5th Degree Black Belt, BJJ Master, Head Coach, & Owner Tery Corkran

In 1990, Tery started training in American kickboxing, Muay Thai kickboxing, and Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. He started competing and won in full contact kickboxing in 1993 in the late Walt Mason’s TACKA (Texas Amateur Contact Karate Association) tournament.

After watching Royce Gracie from Brazil’s Gracie Jiu-Jitsu totally dominate any black belt or pro fighter at the first UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), a no-holds-barred competition, Tery started training in the only Ju-Jitsu school in his area. Mr. Corkran received his black belt in 1996 in Japanese Jukido Jitsu.

In November 1995, Tery found out that instructor Carlos Machado, the multi-world Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, fifth degree black belt, and cousin to the legendary Gracie’s, had moved to Dallas and was teaching at Chuck Norris’s Walker Texas Ranger studio. Tery began training with Mr. Machado right away. He is now a fifth-degree black belt and continues to train under Carlos Machado. He is also continuing to train in American kickboxing and Muay Thai kickboxing.

Tery has competed in several Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, and has only lost one match. He received his black belt from Carlos Machado on October 19, 2002. Tery was one of 8 black belts living in the state of Texas, and one of under 100 living in the U.S. at that time. Tery won 3 gold medals in the 2001 and 2002 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan American championships in Florida at the ages of 38 and 39. Tery tries to associate himself with teachers that are well-known for their talent and proving themselves in competition as world champions, such as Carlos Machado and his brothers.

Tery is an IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation)-certified instructor. Mr. Corkran has had great success teaching children, women, and men at his school, North Texas Mixed Martial Arts, in Flower Mound, Texas. Tery opened the Academy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1998 and was one of the first schools in Texas to teach MMA to children and adults.

In 2007, the Academy expanded into North Texas Mixed Martial Arts. Along with the best team MMA record in the Metroplex, Tery strives to provide one of the best standup and ground training schools in the Metroplex. He sets high standards for his children’s classes and in September of 2001, was awarded the “Children’s Empowerment Award” by the Mayor of Lewisville, Texas. Tery has trained a lot of children and adults that have competed and won many Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Tery has also acted in the martial arts movies: The Prodigy and Sinners and Saints.