Mike Giannone

Head instructor/owner of Impact MMA

Kru Mike has been training in the art of Muay Thai for 10 plus years. He started teaching kid classes in 2009 and adult classes in 2011. He also trains the fight team which spars on Wednesday and Friday nights. In 2009, he fought his first amateur fight in which he won, along with receiving the fight of the night award. He has 9 amateur fights for a 6-2 record in Muay Thai with 3 Knockout’s and a 1-0 record in MMA. He won the 2013 amateur title under warriors cup fight production with a 30second knockout. In 2017, Kru Mike acquired Impact Martial Arts Academy in Wall, NJ and opened a second gym in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ in 2018.

Specialties: Strength and conditioning, self defense, team building, off season training

Eddie “The Anaconda” Lopez

Jiu-Jitsu Coach / Muay Thai Instructor / Co- Owner of Impact MMA

Coach Eddie has been persistently training in Martial Arts for over a decade. He began his journey under Master Jose DeLeon currently of Satori Academy but formerly of Art Beins Karate back in 2008. After a couple of years, Eddie was introduced to the discipline of Muay Thai at Impact Muay Thai. In 2011, Eddie joined Team Fusion at Tony Silva’s Fusion Martial Arts in Jackson, NJ and his love for grappling grew. After competing in his first Naga tournament he decided to take his jiu-jitsu training to the next level. Eddie has competed and placed in various Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and has flown to Brazil for the “Brazil Summer Camp” intensive training in Salvador Bahia for multiple years. He considers himself “always a student”. Eddie has helped coach and prepare different fighters for both Muay Thai / MMA & Jiu-Jitsu matches. In 2018 Eddie partnered with Kru Mike and he is now the Program & Marketing Director at Impact. Also, he coaches our beginner Jiu-Jitsu classes, & is an Associate Muay Thai instructor. Eddie is still currently training under Kru Mike Giannone, Coach Fernando Cabeça, Master Jose DeLeon, & Coach Shamus Hodnett.

Fernando “Cabeça” Sarmento JR

Head Jiu-Jitsu Coach/ 5th degree black belt

Fernando Sarmento began his training in 1987 in Salvador Bahia, Brazil. In 1990, he moved to Rio where he trained in many Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Judo schools. In 1997, Fernando came to the United States and taught at the Machado academy under the tutelage of Rigan Machado. He was awarded his Brown Belt in 1998 from Nilton Ferreira and his Black Belt in November of 2001. He is now a 5th degree black belt. Nilton Ferreira's Academy is located in Salvador, Brazil. Fernando is both a Brazilian State and National Champion. Fernando also won the 2005 NAGA Instructor of the Year award. Professor Sarmento continues to pass on his knowledge every day. He is teaching every Monday at 8:15pm.

Steve Garcia

Muay Thai Instructor

Steve has been a student at Impact since the end of 2013 and received his black arm band in 2018. Throughout his time at Impact, Steve assisted Kru Mike by training and sparring with him for his fights. He has had an interest in sports and fitness since he was young. He was part of the track team in high school and baseball team in college. In 2005, he began focusing on strength training and still incorporates that into his routine today.

Missy Russoman

Muay Thai/Ladies Kickboxing Instructor

An athlete all of her life, Missy discovered the art of Muay Thai in 2002 where she instantly acquired a passion for it. She started her training journey and received her Black Armband under Kru James Wellington, and trained in NYC at The Wat under Master Phil Nurse. Missy became a Personal Trainer at Crunch Fitness, NYC and began her own Muay Thai program and classes at several of the NY Crunch locations. She then started instructing at Impact Muay Thai with Kru Thomas Dowd and Tracy Thompson, in addition to teaching the sport at various other sports clubs. She had her first Muay Thai fight and win in 2010 and currently stands with a record of 2-0. Missy continues to train and instruct Muay Thai, Boxing and Bootcamp classes, and will further attain Yoga and Pilates certifications. She offers private training in these martial art genres and fitness beyond. 

China Battista-Weiss

Yoga Instructor

China Battista, a Registered Yoga Instructor 200 with Yoga Alliance, has practiced yoga on and off the mat for many years. As a Nurse Practitioner,  her extensive knowledge of the human body and how it heals, has brought an additional layer to her Yoga practice and Teachings. China has studied yoga philosophy and received her 200 hour certification at Yoga Peace Kula, under the direction of Summer Quashie and Jerry and Yulady Saluti. She is a Reiki Master, and has studied complementary healing modalities.  Her interest in different practices of Martial arts, and fighting styles has brought a unique spin on the yoga style she teaches., She specializes in the movement of Fighters, and Martial artists, and is dedicated to creating a practice to help connect the mind, body and spirit.

Style: Power Vinyasa with Alignment focus suitable for all levels and body types