Our Team
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Tim Dawson
Black Belt – Head Instructor
Tim Dawson
Coach Tim Dawson is an enthusiastic competitor who teaches structured, high-intensity classes to students interested in improving their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). His high-energy coaching arms students with a powerful and fluid style that melds both offensive and defensive techniques for sport BJJ. A lifelong competitor, Coach Tim has decades of experience preparing himself and his athletes by focusing intently on technical development in addition to building the strength, speed, flexibility, and mental toughness needed for success in high level competition.
Coach Tim is an IBJJF certified 2nd Degree Black Belt in BJJ under the late Dave “The Rock” Jacobs, an east-coast BJJ legend, and has competed frequently and successfully since 2010. Coach Tim is also a strong believer in wrestling as a powerful tool to attain positional dominance in sport BJJ and his classes always include wrestling to ensure High Noon students are able to fight effectively from any position. As Head Instructor of High Noon, Coach Tim has put athletes on the podium at Nogi Pans, Nogi Worlds, ADCC Open, ADCC Trials, and countless local competitions. If you’re interested in high level competition, Coach Tim can help you succeed.
Abbreviated Credentials
- 2x IBJJF World Master Champion
- 2025 Nogi Pan Champion
- 2x IBJJF Nogi Pan Silver Medalist
- 2x IBJJF World Nogi Medalist
- 5x IBJJF NY Open Champion
- 2x IBJJF DC Open Champion
- F2W Pro Winner
- WKA Amateur MMA National Champion (2014)
Maia Matalon
Black Belt – Kids Program Director
Maia Matalon
With a background in high school wrestling, Coach Maia started training BJJ in California in 2009. In 2013 Maia moved to train under Ryan and Jen Hall at Fifty/50 Martial Arts, earning her black belt in 2017. An avid competitor at the colored belts, Coach Maia ran into a series of injuries that benched her from the competition mats and became an opportunity to grow as a BJJ coach. Coach Maia enjoys teaching all levels of BJJ, but you’ll find her most often teaching the High Noon Kids; her passion has always been encouraging the smallest grapplers to learn confidence and resilience through BJJ.
Competition Highlights:
Black Belt
ADCC East Coast Trials Champion +65kg (2025)
IBJJF Nogi World Super Heavyweight Bronze Medalist (2025)
IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Con Super Heavy Champion (2025)
IBJJF Virginia Open Absolute Champion (7/21/24)
Brown Belt
IBJJF World Absolute 3rd Place (5/30/15)
IBJJF World Heavyweight Champion (5/30/15)
Purple Belt:
IBJJF No-Gi World Heavyweight Champion (10/4/14)
IBJJF No-Gi Pan American Absolute Champion (9/27/14)
IBJJF Pan American Championship Absolute Champion (3/14/14)
IBJJF Pan American Championship Heavyweight Champion (3/14/14)
Blue Belt
IBJJF World Championship Heavyweight Champion 2010
IBJJF World Championship Absolute Champion 2010
Coach Leah
Black Belt – Senior Instructor
Coach Leah
Coach Leah has been training BJJ in the DC area since 2010, earning her purple and brown belts from David “The Rock” Jacobs. In October 2020, Leah received her black belt from High Noon’s head coaches, Tim Dawson and Matt Miller. During that time frame, she has competed at all of the colored belt levels, medaling at multiple tournaments, including IBJJF Masters Worlds, IBJJF DC Open, IBJJF New York Open, and many local U.S. Grappling tournaments. Leah especially enjoys teaching and coaching newer grapplers, helping them to learn how to train and aiding them in starting their own competitive journeys.
Graham Smith
Black Belt – Instructor
Graham Smith
Coach Graham started training in January 2014, spending four years training under the late David “The Rock” Jacobs, a BJJ legend on the east coast. After The Rock passed in 2018, Graham continued under his lineage with Coaches Tim and Matt – both David Jacobs black belts – at High Noon BJJ.
He earned his brown belt in April 2021, followed by his black belt in 2023, and focuses on improving in all facets of grappling while assisting with the development of the High Noon team. Coach Graham has also competed in many local and IBJJF tournaments, most notably the IBJJF DC and Atlanta Opens.
Nick Coviello
Black Belt – Instructor
Nick Coviello
Nick (He/Him) is a dedicated martial artist who began his training at 12 years old. He discovered Jiu-Jitsu in college, earning his blue belt while pursuing his studies. Post-graduation, Nick transitioned to teaching martial arts full-time in Easton, MD, and later moved to D.C. in 2018 to pursue a higher echelon of training. By 2025 Nick completed his journey to Black Belt under Tim Dawson at High Noon. He looks forward to competing teaching, and being an ambassador for the sport.
Christian Bergara
Black Belt – Instructor
Christian Bergara
Originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, Christian has been honing his craft in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2014. His dedication to the art led him to join High Noon in 2022, where he continued to refine his skills and, in 2023, earned his Brown Belt under the guidance of Tim and Matt.
A true globetrotter, Christian embraces travel as an opportunity to train with diverse practitioners across the world, expanding his knowledge and sharpening his techniques. His competitive spirit has earned him podium finishes in multiple IBJJF Opens as well as numerous local tournaments.
Beyond competition, Christian is passionate about teaching. He thrives on breaking down fundamental concepts to express advanced techniques, making Jiu-Jitsu accessible and intuitive for students of all levels.
Brandon Ramos
Purple Belt – Wrestling Instructor
Brandon Ramos
- 2x Preseason Nationals Placewinner
- 4x State Qualifier
- Round of 12 at Freestyle Nationals