ROB KAHN
Professor Rob Kahn
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pioneer
Professor Rob Kahn is a 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, elite coach, and combatives instructor whose martial arts career spans more than three decades.
Kahn began training under Royce Gracie in the mid-1990s and became Royce Gracie’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, establishing a direct lineage to the Gracie family. He also won the 1995 New York State Golden Gloves and competed professionally in MMA, finishing with an undefeated 2–0 record.
After moving to Florida, Kahn founded Gracie Tampa and became known for his practical No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu systems for submission grappling, MMA, self-defense, and real-world combat. His students have competed at the highest levels, including the UFC and ADCC, while many have gone on to become black belts and instructors themselves.
Kahn has also served as a Head Combatives Instructor for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and SOCCENT and has provided defensive-tactics training for law enforcement.
Combining boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, coaching, and military combatives experience, Professor Rob Kahn has become an important figure in the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in Florida, leaving a lasting impact through the fighters, instructors, and martial artists he has trained.
TWO LEGENDS. ONE
TEAM. ONE MISSION.
Amir Ardebily & Professor Rob Kahn Join Forces at Amir Academy
Two Florida MMA Hall of Famers have joined forces at Amir Academy of Martial Arts.
Amir Ardebily brings more than 50 years of martial arts experience and over 40 years of teaching, with expertise in kickboxing, full-contact fighting, MMA, self-defense, and combat instruction.
Professor Rob Kahn brings more than 30 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, MMA, grappling, and military combatives experience, including his historic lineage as Royce Gracie’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt.
Together, they combine elite striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to create a complete training environment for fighters of all levels.
At Amir Academy, athletes can develop skills in kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, BJJ, submissions, MMA, conditioning, strategy, and fight preparation.
A major focus is preparing the next generation of amateur MMA and kickboxing fighters for Battle of Tampa Bay, combining decades of experience to develop fighters physically, technically, strategically, and mentally.
This is more than two instructors sharing a gym. It is the joining of two martial arts legacies with one mission:
AMIR ARDEBILY & PROFESSOR ROB KAHN
Two Hall of Famers. One Team. One Academy. One Mission.
Build the next generation of fighters and champions.
AMIR ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS
Established 1985 • St. Petersburg, Florida
Home of Battle of Tampa Bay
