FOUNDER & HEAD COACH

Thanks for checking out KANU. Here’s a little about me and the path that brought me here. I started training jiu-jitsu at 10th Planet Montreal under Louis Ho, Canada’s first 10th Planet black belt. After earning my purple belt, I moved to Montreal to train full-time at Tristar Gym, where I lived in the dorms and trained under Coach Firas Zahabi. Eventually, I made my way to Toronto and began seeking out the best no-gi training I could find. It wasn’t long before I started teaching as well, coaching at Primal MMA, Yorkdale Martial Arts and United Boxing Club. In 2019, I received my brown belt from Professor Marco Costa.

Near the end of 2021, I finally had the opportunity to realize a dream that had started 13 years earlier: opening a gym with my brother, Freestyle Dojo.

I spent the next four and a half years running Freestyle as a brown belt. Together, we built a successful competition team, but what I’m most proud of is the community of martial artists that grew around it. During those years, I spent thousands of hours teaching, training, competing and continuing to develop my own jiu-jitsu. I eventually received my black belt from Kieran Kichuk, one of the best grapplers to come out of Canada.

Now, in 2026, it’s time for the next chapter. KANU Martial Arts is the culmination of everything I’ve learned through years of training, competing, coaching and running a gym. Jiu-jitsu, and martial arts more broadly, never stops evolving. I want KANU to be a place that evolves with it. My focus is simple: provide the highest level of instruction and training we can, while building a room where people can find community, connection and lifelong friendships. Whether your goal is to compete, learn jiu-jitsu, challenge yourself or simply find something you love doing, there should be a place for you here.

Martial arts has given me much more than I ever imagined when I first stepped onto the mats. I believe it can do the same for you. Show up. Train smart. Be kind.

JIU-JITSU COACH

Jesse brings 17 years of no-gi grappling experience to Kanu, combining a strong technical foundation with a deep understanding of how the sport continues to evolve. His approach blends proven fundamentals with modern training methods, helping students build both skill and adaptability.

As a coach, Jesse tailors his teaching to the needs of each individual and the team as a whole. While technical instruction and repetition remain important, he also incorporates games, positional challenges, and constraints-based training to encourage problem-solving, creativity, and real-world application.

Jesse offers structured private lessons designed around clear goals and measurable progress. By tracking development between sessions, he helps students not only understand techniques but also build the ability to consistently execute them under pressure.

His goal is simple: to share the knowledge, skills, and lessons he has gained throughout his grappling journey, helping every student become a more capable, confident, and adaptable grappler.

STRIKING COACH

I started martial arts in France 28 years ago with Judo and Traditional Jiu-Jitsu before spending 10 years training Shidokan Karate, a full-contact style, under Sensei Gilles Richard. Along the way, I added Muay Thai and boxing and had the opportunity to continue my training in the United States and China with coaches including Rodrigo Alamos, Ajarn Jeremy Wijers and Paul Clemit.

Competition became a major part of that journey. I competed in approximately 30 fights across three continents and reached the podium at the French Open four years in a row.

As I gained experience, I gradually moved into coaching, helping with classes and preparing professional boxers for competition. That taught me an important lesson: being a good fighter and being a good coach are two very different skills. Today, my focus is on teaching well.

My PhD explored how people learn and remember, and that experience has influenced the way I approach coaching. I believe skills are developed through repetition, progression and eventually applying what you've learned under pressure. Rather than teaching something once and moving on, we revisit techniques throughout our training cycles and introduce them in different drills, combinations and situations.

My striking classes are rooted primarily in Muay Thai, while incorporating lessons from the different martial arts I've trained throughout my career. Classes combine technical instruction, partner work, pads and bag work, controlled live training and conditioning, with each week built around a specific skill or concept.

Whether you're stepping into a striking class for the first time or you've competed before, my goal is the same: help you understand what you're doing, develop the skill to use it, and keep getting better over time.

STRIKING COACH

Andrew Oppedisano brings over a decade of Muay Thai experience to Kanu, having trained under Kru Ryan James at Richmond Hill Muay Thai. His classes are rooted in authentic Muay Thai fundamentals, with a strong emphasis on technical development, conditioning, and disciplined training.

Known for creating a positive and energetic training environment, Andrew balances a serious approach to learning with a fun and engaging atmosphere. He challenges students to push their limits while ensuring training remains enjoyable and rewarding.

WRESTLING COACH

David brings more than 30 years of martial arts experience to Kanu, with a journey that began in wrestling at the age of eight and led to becoming a Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion in Mexico. His extensive background is complemented by his Ikkyu rank in Judo, with Shodan on the horizon, and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt.

David's coaching philosophy centers on developing complete martial artists who are equally capable standing and on the ground. Drawing from decades of competition and training experience, he emphasizes strong fundamentals, technical precision, and the ability to think tactically in live situations.

In his classes, students learn more than techniques. David focuses on building confidence, resilience, and the mindset needed to overcome challenges both on and off the mat. His instruction combines discipline, strategy, and practical application to help students grow into well-rounded grapplers and martial artists.

His goal is to help every student master the art of combat through balanced development, technical excellence, and a lifelong commitment to learning.

ASSISTANT KIDS COACH

Hi, I’m Ava, one of the kids Jiu-Jitsu coaches at KANU! I’m really excited to start this journey with you and your kids. I’ve been training Jiu-Jitsu for four years and have competed at ADCC events and other competitions. I’m also qualified in First Aid and lifesaving, and I’ve spent more than a year teaching Jiu-Jitsu to kids.

I genuinely love working with young students. For me, coaching is about more than teaching techniques. I want to help kids build their skills, grow their confidence and become more comfortable challenging themselves on the mats. Most importantly, I want our classes to be a place where kids enjoy learning, feel supported and look forward to coming back each week.

I can’t wait to meet everyone and start training together. See you on the mats!

ASSISTANT KIDS COACH

Hi, I’m Gardner, one of the kids Jiu-Jitsu coaches at KANU. I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 10 years. I started in Professor Marco Costa’s gi program with my first coach, Josh Sequeira, who helped me develop my love for the sport. As I became more focused on no-gi, I began training with Coach Mike Romano and have continued learning from him ever since. Competition has also been a big part of my training. I’m a three-time Provincial Champion and have competed regularly over the years.

Mike has been a great mentor and supporter, and I’m excited to start coaching alongside him. I want to help our younger students build confidence, discipline and strong Jiu-Jitsu skills while keeping training fun, safe and supportive.

I look forward to seeing you on the mats!