Who we are
Valkyrie Grappling Academy was founded on the belief that martial arts should empower people both on and off the mats. More than just a place to train, our academy is a community where discipline, respect, and resilience grow alongside technical skill.
Established by Coach Raq, whose vision was to create a safe and welcoming space for everyone, the academy continues to grow. We’re proud to now have Coach Gianni on the team, bringing his experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a teaching style that makes complex techniques clear and practical. Together, they guide students through the traditions of Judo and the strategies of Jiu Jitsu, building strong foundations while encouraging growth at every level.
Whether your goal is to build confidence, improve fitness, learn self-defense, or test yourself in competition, Valkyrie Grappling Academy provides a supportive environment where kids, teens, and adults of all levels can thrive.
Meet Coach Raq
Coach Raq is a dynamic leader and passionate advocate for youth and veterans.
As a USA Judo Certified National Coach, Nidan (Second-Degree Black Belt) in Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, Coach Raq has built her life around discipline, service, leadership, and the belief that martial arts can shape far more than athletes.
She has trained and competed under respected coaches including Sensei Joseph Marchal, a U.S. Judo Olympian, and Sensei Kevin Butler, a Judo and Jiu-Jitsu World Champion. Today, she is helping grow the sport of Judo in Las Vegas while continuing her own development through regular Jiu-Jitsu training and assisting wherever she can across the grappling program.
As the owner and Head Judo Coach of Valkyrie Grappling Academy, Coach Raq has expanded the academy into more than 5,000 square feet of dedicated grappling space and created a home for athletes of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds. She actively develops and travels with competitors to local and national tournaments, where Valkyrie athletes continue to earn podium finishes, deliver outstanding performances, and represent the academy with discipline, humility, and heart.
While competition is an important part of the program, Coach Raq believes the greatest victories often happen long before an athlete steps onto a podium. Her coaching philosophy centers on developing confident, disciplined, resilient people—especially children.
She has a particular passion for nurturing young girls through martial arts, teaching them to become strong, capable, independent, and confident in their own voice. Through Judo, she challenges her athletes to become comfortable doing difficult things, to learn how to fall and get back up, to lead with respect, and to understand that strength and kindness can exist together.
A proud U.S. Air Force combat veteran, Coach Raq brings the principles of service, accountability, grit, and leadership into everything she builds. Her commitment to service also extends into the veteran community, including support for organizations such as the We Defy Foundation and creating opportunities for veterans to discover the physical and personal benefits of grappling.
At Valkyrie, her mission extends beyond creating champions. She is building a culture where beginners are welcomed, experienced athletes are challenged, families feel supported, and students are expected to give back to the teammates coming behind them.
For Coach Raq, Judo is more than a sport. It is a vehicle for developing courage, humility, discipline, leadership, and character.
The tatami is the anvil, and Valkyrie is where strong humans are forged.
Coach Gianni - JIU JITSU
Coach Gianni is a first-degree jiu-jitsu black belt training under Professor Mica Cipili, a 6th-degree black belt and world, Pan American, and national champion. He joined Valkyrie Judo to expand his takedown game and met Coach Raq there.
He’s worked very hard and has grasped judo like second nature. Through his grit and resilience, he quickly became a leader on the team, and Coach Raq saw the potential to do something big with someone who shared that same spirit. She proposed a partnership to make Valkyrie an awesome grappling school, and the rest is history. Gianni brings a powerful blend of technical proficiency and real-world discipline to Valkyrie Grappling Academy, where judo and jiu-jitsu unite to form well-rounded grapplers who can excel in any situation—standing, on the ground, gi or no-gi.
With more than 19 years in law enforcement, Gianni has served as a SWAT operator, overseen the Police Academy, and worked as a Defensive Tactics instructor. His career in public service instills a deep appreciation for discipline, respect, and teamwork—principles that permeate his coaching and the academy culture. Gianni comes from a family of public servants; he has two brothers in law enforcement, and his experience as a parent of a young jiujiteiro informs his patient, resilient coaching style. At Valkyrie Grappling Academy, he helps bridge traditional judo values with grappling techniques, empowering students to become confident competitors and capable self-defenders.
MEET COACH MIGUEL
Miguel Villarreal is a seasoned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with over 15 years of experience, bringing a deep well of technical knowledge, competition experience, and coaching excellence to the mat. Currently pursuing accreditation through the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Miguel has dedicated years to developing athletes of all levels, with a strong emphasis on building youth competitors from the ground up.
His coaching style blends precision, pressure, and purpose-focusing not just on technique, but on timing, discipline, and the ability to perform under stress. Miguel has successfully coached young athletes through training camps and competition, helping them build confidence, resilience, and a true understanding of the art.
An active competitor himself, Miguel continues to sharpen his craft across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and boxing, bringing real-world experience and intensity into every class. Known for his high-energy instruction and ability to connect with students, he creates an environment that is both challenging and supportive - where athletes are pushed to grow while staying grounded in strong fundamentals.
At his core, Miguel is more than a coach - he’s a mentor and leader, committed to developing disciplined, confident, and capable athletes both on and off the mat.
