Real World Martial Arts was founded by Senior Instructor Tim Spoon with the goal of providing a safe, fun, Christian environment where both children and adults could learn self-defense through martial arts training.  The name “Real World Martial Arts” was adopted because of Mr. Spoon’s philosophy that training is pointless unless it is applicable in a “real world” situation.   Therefore the techniques taught at RWMA are realistic, easy to learn, and have been proven effective by many government agencies including the U.S. military.

RWMA/Rutledge Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is proud to be one of only 4 affiliate locations in Tennessee for the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association. RWMA is under the direct guidance of Knoxville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.   

Mr. Spoon holds a Black Belt in the Shaolin system of Kung Fu and has trained in Tai Chi, Pa Qua, Hsing I, and Chin Na, for 20+ years.  Realizing the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in real world situations, Tim began training with the PSBJJA in early 2007. 

Since 1992 Tim has offered professional martial arts training to the residents of Grainger County.   If you are serious about learning martial arts and developing the ability to defend yourself in any situation, no matter your age, gender, or physical size, then RWMA has a program for you!

Tim and his family are members of Corryton Church and would like to issue a standing invitation for anyone who would like to visit and see what Corryton Church has to offer.  You may check it out on the web at:
http://www.corrytonchurch.com/

Professor Pedro Sauer
Certified 7th Degree Red/Black Belt Instructor under Rickson Gracie.

Personal History

Professor Pedro Sauer was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where from an early age, he began training in the martial arts. At age five, he began boxing and later took up judo and taekwondo. At age fifteen, however, his friend, Rickson Gracie, invited him to train jiu-jitsu with his younger brother, Royler, who at the time was only nine years old. The outcome of this experience convinced him that jiu-jitsu was the most effective of all the martial arts, and he began training the very next day.

Pedro worked towards a double major (Economics and Business Administration) in college, and took post graduation course at Fundacao Getulio Vargas. He worked in Brazil as a stockbroker for eleven years before deciding to move to the United States and pursue a career teaching jiu-jitsu. In 1990, he moved to California with the original wave of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors. He lived in California with Rickson Gracie and trained daily with the Gracie brothers (Rickson, Rorion, and Royce), their father, Helio Gracie, their cousin, Renzo Gracie, and the Machado Brothers, as well as many others. In December of that same year, he moved to Utah where he has lived for the past eight years, pioneering brazilian jiu-jitsu in the American southwest.

Certifications

• 1985 - Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Helio and Rickson Gracie
• 1986 - Tecnico de Jiu-Jitsu. This is a special certificate given in recognition of superior technical mastery of the art of jiu-jitsu, given to only a handful of students by Helio Gracie.
• 1990 - Certified Black Belt Instructor by Robson Gracie and the Federacao de Jiu-Jitsu
• Black Belt Judo
• 1993 - 3rd Degree Black Belt from Rorion Gracie
• 1996 - Level 6 Instructor Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Rorion and Royce Gracie)
• 2000 - 5th Degree Black Belt under the Federacao de Jiu-Jitsu
• 2003 - 6th Degree Black Belt

Teaching Experience

Pedro Earned his Black Belt from Helio and Rickson in 1985. Long recognized for the superior technical efficiency of his jiu-jitsu, he then began his career as an instructor in 1986 when asked to teach with an organization known in Brazil as Corpo/Quatro (Body of Four) where he taught and continued his training under renowned jiu-jitsu instructors Alvaro Barreto (who is a red belt master under Helio Gracie).

After moving to Utah in December of 1990, he taught as one of only two non-Gracie black belts under the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (run by Rorion and Royce Gracie). In October of 1996, he became an official representative Black Belt Instructor under the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association.

Currently, Pedro resides in Virginia where he instructs at One Spirit Martial Arts and at Jeff Gordon's Self Defense Academy.  He also has several affiliated schools across the country, and he visits them on a regular basis to give intensive instruction to the students and instructors. He is one of the most highly sought after instructors in the U.S. (of any martial discipline) and has presented hundreds of public seminars around the nation.

Military and Law Enforcement Agencies:

Pedro works extensively with military groups in Virginia, including the Marines and various groups from the Navy SEAL teams (including the snipers). He has also trained FBI and CIA agents in Texas. SWAT teams in Colorado and Utah. Also in Utah, Pedro has trained the police in Provo, Orem, DARE officers, the Sheriffs department in Salt Lake City, POST (Police Officer's Standard Training) in SLC, and also the Orem Fire Department.

Pedro's skill, confidence, and fearlessness as a jiu-jitsu practitioner win him the respect of all that work with him. However, it is through his sincere personality, his passion for teaching, and his ability to transfer his skills to his students in an efficient and professional manner, that he has earned the loyalty of students across the nation, and has established himself as one of the premiere military and law enforcement instructors in the U.S.