Category: Instructors
Professor Steve Hordinski began his martial arts career with Kenpo Karate and quickly became a Kenpo Karate black belt. He later enlisted into the Navy, and became a deep-sea diver. In 1997, while in the Navy, he trained with Phil Cardella in Hawaii, where he was stationed. This was the beginning of his journey to achieve his black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. His hard work and dedication led him to live with the man that would change his life forever, Relson Gracie. Through the vast knowledge and careful guidance of Relson, Steve received his black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Steve brings knowledge and wisdom from the Gracie family to his academy. The foundation of his teaching is helping students understand the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu system. He wants to show that jiu-jitsu is more than just a sport or exercise regime. Steve’s involvement is not only inside the academy, he also plays a strong role in the community adding self-defense, rape-prevention, grappling, weight control and most important helping kids out with the bullying problem in schools. His journey has virtually become a religious experience. Steve continues to build a (positive lifestyle) through his ever-increasing family of both old and new Gracie Jiu-Jitsu students. To inspire students and live by traits like respect, honor, courage, discipline, support and family drives the quiet, humble man that we, at Relson Gracie Colorado, have today as a professor. Steve heads up Colorado’s main Academy located in Littleton CO and oversees all Relson Gracie Colorado locations.
Nick comes to Relson Gracie Colorado having been heavily involved in martial arts for the past 15years. At the age of 18 Nick was promoted to Red Belt in Kenpo and recruited at a national Kenpo tournament to run a Dojo in Northern California. Unfortunately do to a near fatal accident shortly after his arrival, Nick returned home to recover and never returned to teaching. Nicks love for martial arts has always been evident as his drive for excellence in business has led him to numerous triumphs as a business consultant in the fitness and martial arts industry.
Nick was a huge advocate for Professor Steve Hordinski bringing Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to Colorado and developing the Relson Gracie Colorado Association. Over the last 4 years Nick has developed a close friendship with Professor Hordinski and currently trains under him as a Relson Gracie student. Nick is proud to head up the Executive Team of Relson Gracie Colorado as Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the purest form of Martial Arts Instruction available in the Rocky Mountain Region.
From a fundamentally sound and applicable self-defense curriculum that includes working with law enforcement, schools, women’s groups, and children to a world class competition team, Relson Gracie Colorado is Colorado’s community partner in self-defense and Jiu-Jitsu; and Nick is dedicated to making Relson Gracie Colorado the most prominent martial arts academy in the United States.
Jason began his grappling carrier with high school wrestling where he made it to the state tournament all four years and placed twice. After a brief break from training found Jiu-Jitsu in 2002 and was immediately hooked. Jason began his training with Team ROC while in school at NC State working on his BS in computer science. He began competing almost immediately and continues to compete and test himself in the toughest tournaments. Jason began teaching towards the end of his blue belt. His knowledge and teaching ability has greatly increased since then as has his enjoyment of Jiu-Jitsu and desire to share his knowledge with others. Having trained all over the country with many world class instructors Jason combines a variety of styles into his Jiu-Jitsu while staying true to the fundamentals that make Jiu-Jitsu so effective. After moving to Colorado Jason joined the Relson Gracie team. With the help and instruction of Steve Hordinski, taking his game up another notch, Jason earned his Brown Belt from Relson in January 2009 and then his Black Belt in March 2012. Jason is dedicated to the continued improvement of his Jiu-Jitsu, and his ability to effectively share his knowledge with others.
