Our Team
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Chris Round
Yodan – Judo Program Director
Chris Round
Chris Round has taught judo for the better part of two decades. A black belt under 2x Olympic Coach and World Champion Jimmy Pedro, he underwent several years of instructor training before branching out to lead several programs. Chris has previously taught for Fenix Fight Club, Sport Judo, and ran the Indiana University Judo Club. After teaching at Pedro’s Judo Center, he went onto apprentice under Dr. Rhadi Ferguson and assisted in developing scouting reports for members of the 2016 US Olympic Team and 2019 US World Team. He has worked with elite athletes in judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and MMA. He holds the ranks of Yodan in judo, black belt in BJJ under Rhadi Ferguson, and is certified as an international level coach under USA Judo. Currently, Chris actively coaches US athletes on the International Judo Federation World Tour, has coached severeal Senior National and US Open champions, and has led High Noon Judo to the national title in both 2024 and 2025.
As a competitor, Chris was a mainstay on the US Elite national roster for sixteen years. He was ranked as high 4th in the United States as a senior player, 2nd as a junior player, and was the number one ranked veterans player in the 30-35 year old division. He has finished several times in the top 8 at major tournaments like the Senior National Championships, US Open and Presidents Cup. He was a collegiate national finalist, U20 Junior National Champion, and a club level training partner for members of four Olympic teams.
Alex Painter
Nidan – Judo Instructor
Alex Painter
Alex Painter competed at the senior level successfully for roughly a decade, and currently is a successful national-level competitor at the veterans level. He completed 2022 as the number one ranked person in his division and has medals at the national championships, US Open, and President’s Cup. Alex has years of experience as a competitor and coach across multiple sports, including freestyle wrestling. Of note, he has spent many years working with kids where he has been able to harness his past experience as an academic teacher. His varied athletic background has enabled him to bring in a variety of perspectives for how he teaches.
Heidi Holz
Shodan – Judo Instructor
Heidi Holz
Heidi Holz began judo in her late 30s but is passionate about judo and progressed quickly. In 2022 she was named the USJA female veteran competitor of the year and was number one in her division on the USA Judo national roster. Heidi is currently a shodan under Sensei Chris Round. She has traveled all over the United States supporting competitors and has coached at the US senior national championships. She enjoys working with all levels of judoka but specializes in working with adult beginners and kids.
Jordan Stone
Sandan – Judo Instructor
Jordan Stone
Jordan has been a judo practitioner his entire life. His father is a 5th degree black belt and would often bring him and his brothers to train every week at the various clubs he organized. In addition to Judo, he wrestled for many years. Right after high school, he joined the Marine Corps where he helped with the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and competed with the Armed Forces Judo Team. Jordan is currently a Brown Belt in BJJ and a 3rd degree black belt – Sandan – in Judo.
Jordan has won the Maryland Open, Virginia Open, Keystone state games, Takemori Open, Ken Tamai Open multiple times. He has also placed 9th at the Senior Nationals, 3rd place at the Liberty Bell International Open, and 1st place at the AM-CAN International Open. In BJJ he has won the NY Open (blue belt), COPA NOVA, Silver at the DC Open (purple belt), and various other tournaments.
Nathan Whitney
Nidan – Judo Instructor
Nathan Whitney
Nathan began practicing Judo in college at age 19 and has dedicated a decade to consistent training. While achieving bronze at the brown belt national championships, he has developed a passion for the detailed mechanics of judo techniques. He specializes in working with adult beginner and intermediate judoka, focusing on building strong technical foundations. Nathan’s analytical approach to teaching helps students understand not just how techniques work, but why they work, making complex movements accessible to practitioners at all levels.