Instructors
You are not rich until you have something money can’t buy, and that is what our Professors and Instructors have to offer. We provide priceless knowledge, passion and dedication. Learning martial arts will teach you focus, discipline, memory, goal setting, respect, confidence, and the realization of the effort that it takes to become a self confident individual.
Head Professor/Owner
Daniel Souza
Professor Daniel “Coyote” Souza-
Professor Daniel “Coyote” Souza was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and raised in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In 1981 Professor Souza began training Judo. In 1985 he started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Rui Diniz Ferreira, 7th Degree Coral Belt and Master Hilton Leao Silva, 9th Degree Red Belt. Professor “Souza” earned his Degree in Physical Education in 1998. In 1993, Professor Souza began teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the school of his former master. In 1996 he began teaching under his own name, Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2000, Professor Souza founded Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Brazil, now affiliated with Carlson Gracie Team.
Professor Souza began teaching in the United States beginning in 2002, San Diego, CA. He finally moved permanently to Albuquerque, NM in 2016 holding the rank of a 6th Degree Balck Belt. There, he has built his Coyote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy/Carlson Gracie Team from the ground up. He is married with Gabriela Souza who is also owner of the academy, and has four kids; Ryckson(27), Rollyson(23), Alex, and Sarah, they all practice BJJ.
Professor Souza has won multiple titles and medals as an individual athlete throughout his martial arts career, and his school has earned multiple first place titles and trophies.
Professor Souza’s martial arts career summarized:
42 years of Judo, Godan 5th Dan Black Belt
37 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 6th Degree Black Belt
20 years of Muay Thai, Silver/Red Kruang-Prajied
1994-2008 MMA (21-2)
Read More
Instructor
Gabriela Souza
A pioneer in women’s wrestling, Gabriela was among the first female wrestlers in New Mexico to compete at the State Championships in a male-only division and became the first female captain of a mixed varsity wrestling team in the state.
Born in Mexico and raised between Albuquerque and El Paso, Gabriela balances elite competition with entrepreneurship, coaching, and family life. She co-manages an insurance agency, helps run her family’s martial arts academy, and is a proud mother of two—Alex and Sarah, both active competitors.
Read More
Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu and Red and Blue Krueng in Muay Thai
Chris Streetz
Read More
Muay Thai Instructor and Blue Kruang in Muay Thai
Bob Robinson
Bob began his martial arts training in 2011 at the age of 30. Finding his lack of physical and mental fitness intolerable after completing his PhD, he decided to challenge himself by training in Krav Maga and Muay Thai. He was immediately captivated by the strategic and technical concepts of fighting, especially for self-defense, and continued to diligently train in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu (mostly no-gi) over the years. He joined Coyote BJJ in 2023 and was awarded Blue Kruang in Muay Thai under Professor Daniel Souza.
In addition to his many years of Muay Thai training, Bob has twenty years of instructional experience in philosophy and ethics, having taught in both universities and prisons. He brings his many years of training and instructional experience together for the Muay Thai classes at Coyote BJJ. After he wears you out in Muay Thai, find him on the BJJ mat as a white belt and make him pay!
Read More
Instructor
Sarah Souza
Sarah, a proud native New Mexican, is a highly accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt dedicated to empowering women and children through martial arts. She is a 2026 IBJJF European Champion, 5-time IBJJF American Nationals Gi Champion, IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion, 2-time American Nationals No-Gi Champion, 3-time IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Con Champion, and a 2-time ADCC (Advanced) bronze medalist, with multiple victories across elite national and international tournaments. She is currently ranked #1 in the world (IBJJF Gi) and #2 in No-Gi in her division.
Sarah is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. She leads classes in the Little Bulldogs program and assists with children’s BJJ classes, sharing her passion for both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Under the mentorship of Professor Souza (her stepfather), Sarah has trained in BJJ for over seven years and Muay Thai for five years.
Read More
Instructor
Alex Souza
Alex Souza, a quiet, reserved, and highly dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt instructor. He is the son of Gabriela Souza and the stepson of Daniel Souza. Alex has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for seven years, earning multiple first-place finishes at local tournaments and competing at the IBJJF Nationals at the youth level.
