Professor Dave

David Parkinson began his journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007, building on a foundation of wrestling from his youth in Pennsylvania and time spent grappling in the U.S. Marine Corps. He trained at Team Balance in Philadelphia under Relson Gracie black belts Phil and Ricardo Migliarese, where he coached takedowns for MMA and Jiu Jitsu, taught Gracie basics, and occasionally led advanced classes. His training has spanned Gracie Jiu Jitsu, MMA, striking, wrestling, and judo, culminating in his promotion to brown belt before relocating to Denver, Colorado in 2017. There, he continued his progression at Tritown Jiu Jitsu under Sergio Castillo and Charles Gaffield–Rosario, earning his black belt in 2023. A lifelong competitor at every belt level, David now focuses on teaching, coaching, and mentoring the next generation of martial artists.