About Us
Mission statement
We use martial arts to build community, challenge self-improvers, and instill confidence and discipline in those that seek it.
Humble beginnings
Our Story
AFMO was started in 2016 by the co-owners and primary instructors, Michael Wood and Mike Pranker—aka "The Mikes." They trained together using DVDs for years before a local academy opened up.
When their local A-Force gym ended its jiu jitsu program, The Mikes decided to open AFMO to keep training together and continue sharing BJJ with Joplin under the A-Force association.
Under the guidance of A-Force founder Andre “Tim” Monteiro and Professor Jake Fox (founder of Fox Fitness in Wichita, KS) the Mikes continued growing and learning, eventually earning their black belts in 2021.
Our Priorities
Values
Like many BJJ gyms, we aren’t here just to make a buck. We care about the personal journey of our community and we aim to facilitate positive growth and resilience through training.
Keep It Simple
Grappling is complicated and technical. We try to keep things simple and fun for everyone. Sharing BJJ with our community and making BJJ accessible to all skill levels ensures everyone can learn and grow.
Keep It Casual
Training martial arts can be intimidating to first-timers for many reasons. We prioritize creating a relaxed, yet competitive environment to make it approachable and enjoyable for people to push their limits.
Keep Showing Up
Seeing people develop themselves before our eyes fills us with joy. Whether you want to be a fighter or competitor, learn self-defense, or just be more active, we want to facilitate your personal growth.
How we operate
culture
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training offers many benefits. The ones listed below aren’t all you can expect, but they are some great reasons to start.
No-gi Week
The first week of each month, we shed our expensive pajamas (gis) and focus on no-gi grappling. Great for wrestlers, football players, and those with fancy shmancy rashguards.
Move of the Week
Every week, there is a challenge to use a specific technique while live rolling. Those who achieve this may ring the bell! Beware: if you ring the bell otherwise, you owe 100 burpees.
Murder Thursday
The last Thursday of each month, we all wear black gis and spend the entire class rolling! If you dare, you can also enter a drawing to challenge the Murder Thursday champion.
Fun things we do
events
Note: Events that require a membership are marked with a dollar sign ($).
Seminars
Learn the mindset and methods for new, cutting-edge sport techniques, refine classic self-defense skills, and meet accomplished and renowned competitors! Seminars are typically split into two time slots: one for kids and one for adults.
Open Mats
Want to get in extra training or just have some fun? Come to an open mat! Whether you’re from another gym or no gym, you’re welcome to join us. We typically do open mats on Saturdays, but watch our Facebook page for announcements!
A-Force Summer Camp
The annual training camp for our parent association, A-Force BJJ. With 30+ black belts in attendance each year, you’re bound to learn something new!
Membership Required
Barbecues
Connect with fellow members in a relaxed setting and enjoy delicious food together. We only announce BBQs in our Facebook Messenger group.
Membership Required
Watch Parties
Watch BJJ in action at our watch parties! Sometimes it’s UFC or other MMA promotions, sometimes it’s FloGrappling—always a good time.
Our Team
Instructors
Michael Wood
Co-owner/Adult + Kids Instructor
Pressure connoisseur with experience in multiple martial arts, including submission wrestling, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and quotable phrases. Paulsen!
Black Belt
Black Belt
Black Belt
Mike Pranker
Co-owner/Adult + Kids Instructor
Human technique encyclopedia who loves to focus on little details. Will remind you that your elbow position is why you can’t finish that Kimura.
Black Belt
Black Belt
Black Belt
Jon Erman
Assistant Instructor
An experienced competitor with arcane lapel knowledge. Travels often, collecting various techniques. Also a certified wrestling instructor.
Black Belt
Black Belt
Black Belt
Randy Cornell
Assistant + Kids Instructor
Cornerstone of the community and much stronger than he looks, you’ll never know if you got one over on him or he’s just letting you work.
Purple Belt
Purple Belt
Purple Belt
Justin Elsten
Assistant + Kids Instructor
Beware of the small guy in a gym full of behemoths. Basically immune to anything less than elite pressure. Also a Tae Kwon Do black belt.
Purple Belt
Purple Belt
Purple Belt
Association
The A-Force Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association was created by Andre “Tim” Monteiro, a 5th degree black belt under Francisco “Toco” Albaquerque and Rodrigo Medeiros. Since 2008, Andre has been traveling the world to spread jiu jitsu to everyone. Also an avid competitor, he has won competitions all around the world.
Andre’s philosophy is to give a better quality of life to all BJJ practitioners, create a good environment for practicing and learning jiu jitsu, and create a good citizen for society. This care extends to academy owners as well, as Andre strives to give affiliated schools everything they need to become a successful martial arts business, provide them a proven curriculum, and award rank to all the students with a certified diploma.
Professor Monteiro currently runs two gyms in New York, including the original A-Force BJJ Academy, but the association consists of over 35 schools worldwide. Members of any A-Force gym are welcome to train at any sister gym for FREE.
Still have questions?
Contact Us
Send us a message using our contact form and we’ll email you back as soon as possible! Alternatively, send us an email at hello@afmobjj.com.