Instructors

Co-Owner | Professor | Black Belt

Gabriela Souza is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Professor, decorated competitor, and ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. She also holds a Blue Krueng Prajied in Muay Thai and a Yellow Belt in Judo under Master Daniel Souza, as well as a Green Belt in Kenpo Karate under Bill Packer.

Gabriela has established herself as one of the top competitors in IBJJF Masters competition. In 2025, she earned the #1 IBJJF World Ranking in Female Master Brown Belt No-Gi in her division. She followed that achievement in 2026 by earning the #1 IBJJF World Ranking in Female Master Brown Belt Gi.

Her competitive success continued in 2026 when she captured double gold at the IBJJF Brasileiros Championship in Brazil, where she was promoted to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on the podium following her victories. Later that year, she became the IBJJF American National Champion in the Black Belt division, marking another milestone in her martial arts career.

Before Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gabriela helped pave the way for women’s wrestling in New Mexico. She was among the first female athletes to compete at the New Mexico State Wrestling Championships in the formerly 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 combines elite competition with entrepreneurship, coaching, and family life. She co-owns Carlson Gracie Albuquerque alongside her husband, Master Daniel Souza, and is the proud mother of two accomplished young martial artists, Alex and Sarah Souza.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Gabriela teaches in both languages and is passionate about helping people build confidence through martial arts, fitness, and self-defense. Her mission extends beyond the academy through free women’s self-defense seminars, particularly for domestic violence survivors and women’s shelters, where she uses martial arts to promote healing, confidence, and resilience.

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!

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.

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.

Andrew has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2010 and coaching since 2017. As a brown belt, he is passionate about helping students build confidence through strong fundamentals, technical instruction, and a positive learning environment.
Andrew has competed in IBJJF, NAGA, and Grappling Industries tournaments, earning multiple medals along the way. He believes that continuing to train and compete helps him grow as both a practitioner and coach.
Outside the academy, Andrew is a Master Defensive Tactics Instructor who has trained hundreds of law enforcement officers in practical control tactics. His teaching experience has shaped a patient, detail-oriented coaching style that welcomes students of all experience levels.
Above all, Andrew believes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is about continuous growth—on and off the mats. When he’s not training or coaching, he enjoys spending time with his two daughters and continuing his own journey as a lifelong student of the art.