MEET THE COACHES
RUBEN VERA
Head Coach
3° Black Belt under Cleber Luciano - 20+ years of grappling experience.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Ruben's grappling journey began with wrestling in high school and junior college. While his personal competitive wrestling goals weren't fully realized, he found fulfillment in coaching, assisting at Westminster and Marina High Schools, and later leading the Huntington Beach High School wrestling program.
During his time coaching high school wrestling, Ruben discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through a former teammate. After just a few training sessions, he was immediately drawn to the art. Seeking the best guidance, Ruben found his way to Master Cleber Luciano and his team in Huntington Beach, California. Impressed from his very first session, Ruben knew Cleber BJJ was the right place for his development. He progressed through every belt rank under Master Cleber and proudly received his black belt from the Brazilian legend after nine years of dedicated training.
Since moving to Mason, Ohio, Ruben committed to establishing himself as a top-tier grappling competitor and coach in the region. After successfully running a NoGi program at a local gym for 16 months, he was inspired to create his own academy. This vision to teach Jiu-Jitsu and grappling without constraints led to the founding of Queen City Grappling Club.
Today, Queen City Grappling Club stands as a highly respected gym in Ohio and the surrounding states. Under Ruben's guidance, QCGC has produced multiple IBJJF World and Pan champions, MMA Champions, and high school wrestling standouts. Coach Ruben is committed to continuing this successful coaching legacy for many years to come. Adding to his expertise, Coach Ruben is now a certified instructor through EFCombatives, a leading national certification program, specializing in Law Enforcement Combatives, Subject Control, and Weapons-based entanglements.
Certifications and Accolades
IBJJF registered black belt
Coached multiple IBJJF world and PAN medalists and champions
USA Wrestling Bronze certification
Coached multiple state qualifying and medalists in HS wrestling
EFC Level 1 instructor - ability to train weapons based entanglements for LEOs, single officer apprehension and takedowns, wall pins to custody and team tactics.
Safe Sport certified
First Aid Certified
CPR certified
AED Certified
NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Certified
NFHS Concussions in Sports certified
Yearly background check completed and available upon request
RAMONE JUANITO KENNEY
Assistant Coach
Ramone is a BJJ black belt under 2° black belt Prof. Ruben Vera and 6th degree black belt Master Cleber Luciano.
He was first exposed to Jiu-Jitsu in 2007 after being invited to a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club in Cincinnati, OH. After the first day, he knew Jiu-Jitsu was his path. He would later start official training in early 2008 with some of the BJJ Club members that helped form the Gracie Cincinnati Jiu-Jitsu Academy led by one of Master Pedro Sauer’s Black Belts, Jim Kelly.
Jim instilled in Ramone a strong Jiu-Jitsu foundation focused on fundamentals and self-defense. Ramone used those skills to attack the local BJJ Tournament scene finding success in the early belt ranks. Ramone would receive his Blue and Purple belt from Jim Kelly before relocating north of Cincy to the Dayton Metropolitan area.
After the move to a new city, Ramone sought out a more competition focused Jiu-Jitsu academy joining the SAS team and receiving instruction under 3rd° Black Belt Jonathan Stutzman for 4 years, being awarded the rank of Brown Belt. Continuing to compete in both Gi and No-Gi at a higher level, he made the tough decision to leave the SAS team and join Ruben Vera at Queen City Grappling Club to focus exclusively on No-Gi Grappling and Submission Wrestling.
Ramone continues to compete and coach under the instruction of 2° Black Belt Ruben Vera, while upholding the QCGC tenants of no limits, no barriers, no politics.
WESLEY CLETUS CARTER
Assistant Coach
Wesley carter is a BJJ black belt is a multiple time IBJJF medalist and IBJJF NoGi world champion (brown belt M1) with extensive knowledge in multiple grappling arts specializing in leg locks and chokes. Coach Wes teaches our Saturday classes and fills in throughout the week when needed. In his classes you will learn an attack centric style that is ideal for competition.
DANIEL JEBADIAH ZIMMERMAN
Assistant Coach
Coach Dan is a BJJ brown belt with extensive competition experience and has placed in mulitiple IBJJF tournaments across the nation including 2nd at IBJJF NoGi Worlds as a blue belt, 1st at IBJJF Worlds in M1 Purple Belt and in 2024 he won IBJJF Worlds in the M1 Brown Belt division without having a single point scored on him in 5 matches with an 80% submission rate. You can catch Coach Dan at our fundamentals classes Monday and Wednesday at 6pm and our all levels classes on Saturday mornings.
