About Rolling Bear BJJ

Built in
Kenilworth.

Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a community-first BJJ academy for kids, teens, and adults in Kenilworth, New Jersey. We teach practical Gi and No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Union County students who want stronger self-defense skills, better fitness, and a place to grow.

Exterior of Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 870 Boulevard in Kenilworth, New Jersey — Our home in Kenilworth **870 Boulevard · Suite 4**

Map showing Rolling Bear BJJ near Boulevard and the Garden State Parkway in Kenilworth

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Our story

From a small club
to a shared home.

Rolling Bear began as a small Jiu-Jitsu club offering two adult classes a week. Through consistent coaching and a committed team, it grew into a full-fledged Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Kenilworth. Today, kids, teens, and adults train Gi and No-Gi in a serious, welcoming room built around thoughtful coaching, high standards, and a community that supports one another on and off the mats.

Our instructors

Experience for
every stage.

From a child’s first class to advanced and competition training, our instructors bring technical knowledge, patient coaching, and a genuine investment in every student on the mats.

Professor Lydia Bergamasco, lead instructor at Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Professor Lydia Bergamasco competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

First Degree Black Belt

Professor Lydia (Coleman) Bergamasco

At the heart of Rolling Bear BJJ is Professor Lydia (Coleman) Bergamasco, our lead instructor and Teens coach. Professor Lydia began her Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2013 at UFC Gym Long Island and trained under some of the sport’s most respected figures, including Plinio Cruz, Fabio Clemente, and Marcelo Garcia. After moving to New Jersey, she earned her black belt in September 2022 under Professor Fiona Rupinski of Notorious MMA. She is also a brown belt in Judo out of Cranford JKC and an avid Judo competitor. Lydia is a multiple-time Worlds medalist and Pans Champion, bringing broad competition experience and passion to every class.

Professor Lydia Bergamasco competing in No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brown Belt

Coach Leo Bergamasco

Professor Lydia is joined by her husband, Leo Bergamasco, a dedicated brown belt who coaches Rolling Bear’s Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Cub Club II classes. Leo started training in 2018 under Dennis Melone in Ridgefield Park, NJ, and later trained with Kevin Sheridan at Sheridan BJJ before joining Professor Fiona Rupinski at Notorious MMA. With experience in teaching and competing, Leo continues his journey under the guidance of both Professor Fiona and Professor Lydia.

Coach Leo Bergamasco celebrating a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition victory

Brown Belt

Coach Tim Vargas

Tim has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 15 years, through moves, injuries, and life in between. At Rolling Bear, he coaches the Intermediate and Competition classes and serves as an assistant coach for Cub Club I. He earned his blue belt under Joe Scarola at Gracie Barra, purple belt under Magno Gama at Renzo Gracie Queens, and brown belt under Professor Lydia at Rolling Bear.

Schools he has called home include Renzo Gracie’s in NYC and Caio Terra’s in California. He has competed at regional tournaments in Gi and No-Gi, standard and submission-only formats, but is mainly a self-described hobbyist.

Tim lives in Cranford with his wife and two kids, works in health tech, and trains alongside his five-year-old daughter at Rolling Bear.

Coach Tim Vargas competing in No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Coach Tim Vargas training Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Blue Belt

Coach Ryan “Tree” Murphy

Ryan “Tree” Murphy brings over 16 years of coaching experience, primarily in rugby, working with athletes at every level—from preschool-aged children through adults. Tree holds a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration with a concentration in Coaching and Sports Administration, giving him a strong background in athlete development, leadership, and creating positive learning environments for students of all ages.

Tree has also trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on and off for over 10 years and currently holds the rank of blue belt. As Rolling Bear’s Cub Club I coach, he combines his coaching experience and passion for Jiu-Jitsu to help our youngest students develop strong fundamentals, confidence, discipline, and a love for being on the mats.

Black Belt / Wrestling Coach

Coach Walid Elashri

Coach Walid Elashri is Rolling Bear’s wrestling coach, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and an elite freestyle wrestler with more than 32 years of mat experience and 22 years of coaching. A former Egypt National Team member, he is an African and Arab Champion, multiple-time Egyptian National Champion, and two-time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion. Walid teaches high-level takedowns, pressure, control, and scrambles while also serving as an assistant wrestling coach at New Jersey City University and Kean University. He is also an ISSA-certified personal trainer.

Our lineage

Rooted in
world-class Jiu-Jitsu.

Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage

Rolling Bear’s modern lineage runs through Fight Club Jiu-Jitsu and Professor Marcio Bittencourt, a fifth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Judo black belt, former professional MMA fighter, and co-founder of Fight Club. Professor Fiona Rupinski, a third-degree black belt, accomplished IBJJF competitor, and owner and head instructor of Notorious MMA, continued that lineage in New Jersey and awarded Professor Lydia Bergamasco her black belt in September 2022. Today, Professor Lydia carries the technical depth, competitive standard, and resilient spirit of the Fight Club lineage into every class at Rolling Bear.

Our Kenilworth academy

A full facility
built for progress.

At the end of 2024, Rolling Bear moved into a larger academy at 870 Boulevard, Suite 4 in Kenilworth. The facility gives our Union County community more mat space, a dedicated weight room, and room to train, learn, and welcome new teammates.

870 Boulevard, Suite 4
Kenilworth, NJ 07033

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Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu facility in Kenilworth

Inside Rolling Bear Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Kenilworth

Inside the academyFront desk & training area

A look from our welcome desk into the main training space.

Welcome to Rolling BearLobby area

Our comfortable seating and check-in area beside the mats.

Member weight room

Build skill.
Build strength.

Rolling Bear members can use our dedicated weight room whenever the academy is open. Train before or after class—or during other open academy hours—to work on strength, conditioning, and general fitness in the same place you train Jiu-Jitsu.