Alex plays a key role in leading and overseeing after-school Jiu-Jitsu programs, where he focuses on developing discipline, confidence, and strong fundamentals in young students. He has also recently begun training in Muay Thai, further expanding his skill set.
Outside the academy, Alex enjoys camping, building projects, and exploring interests in mythology, technology, and anime. As he works toward graduating early, Alex is preparing for a future in law enforcement, with a strong foundation in leadership, responsibility, and service to the community.
Read More
Judo Assist Instructor
Rolando Antonio Hechavarria
Rolando Antonio Hechavarria is a remarkable young man known for his character, integrity, and humility. A martial arts enthusiast, he began with Taekwondo at age six, earning a 2nd-degree black belt and winning multiple competitions. He later joined Sandia Judo Club, where he became a New Mexico state champion in his blue belt division. He has now earned his brown belt in Judo. Rolando currently, is an assistant judo coach at Carlson Gracie Coyote BJJ, holding a blue belt. His patience and encouragement make him a role model, reflecting his commitment to personal growth and service.
Beyond martial arts, Rolando enjoys chess, competitive video games, and music, embracing a diverse range of genres. He proudly honors his Cuban and Mexican heritage, often seen wearing his Cuban flag in tribute to his grandfather. Rolando attends Gospel Light Baptist Academy and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, aspiring to become a pilot.
Read More
Instructor
Alejandro Tagle
Alejandro Tagle is a dedicated husband and proud father of two, balancing the responsibilities of family life with an unwavering commitment to service and personal growth. A U.S. Army National Guard infantryman, currently holding the rank of Staff Sergeant, he has served his country with distinction. His time in service includes a deployment overseas, Soldier of the Deployment for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, and many other awards, embodying the values of discipline, resilience, and leadership.
Off the battlefield, he is a high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner under Professor Daniel Souza, constantly honing his skills and mentoring others on and off the mats. At the age of 13, he began his first year of wrestling and won the city championship. During high school, he wrestled on the varsity team for all four years, winning various titles. He has won multiple first-place awards in the Master’s division and open class for IBJJF, NAGA, Battleground, and AGF.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create High Speed Warrior, a mission-driven business that donates a portion of its proceeds to support veterans, law enforcement officers, and first responders — the real-life warriors who serve communities every day. His passion for the martial art led him to launch the podcast “Small Talk on the Mats”, where he shares conversations about life, training, and various topics with other guests.
Whenever he finds the time from his busy schedule, he enjoys going to the cinema and is an avid gamer. Or, he spends most of his time with his family.
Read More
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Kenneth Mitchell
Kenneth Mitchell is a coach, athlete, mentor, and problem-solver who believes discipline, movement, and mindset build success both on and off the field. With over 30 years of football and athletic experience, Kenneth has spent his life developing athletes, leaders, and resilient people through sport.
As the former owner of the Otero Desert Dawgs, he helped build a program rooted in toughness, accountability, and teamwork. Today, he continues that mission as a strength and conditioning coach, youth football coach, and speed and agility coachoffering training free to all ages. His goal is simple: remove barriers, teach fundamentals, and help athletes unlock their full potential, whether they’re just starting out or chasing the next level.
Kenneth is also a lifelong athlete. With decades of experience on the grid iron, the courts and now a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Souza, a discipline that mirrors his coaching philosophy: control what you can, stay calm under pressure, and keep learning through adversity.
A Christian man of faith, Kenneth believes character matters more than titles and that leadership begins with service, humility, and integrity. His faith guides how he coaches, works, and lives emphasizing discipline, accountability, and compassion, putting people before personal gain.
Professionally, Kenneth works at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), where his background in technology, systems thinking, and risk awareness supports complex organizational environments. He has obtained multiple degrees, certificates and licenses along his way. He is also the owner of Alamo Hydro GraphiX, a creative business specializing in custom hydrographics, laser engraving, and precision designwhere attention to detail and craftsmanship are non-negotiable.
Above all else, Kenneth is a husband and proud father to two boys, both competitive athletes. Coaching, training, and cheering them on has become one of his greatest motivations, shaping not just strong players, but confident, disciplined young men.
Whether he’s on the field, in the gym, behind the scenes at work, or in the shop creating something custom, Kenneth brings the same mindset everywhere: train hard, lead by example, and leave people better than you found them.
Read More