Instructors
Adam Benayoun
Adam Benayoun began his martial arts journey in New York City as a teenager and has been coached by the world's best Jiu Jitsu players since his very first class. Adam received his blue and purple belts under 9-time black belt World Champion Lucas Lepri, his brown belt under 4X ADCC world champion Marcelo Garcia and his black belt from UFC standout and American-born Jiu Jitsu legend, Ryan Hall.
As a black belt, Adam has developed into both a detailed instructor and world class competitor at the international level. Adam's varied experience and passion for helping others make him a fantastic guide for beginner and advanced students alike. Apart from teaching and competing in Jiu Jitsu, Adam has become a valuable resource as an MMA corner having cornered bouts in the UFC, ONE FC, FURY FC and more.
A summary of Adam’s accomplishments:
- Polaris Squads Champion (Team USA)
- Third Coast Grappling 155lb Champion
- IBJJF Miami Open No-Gi Champion (2024 black)
- IBJJF World No Gi Bronze Medalist (2023 black M1)
- IBJJF Austin Open No-Gi Weight and Open Class Champion (2022 black)
- IBJJF PAN No-Gi Silver Medalist (2022 black)
- Emerald City Invitational 155lb Tournament Finalist
- IBJJF New Orleans No-Gi Champion (2022 black)
- IBJJF Tennessee Open No-Gi Champion (2021 black)
- IBJJF Orlando Open No-Gi Champion (2021 black)
- IBJJF Oklahoma City Open Champion (2020 black)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Silver Medalist (2020 black)
- IBJJF Denver Open Champion (2019 black)
- UAEJJF Canada Pro Champion (2015/2018/2019 black)
- UAEJJF NY Continental Pro Silver Medalist (2019 black)
- IBJJF New York Spring Int. Open Champion (2018 black)
- IBJJF Charlotte Int. Open Champion (2017 brown)
- IBJJF New York Spring Int. Open Champion (2015, 2017 brown)
- IBJJF Pan American Champion (2016 brown)
- IBJJF European Champion (2016 brown)
- IBJJF Pan American Bronze Medalist (2015 brown, 2011 blue)
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Silver Medalist (2015 brown)
- IBJJF New York BJJ Pro Champion (2015 brown, 2014 purple)
- IBJJF Boston Summer Int. Open Champion (2015 brown, 2012 purple)
- IBJJF New York Summer Int. Open Champion (2014 brown)
- IBJJF PAN No-Gi Champion (2014 purple)
- IBJJF PAN No-Gi Champion Silver Medalist (2010 blue)
Emma Reiter
Emma is a DMV native, George Mason graduate and a production manager at Furnace Record Pressing. Emma found Jiu Jitsu in 2017 while looking for a hobby that could scratch her competitive itch while keeping her in shape and active. Under the guidance of Adam Benayoun, Emma has become an accomplished competitor in both the local and national circuits and is an IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Champion in the adult blue belt division. When Emma isn't training, competing or working at Furnace she's running our up-and-coming kids program and teaching our women's only class - be sure to say hi to her at the front desk!
A summary of Emma's accomplishments:
- IBJJF World No Gi Silver Medalist (2023 purple M1)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Champion (2023 purple, M1)
- IBJJF PAN Bronze Medalist (2023 purple, M1)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open No-Gi Champion (2022 blue)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Silver Medalist (2022 blue)
- IBJJF Indianapolis Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2022 blue)
- IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Champion (2021 blue)
- IBJJF Charleston Open No-Gi Champion (2021 blue)
- IBJJF PAN No-Gi Silver Medalist (2020 blue)
- IBJJF Houston Open Silver Medalist (2020 blue)
- IBJJF Oklahoma Open Silver Medalist (2020 blue)
- IBJJF Charlotte Open Silver Medalist (2019, blue)
Frank Martellotti
Starting wrestling at the age of 8, Frank Martellotti has been a practitioner and competitor of the sport for over 20 years. Frank was a four-time PIAA state placer at Shady Side Academy High School in Pittsburgh, PA including a state championship in 2007, a third-place finish in 2008 and 2009 and a runner-up finish 2010. He has wrestled under collegiate and Olympic legends including Cael Sanderson, Cody Sanderson, and Casey Cunningham. Frank walked on as a true freshman at Penn state university and was ranked 16th in the nation. He was a member of 3 Penn state wrestling NCAA champion teams and qualified for nationals at 133 lbs after a 7th place big ten finish. In addition to Frank's wrestling exploits he is a purple belt under Adam Benayoun and teaches our kids program alongside Emma.
A summary of Frankie's accomplishments:
- 168-21 high school record
- Ranked top 20 for 130lb high school wrestlers in 2010 (Intermat)
- 3x WPIAL champion
- 16th 4-time Pennsylvania state place-winner
- 2x PIAA bronze medal
- 1x PIAA silver medal
- PIAA State champion
- Ranked #16 in the NCAA at 125 lbs in 2010
- 7th place Big Ten finish in 2012
- 2012 NCAA qualifier
- 3x NCAA team national champion at Penn State
Ryan Clarke
Ryan was born in Baltimore, MD and is a co-owner of District Tattoo Co. in Washington, DC. Ryan started jiu jitsu in 2010 and has trained at many gyms all over the DMV and has since become a seasoned competitor with success at the local and national levels. Ryan started training at Black Cat in January 2023 in hopes of becoming a more complete grappler. When he isn't training or tattooing you can find Ryan spending time with his wife Caitlin, his 2 corgi's and his black cat named Mortimer.
A summary of Ryan's accomplishments:
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Weight and Open Class No-Gi Champion (2024 brown, M2)
- IBJJF NY Open Champion (2023 brown, M1)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Champion and Open Class Bronze Medalist (2023 brown, M1)
- IBJJF Nashville Open Bronze Medalist (2021 purple, M1)
- IBJJF Orlando Open Champion (2021 purple, M1)
- IBJJF Atlanta Open Silver Medalist (2021 purple, M1)
- IBJJF NY Open Silver Medalist (2018 blue)