Professor Vinnie has been grappling for well over two decades and has a incredibly deep wealth of knowledge as both an instructor and athlete. Professor Vinnie began his grappling career at the age of 10 with scholastic/folkstyle wrestling and found great success throughout his tenure as a wrestler. He spent four years as a team captain and starter for NYU in Manhattan. Upon the completion of his competitive career he was invited to coach wrestling at his alma matter. After roughly three years of coaching collegiate wrestling, Professor Vinnie began his jiujitsu journey in 2010. Shortly after beginning jiujitsu, he recognized the parallels in how the two grapple arts are interconnected. His extensive background in wrestling allows him to provide great insight to students in their development in all facets of grappling. Professor Vinnie was awarded his blackbelt in 2016 and received his first degree on in blackbelt in 2019. For over ten years Professor Vinnie has dedicated himself to sharing the arts of wrestling and jiujitsu with his students, both kids and adults alike.