High School Wrestling 1996-1999
1998 – 4th in State
1999 – 3rd in State
Started training Jiu-Jitsu at the end of 2002
1st in Bud Cup GI 2003
1st in Bud Cup Beginner 2003
1st in Bud Cup GI 2004
2nd in Bud Cup Intermediate 2004
Received Blue Belt 2004
1st Grapplers Quest GI 7/17/2004
1st Grapplers Quest GI 11/12/2005
2nd Grapplers Quest Intermediate 11/12/2005
Received Purple Beginning of 2007
2nd Mudial’s Gi 2007
1st CO State Championships Absolute Gi
2nd Pans GI 2008
Received Brown Belt from Relson Gracie Jan 2009
3rd in Pans GI 2009
1st Naga Advanced 7/11/2009
2nd Naga Brown/Black GI 7/11/2009
1st Tournament of Champions 6 GI 1/23/2010
Received Black Belt from Relson Gracie March 13, 2012
Seth Rodenbaugh is another Relson Gracie Colorado instructor. Seth is a retired Army Sniper and was awarded the Purple Heart overseas in Afghanistan. He began training in the Army combatives system in 2003 and then in 2005 began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the O2 Martial Arts Academy in Hawaii, where he was stationed. While there, he trained under Mike and Chris Onzuka and Shane Agena. After being retired from the Army, Seth moved to Denver in 2009 and began training under Steve Hordinski. He received his purple belt from Steve in June 2011. Seth is an Avid competitor and has won multiple medals in both Hawaii and Colorado. In addition to teaching at the Relson Gracie Colorado Academy, Seth is the Owner of Juggernaut Training and gives private instruction in strength and conditioning, and coaches boxing.
Jeff began his Jiu-jitsu training in 1999 after watching Royce Gracie dominate many larger, stronger opponents in the UFC, using his family’s approach of exploiting leverage to overcome size and strength.
Jeff trains because he loves the technical aspects of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in addition to its practical applications in the real world. Jeff spent 4 years in the Army as an Infantry Rifleman, two of which with the 101st Airborne Division, and two with the Berlin Brigade. He also spent 6 months in the former Yugoslavia as a United Nations Peacekeeper.
Jeff has a BA from Metro State in German, and attended Graduate school at the University of Colorado.
Teaching is Jeff’s passion and he has been teaching various subjects for more than 15 years, including Driving, Juggling, Jiu-jitsu, Foreign Language, and Geography.
He has also traveled extensively, having visited 49 of the 50 states, and 35 countries, in addition to having lived in Europe, Australia, Japan and Alaska. Jeff’s hobbies include experimental architecture and building design using geometric polyhera, juggling, Japanese traditional braiding, reading, travel, studying languages, and learning new stuff every day!
Wes is currently a four stripe blue belt under the watchful eye of Professor Steve Hordinski. Wes began his martial arts training in November, 2007 by briefly studying Muay Thai kickboxing. It was soon after that he was introduced to Professor Steve and his style of Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He quickly discovered that he shared a passion for the gentle art and has since been a devoted student, always searching for the simple way.
Wes is a Colorado native who enjoys all the activities that go along with it such as skiing, snowmobiling, downhill biking and hiking 14ers. He was an honor student throughout his educational career and earned a bachelor’s degree from CU Denver in music business. Wes also enjoys spending time with his family and helping teach jiu-jitsu to the Relson Gracie team.
Miah Gutierrez started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2004 and has competed in many tournaments in and out of state. He has won Five Colorado state championships in Jiu Jitsu and Four Colorado state Submission Grappling Championships, won the 2005 United States National Championships in L.A. California.
Miah is currently training with Relson Gracie Colorado under Steve Hordinski and has earned his purple belt. He also is an assistant instructor / student under Kru Snake Blocker in Blocker Muay Thai.
Darnell started his Wrestling career in 1983 under Coach Jim Hilman in Thornton Colorado and has won multiple Colorado State Championships and Tournaments. Darnell has continued to grow with the sport by training with some of the best in Colorado such as Alvin Robinson, Tim Joiner, Mike Phunk, Eric Heinz and many others. Darnell continues to see success in coaching now by producing multiple State and National Champions over the last 4 years. He has dedicated himself to the sport and loves to watch the success and growth of his students.
In 2000 Darnell was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and once again fell in love with a new grappling art and has become a lifestyle for him and his family. He has been training under the Gracie system now for 11 years and has seen success as a competitor by placing 1st, 2nd and 4th at the Colorado State Jiu-Jitsu Championships and moved on to compete at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships (Mundials). 5 years ago Darnell met Professor Steve Hordinski who would change his life forever. Steve introduced Darnell to Relson Gracie and Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu which he believes to be the purest and most effective Jiu-Jitsu/Self-defense taught in the world and the results of our competitors prove this. Once again Darnell has seen success as an instructor by producing State and National Champions in Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite came from Relson Gracie “The water is purest closest to the spring” and this is what is being created in Colorado as you read this bio. Not only do our students learning Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense they learn principles and values such as Integrity, Honor and Commitment.
