RENZO GRACIE ACADEMY PORTLAND
OUR TEAM, OUR HISTORY, OUR LINEAGE
AARON MILAM HEAD INSTRUCTOR
THIRD DEGREE JIU JITSU BLACK BELT
Aaron Milam is the head instructor at Renzo Gracie Academy Portland and the co-founder of Workshop Jiu Jitsu. He began training Jiu Jitu in Los Angeles under Carlson Gracie legend Rey “The King” Diogo in 2000, a time when Carlson Sr. was frequently in the gym with Rey. In 2005, graduate school brought him to New York city where he continued to train on Renzo Gracie team with John Danaher, under whom he was given his black belt in 2008. During this time period in New York, Aaron was described as “the most diverse and creative black belt under Danaher at the time”. Aaron Also holds a black belt in Judo.
Throughout his years of training he has competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and submission grappling, regionally and internationally. Aaron holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in philosophy.
Aaron’s style uniquely combines these two branches of the Gracie family as well as incorporating the best elements of wrestling and Judo. His academic background and close training under Professor Danaher have helped him to develop an advanced teaching ability rarely found in the jiu jitsu community. He is a featured instructor at the BJJ Globetrotter camps, an invited outside expert on The Grappler’s Guide, and regularly travels nationally and internationally for seminars.
Our History
Aaron headed the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program at a NYC multi-discipline combat sports gym for about 8 years before partnering with his teammate Jin Yung and rebranding that team as Workshop Jiu Jitsu. Renzo Gracie Portland maintains affiliation with that Workshop as well as with the larger Team Renzo Gracie. Workshop Jiu Jitsu has a third affiliated school led by Professor Larry Hope in Honolulu, HI.
Workshop – Portland / RGA PDX was founded in 2013. Since opening, we have attracted some of the most talented local athletes and instructors as well as being the home of the Portland Fire grappling team. We pride ourselves on maintaining the finest instruction available and a school culture where everyone can develop towards their own personal goals , whether that is high level competition, recreation, self-defense, or general fitness.
Renzo Gracie Academy Portland has built itself at the center of the Portland jiu jitsu community; for years we hosted the weekly all city open mat and Portland Judo’s monthly Shiai Judo tournament as well as our own seasonal tournament – the Portland Sunday Open.
Hannah Sharp
Black belt - Head of women’s team an kids program - brown belt world champion
Hannah Sharp started jiu jitsu in June 2012 and is presently a black belt under Renzo Gracie Portland head instructor Aaron Milam. She started jiu jitsu at a small gym in California and received her blue belt from Kurt Osiander at Ralph Gracie San Francisco. Hannah is an active competitor and leads the kids jiu jitsu program and women’s team classes. Her most recent competition earned her the title of 2018 brown belt no gi world champion.
Eddie Jamrog
Brown belt - Adult and kids coach - Black belt masters world champion
Eddie Jamrog started training in 2009 in Reno, Nevada under Charles Gracie black belt Gary Grate. Eddie has been training at Renzo Gracie Academy Portland since 2013, and was awarded his black belt by professor Aaron Milam in 2021. Eddie has been successful on the local competitive scene and in 2019 placed first in his master 1 brown belt lightweight bracket at the IBJJF No Gi World Championships. Eddie also was a four year varsity wrestler at Clark High School in Las Vegas, Nevada and has trained and competed in amateur mixed martial arts and Muay Thai. He holds a amateur mixed martial arts record of 1-0, an amateur kickboxing record of 1-0, and a full rules Muay Thai record of 2-0.
Tyler Crain
Brown belt - Coach
Tyler Crain began training Jiu-Jitsu in 2012 with Garth Taylor in Santa Cruz, California where he received his blue belt in 2014. From there he moved to Sacramento, California and trained with Cassio Werneck and Derek DiManno. In 2015 he moved to Portland for graduate school and began training with Aaron Milam. He received his brown belt from Aaron in September 2018.