Jake Johnston

In the summer of 1992, Jake’s journey into Gracie Jiu-Jitsu began with a simple order from a martial arts magazine - a set of VHS tapes that would change the course of his life. After reaching out to Rorion Gracie, Jake learned he could study in Torrance, Honolulu, or Provo. He chose Provo, leaving behind the rugged red rocks of Southern Utah to seek out Pedro Sauer. It took him nearly a year of near-misses and stubborn pursuit before he finally stood on the mat beside Pedro in the summer of 1993.

Before Jiu-Jitsu, Jake had spent eighteen months sharpening himself in Muay Thai. But a near-knockout by a giant Samoan and a humbling no-rules loss to a young Gracie Jiu-Jitsu student revealed the hard truth: there was a better way. Once under Pedro’s wing, Jake became the first "unlimited" student, training four hours a day, taking private lessons, and forging a lifelong friendship with his teacher.

In 2006, after years of relentless study, Jake earned his black belt alongside his teammate Lonnie Foster. He began teaching soon after, planting seeds that would grow into Gracie Zion in 2012 and, later, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu St. George. By 2022, Jake had left his career in architecture behind, investing everything into building a full-time academy with his family by his side.

Today, Jake’s style - smooth, playful, and efficient - carries the spirit of Helio Gracie and Pedro Sauer, but it has been Ryron Gracie, above all, who has most shaped the heart of Jake’s Jiu-Jitsu. At Gracie Jiu-Jitsu St. George, Jake teaches not just techniques but a way of life, built on patience, kindness, and quiet strength.

Casey Johnston

Casey Johnston was born with a light in him - the kind that draws folks near without ever asking them to come. From the time he was four years old, he followed his father, Jake Johnston, onto the mats, learning the old ways of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with the patience and spirit of a boy raised close to the earth.

He earned his yellow belt from Pedro Sauer himself, then his orange and green belts under Ryron and Rener Gracie. By fourteen, Casey wasn’t just a student anymore - he was standing beside his father, helping to run the classes at Gracie Zion, passing down the lessons of strength and kindness to the next generation.

In 2022, with a quiet sense of purpose, Casey became a fully Certified Instructor, standing shoulder to shoulder with the teachers who had shaped him. Today, he leads the Gracie Bullyproof program and helps teach Gracie Combatives, guiding students the way he was taught - with steadiness, care, and a heart full of the old truths.