been practicing Jiu Jitsu since August 2020 and started actively competing in 2023. She loves sharing her love of the art as a youth instructor and the head women’s class instructor at Sakura.
Her goal is to empower others to build their knowledge and confidence in using their mind and body as capable instruments in overcoming physical adversity and strengthening mental toughness.
More instructor bios coming soon!