Gallery
9 photosCoach Kenny Johnson
Kenny Johnson is the head coach of Black House and the founder of BOLT Wrestling. He wrestled at the University of Iowa under Dan Gable, trained for six Olympic Games, and is one of 35 coaches worldwide certified at USA Wrestling's NECP Gold Level. He is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. His BOLT system applies wrestling to jiu-jitsu and MMA through a standardized curriculum and a progressive belt system. He teaches it at Black House Redondo Beach, through ten BOLT affiliate academies, and in seminars and camps across the U.S., Europe and the Bahamas. He has worked with BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, José Aldo, Alexander Volkov, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Paul Daley and Dan Inosanto, and coaches Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Tabatha Ricci, Piera Rodriguez, Kennedy Maciel, Jalen Fonacier and Mikey Musumeci in wrestling.
Associations
Kenny Johnson is taking seminar requests through JiuJitsuGyms. Send the details and Kenny Johnson will reply directly; dates, pricing and availability are confirmed with the instructor.
Official links for Kenny Johnson:
Achievements & Coaching
- University of Iowa wrestler under Dan Gable (1993)
- World, Pan Am and National champion in gi and no-gi
- 2x Pan Am champion
- USA Wrestling NECP Gold Level coach (1 of 35 worldwide)
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
- Founder of BOLT Wrestling (10 affiliate academies)
- Black House head coach and BOLT Wrestling founder
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
- Wrestled at the University of Iowa under Dan Gable (class of 1993)
- One of 35 coaches worldwide certified at USA Wrestling NECP Gold Level
- Trained for six Olympic Games
- World, Pan Am and National champion in gi and no-gi
- Two-time Pan Am champion
- Wrestling coach to BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, José Aldo and Alexander Volkov
- Also worked with Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Paul Daley and Dan Inosanto
- Annual BOLT Wrestling Elite camps, 2022–2025
- Seminar tours in Germany, Switzerland, the Bahamas and the U.S.
- Coaches Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Kennedy Maciel, Jalen Fonacier and Mikey Musumeci in wrestling
Year-round Redondo wrestling classes
Classes for coaches and athletes of all levels at Black House Redondo Beach, 2416 Artesia Boulevard.
Training informationSeminars and camps at your academy
Kenny teaches the BOLT Wrestling system at academies as one-day seminars or multi-day camps, with private training by arrangement. Use the request buttons above to send dates, location and expected attendance.
Training informationPrivate training
One-hour private sessions with Kenny at his gym, your gym or your home. BOLT Wrestling lists private sessions at $250 per hour.
Training informationBlack House MMA fight team
Invitation-only MMA training for amateur and professional fighters at Black House MMA in Gardena.
Training informationWeekly classes
Black House Redondo Beach, 2416 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA
- Monday · 5:00 PM · Wrestling
- Wednesday · 5:00 PM · Wrestling
BOLT Wrestling program at Black House Redondo Beach. Confirm times with the academy before visiting. Published schedule
BOLT Wrestling affiliate academies (10)
- Black House Redondo Beach · Redondo Beach, CA
- Black House MMA · Gardena, CA
- Saekson Muay Thai · Van Nuys, CA
- Montana Mixed Martial Arts · Bozeman, MT
- The Void Martial Arts · Austin, TX
- Fearless Fighting · Greenville, NC
- Empire Mixed Martial Arts · Nassau, The Bahamas
- Spirit Dojo · Nottingham, England
- Alliance Derby · Riddings, England
- TMA Kampfkunstschule · Würzburg, Germany
Checked 2026-10-08. Sources: BOLT biography, Redondo wrestling program, BOLT training, BOLT private training, BOLT affiliates, BOLT events, Redondo schedule, Black House coaches.
Key Accomplishments
- #2 UFC Heavyweight Division
- M-1 Global Heavyweight Champion 2016. Winner of two Grand Prix Bellator Fighting Championships (Heavyweight) 2012
- 2014. M-1 Eastern European tournament Runner-Up 2010
Key Accomplishments
- #11 UFC Featherweight Division
- Respect in the Cage and RFA featherweight champion
Key Accomplishments
- #8 UFC Women's Strawweight Division
- Judo black belt
- Jiu-Jitsu black belt
+ 1 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Middleweight Champion
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Bantamweight
Key Accomplishments
- 1x World Champion Gi 2026 (Rooster - 1st)
- 1x European Champion Gi 2026 (Rooster - 1st)
- 1x World Champion Gi 2025 (Rooster - 1st)
+ 8 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Women's Strawweight
Key Accomplishments
- 4x IBJJF World Champion Gi (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- 1x IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2016)
- 2x IBJJF European Champion (2017, 2020)
+ 4 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Featherweight Champion
- WEC Featherweight Champion
Key Accomplishments
- PRIDE Heavyweight Champion
- UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion
Key Accomplishments
- PRIDE and UFC Light Heavyweight
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Welterweight
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Women's Flyweight
Key Accomplishments
- IBJJF Hall of Fame Inductee
- 5x IBJJF World Champion (Gi)
- 4x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
+ 2 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- 2026 ADCC World Champion (Men -66 kg)
- IBJJF No-Gi World Champion
- ADCC Silver Medalist
+ 8 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- UFC Lightweight Champion
- UFC Welterweight Champion
Key Accomplishments
- #4 UFC Heavyweight Division
- I was Glory Kickboxing's simultaneous Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion. I defended my MW belt five times.
Key Accomplishments
- IBJJF Hall of Fame Inductee
- 10x IBJJF World Champion (Gi)
- 2005 ADCC Double-Gold Champion
+ 1 more accomplishments
Key Accomplishments
- Bellator Contender
- Elite Striker
2025
2024
- CampJul 13–19High Altitude - BOLT Wrestling CampFight Syndicate Big Bear · Big Bear Lake, CA
- CampJun 14–16Tough on Top - BOLT Wrestling Elite 2024 CampMira Costa High School · Manhattan Beach, CA
- CampJun 14–16Wrestle Like A Girl - BOLT Wrestling Elite 2024 CampMira Costa High School · Manhattan Beach, CA
2023
2022
- CampJun 17–19BOLT Wrestling Elite 2022 CampMira Costa High School · Manhattan Beach, CA
- SeminarJun 11No Gi Seminar Urban Self Defense | Kenny JohnsonUrban Jungle Self Defense · Houston, TX
- SeminarMay 21–22BOLT Wrestling Seminar | McGuin SouthbendMcGuin Academy Southbend · South Bend, IN
- SeminarMay 21–22BOLT Wrestling Seminar | McGuin VicksburgMcGuin Academy Vicksburg · Vicksburg, MI
- SeminarApr 23Wrestling for BJJFight Sports Bahamas · Nassau, The Bahamas
- SeminarMar 24–25From The Cradle To The GraveKöln, Germany
- SeminarMar 24–25Thema: Russian TieDortmund, Germany
2021
- SeminarNov 26Wrestling for Grappling and MMABlack Circus BJJ · Wuppertal, Germany
- SeminarNov 25Fight LoungeFight Lounge Bochum · Bochum, Germany
- SeminarNov 24–25Counters from the SprawlStrike Gym · Duisburg, Germany
- SeminarNov 23Bolt-Ringen mit Coach Kenny JohnsonMartial Arts Gym · Brunswick, Germany
- SeminarNov 22Kenpokan HannoverKenpokan · Hannover, Germany
- SeminarNov 18–21DREI Tages-SeminarNinja Mixed Martial Arts Academy · Pfyn, Switzerland
