Renzo Gracie Pearland Jiu Jitsu Academy, located in Pearland, TX, is dedicated to teaching students of all ages the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, striking, and mixed martial arts in a clean, safe, supportive, and family-friendly environment.
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- RGP Team
Why Choose Renzo Gracie Pearland?
Whether you're just starting your fitness journey or looking to enhance your routine,
Renzo Gracie Pearland provides a supportive and motivating environment.
Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve your personal goals,
ensuring you have the best experience possible.
Meet Our Team

Professor Joe Murphy
2nd Degree Black Belt | Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Professor Joe Murphy brings a unique blend of discipline, experience, and passion to Renzo Gracie Pearland. A lifelong wrestler, Joe began his Jiu Jitsu journey in 2010 and has since earned the rank of 2nd degree black belt. Along the way, he has competed professionally in both MMA and Jiu Jitsu, and continues to challenge himself on the competition stage.
Outside the academy, Professor Joe served our country for 22 years and recently retired as as a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force Reserve. His teaching credentials include holding a Master Instructor certification through the Air Force and a bachelor’s degree in K–12 Physical Education. A natural educator, Professor Joe is widely respected for his ability to teach students at every level, breaking down even the most advanced techniques in a way that is clear, effective, and empowering. His teaching style helps students accelerate their learning and build confidence on and off the mats.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, Professor Joe has worked with athletes across the full spectrum—from beginners to multiple-time IBJJF world champions and UFC title contenders. While he still enjoys the thrill of competition, his greatest passion lies in teaching, mentoring, and helping others grow—as martial artists and as people.

Professor Ben Poppelaars
Black Belt | Father of Three
Professor Ben Poppelaars is a black belt under Professor Joe
Murphy, with over a decade of experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, submission
grappling, and Muay Thai. He has been coaching within the Renzo Gracie Jiu
Jitsu network in the Houston area for over five years, earning a strong
reputation for his technical skill, teaching style, and ability to connect with
students of all ages.
Known for his smooth Jiu Jitsu and clear, effective
instruction, Professor Ben makes even complex techniques easy to understand.
He’s especially gifted with kids’ classes, creating a fun and structured
learning environment that helps young practitioners build confidence and
discipline.
A proud father of three, all of whom train in the art, Ben brings a deep personal passion to the mats. His commitment to teaching, mentoring, and growing the next generation of martial artists shines through in every class he leads.

Professor Lauren Murphy
Black Belt | Former UFC Title Contender | No-Gi World Champion
Lauren Murphy began her martial arts journey in 2009 in her
hometown of Anchorage, Alaska. Over the years, she has trained with, learned
from, and competed alongside some of the best fighters and athletes in the
world.
A no-gi world champion at both blue and purple belt, and a
two-time bronze medalist at brown belt, Lauren was promoted to black belt in
2023 by her husband, Professor Joe Murphy. In addition to her Jiu Jitsu
accomplishments, Lauren has had a remarkable MMA career—winning three
professional titles, earning Fight of the Night honors in the UFC, competing
for a UFC World Title, and being ranked in the top 10 worldwide across multiple
weight classes for several years.
Beyond competition, Lauren is deeply passionate about empowering women through martial arts. She has led numerous women’s-only classes and seminars and has launched several all-female BJJ programs throughout the Houston area. Her mission is to create opportunity, confidence, and community for women on and off the mats.

Professor Ki Martin
1st Black Belt | Lifelong Martial Artist | Community-Driven Instructor
Professor Ki has been immersed in martial arts since
childhood, training alongside his father and older brother. Before beginning
his journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2008, he spent over twenty years training
and teaching a variety of martial arts, including Karate, Modern Arnis, and Tae
Kwon Do.
In December 2025, Professor Ki was promoted to the rank of First Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Joe Murphy. His deep and diverse martial arts background gives him a unique perspective on the art of Jiu Jitsu, blending tradition, discipline, and fluidity in his teaching.
Having fallen in love with the vibrant and welcoming Houston Jiu Jitsu community, Professor Ki is passionate about giving back and sharing the art with others. His teaching reflects a true dedication to the craft and a genuine love for helping students of all backgrounds and experience levels grow through martial arts.
Check out the most frequently asked questions about Renzo Gracie Pearland.
Still haven't found the answer?
Contact UsBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art focused on technique, leverage, and control, and is widely regarded as the best martial art for self-defense. At Renzo Gracie Pearland, our classes are designed for people of all experience levels, making it one of the most accessible martial arts to start with.
If you’re searching for “BJJ near me” or “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pearland TX,” Renzo Gracie Pearland offers programs for kids, teens, and adults with flexible class times. Check out our schedule to see the variety of classes and class times available.
Our "Champions" programs start kids at age 4. The program focuses on confidence, discipline, gross motor skills development, and anti-bullying skills in a safe, structured environment.
We have multiple membership options ranging from single session passes to unlimited family memberships. Our goal is to be a family-focused academy with a place for every member to train.
Additionally, all of our memberships are month-to-month and DO NOT require long-term contract obligations.
Contact us today to find the perfect program for you.
Or, just click the "Sign Up" button on the top right to enroll yourself now!
For your first class, wear comfortable athletic clothing. If you continue, we’ll guide you on purchasing a gi (uniform) or no-gi gear.
Note: We DO NOT require our members to wear our uniforms. Team representation is optional.
Yes. For students interested in competing, we provide advanced training and coaching. However, competition is completely optional.


