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Meet Our Coaching Staff
Meet the elite instructors at Buckhead MMA — champions in BJJ, MMA, and Muay Thai, ready to shape your victory.
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Leon Davis
Classes:
Leon Davis is a decorated wrestler and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor with over two decades of experience in combat sports. His wrestling career began in Massachusetts, where he earned 113 high school wins, multiple state-level titles, and a top-8 finish at the New England Tournament. In college, he became a Region X Champion, national qualifier, and was inducted into the NJCAA Region X Hall of Fame in 2011.
After college, Leon transitioned into MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, quickly becoming a dominant force. He ranked #1 in both the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions across the Northeast and appeared on major platforms like UFC Fight Pass, ESPN+, and Flo Wrestling. He’s a multi-time IBJJF Pan American and No-Gi World Champion, and in 2024, he achieved the IBJJF Grand Slam, winning all four major international titles before earning his Black Belt.
Outside the cage, Leon is a passionate coach who has built championship wrestling teams and mentored countless youth athletes. Under his leadership, Minnechaug Regional High School won its first-ever State Championship. Leon continues to train, compete, and give back through Parks & Rec programs, inspiring the next generation to experience the life-changing power of combat sports.
Jaral Bowman
Jaral Bowman is a seasoned instructor and fight coach with decades of experience across multiple combat disciplines. Holding a 2nd-degree black belt in Shidokan Karate, a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and a brown
belt in Judo, Jaral brings a well-rounded and proven pedigree to every class he leads. With 144 competitive fights under his belt, spanning wrestling, judo, jiu jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, karate, and MMA, he lives by the motto: “If I didn’t do it, I don’t teach it.”
Jaral has found success both as a fierce competitor and an accomplished coach. His matches and grappling bouts have been viewed by thousands on YouTube, showcasing his skill, grit, and adaptability. As a coach, he’s developed 8 NFC champions, 4 Fighters of the Year, a Georgia Golden Gloves Champion, and is currently coaching a future contender in the Karate Combat fight league.
AJ Weathersby
AJ is a decorated professional kickboxer and karate practitioner. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Shidokan Karate, voted GA pro kickboxer of the year consecutively from 2019 to 2025, former holder of the XFN and SKC pro kickboxing titles, #1 on the Karate Combat middleweight rankings chart, and formerly #5 on boxer’s global pound-for-pound kickboxing rankings.
He began in 2013, under the teachings of Jaral Bowman and Richard Trammell, competing in kickboxing, karate, boxing, Judo, and MMA. He had no initial intentions of competing or reaching any particular goal. He simply immersed himself into the world of martial arts, and wanted to see where it would carry him.
As an instructor, AJ is hyper motivated to bring his students to their full potential, be they beginners or seasoned fighters. His motto is that every class is a 1% improvement.
Ryan Shelor
Ryan began his martial arts journey with six years of competitive wrestling starting in middle school, building a foundation of grit, discipline, and technical awareness. In 2008, he expanded into American Freestyle Karate and has never looked back, earning his 3rd-degree black belt and developing a lifelong passion for teaching and learning.
Over the years, Ryan has trained in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Hapkido, and kickboxing, bringing a well-rounded and adaptable approach to every class he teaches. His experience extends beyond the mat. He’s guided multiple clients to earning their own black belts and has even trained celebrities along the way.
Known for his depth of knowledge, patience, and energy, Ryan thrives when working with beginners. Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or chasing your next level, he’s here to help you build real skills and lasting confidence.
Nicole Will
Classes:
Since 2018, I’ve worked full-time with clients one-on-one ranging from beginners to competitive athletes, helping them build strength, improve
performance, and stay mentally locked in through every stage of their fitness journey. I’m a certified personal trainer, CrossFit coach, and experienced kickboxing instructor, so whether we’re working on foundational fitness or fight conditioning, I bring a diverse toolkit to support your growth.
I’ve trained everyone from the just-out-of-high-school hopefuls to the young-at-heart grandparents, weekend warriors to folks who’ve never stepped foot in a gym. If you’re feeling out of shape, starting over, or navigating physical limitations, I’ve got you.
Let’s train with purpose.
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