GERMANE LINDSEY JR.
Wrestling Coach
As a wrestler at his Alma mater Moeller, Lindsey still ranks as one of the all-time leaders in takedowns for the Crusaders. Germane won Ohio team's Most Valuable Wrestler award, team's Hardest Worker award and held a 155-26 career record at Moeller High School. During his time at Moeller he became a three-time Ohio state tournament qualifier, two-time state placer and and capped off his senior year with the 140-pound title at the Ohio High School Athletic Association wrestling championships in 2007 and a #11 ranking in the nation.
After graduating from Moeller in 2007, Lindsey headed east to Ohio University. As a Bobcat, Lindsey became the first Moeller wrestler to earn NCAA All-American honors with his sixth-place finish at 141 pounds at the 2010 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. During his time as an Ohio wrestler, Lindsey lettered all four years, was voted the team's hardest worker all four years, and led the team in wins twice. Upon graduation, Lindsey stayed in Athens to serve as an assistant coach for the Bobcats before coming back to Moeller.
Germane also has 9 years of coaching experience with 5 years as a National Team Ohio freestyle and Greco Coach.
Aaron Cashman
Wrestling Coach
Coach Cashman is a multiple time Minnesota HS wrestling state placer, 1x state champion, Fargo all american, Cadet Freestyle world team member, a former resident of the US Olympic training center and an Iowa Hawkeye alum. Aaron is dedicated to pushing our youth to become the best they can be in the sport of wrestling and is passionate about developing grapplers into competent wrestlers to help further their abilities.
MARKUS ABRAHAM WOLFINBARGER
Assistant Kid’s Coach
Mark is a BJJ purple belt under Ruben Vera and our head Kids Program instructor. Mark brings over 20 years of coaching experience working with student-athletes as a former Varsity Football coach in the area and has learned to apply his coaching techniques to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When he is not on the mat Mark serves as a Pastor at a local church.
IVORY BERNICE VERA
Assistant Kid’s Coach & Women’s Ambassador
Coach Ivory is a BJJ blue belt, multiple IBJJF tournament medalist and is in charge of our half-pint grappling classes.
DYLAN DILLON OWENS
Assistant Kid’s Coach
Coach Dylan is a BJJ blue belt with with plenty of tournament and coaching experience.
ZACHARY JETHROW RICHMOND
Assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach
Zach is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and since training at QCGC has become a multiple time IBJJF tournament medalist.
JARED WILBUR SWAIN
Striking Coach
Coach Jared has been involved in martial arts for 15 years with boxing being his first love, which he found at the age of 18. Jared has extensive knowledge of striking in various styles with a specialization in western style boxing. Jared spends his free time lifting weights and hanging out with his French Bulldog, Butter.
AARON BOWMAN
Striking Coach
Coach Bowman comes to us with an extensive background in Muay Thai (20+ years) and has coached multiple athletes to have successful careers (national titles/team USA representatives).
CODY OTIS CUMMINS
Judo Coach
Cody is a Judo Black Belt and focuses on fundamentals with an emphasis on grip breaking and off balancing to create opportunities for a throw.
SEYLA ERNESTO RAN
Kids Striking Coach
Coach Seyla has been training since the late 2000s and has taking a liking to striking arts. He currently teaches our kids striking classes saturdays at 9AM.
Aaron D’Naykwon Jones
Assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach
Aaron is a BJJ purple belt, avid competitor and Middletown native. Aaron has had the opportunity to compete on several big stages such as Fight 2 Win, Stout Fights, Twisted church and multiple IBJJF majors.
Jettie Shofner
Womens JJ Head Coach
Coach Jettie is a BJJ Brown Belt with 10 years of experience and has been teaching women’s classes for nearly 6 years. She is passionate about creating a welcoming yet challenging environment where students can build confidence, develop skills, grow mentally and physically through Jiu Jitsu.
Nathan Hedrick
Assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach
Nathan is a BJJ brown belt with over a decade of experience. Nathan is a WV native and has recently moved to Middletown to train with the crew at QC.