Our Instructors

Paul Moresi

Paul is the owner and head instructor of Ralph Gracie BJJ Bend Oregon. He is a Black Belt under Ralph Gracie.

Although it may seem that Paul is young to be the owner of a Gracie BJJ academy, his close association with Ralph Gracie, and his wealth of experience within the Ralph Gracie academies have positioned him to be perfectly suited for this special opportunity.

Paul was born in the Bay Area of San Francisco and at the age of 15 became the neighbor of Ralph Gracie, and a close family friend. Despite watching the Gracies train in their garage and being persistently requested to participate with them to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Paul was too involved in other teenage sports (football, racing motocross) to accept such a generous offer.

He went off to Chabot college and played defensive back for the football team. At 23, he returned home and began to seriously train with Ralph Gracie. He found a deep love for the sport, and with a focused intent rose through the belt levels to become a coveted Gracie brown belt. During that period he competed successfully at the highest levels of competition. In 2015, Paul was honored to be awarded his black belt directly by Ralph Gracie.

Desiring to further his education, he chose to enter Oregon State University Cascade Campus for his business degree. Bend Oregon was a perfect fit as his mother’s family had long ties to Oregon and the wealth of outdoor activities that Bend offered were compelling.

Paul’s depth of experience at the highest levels, and the intimate education provided by an icon of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has made him not only qualified to share that with the Bend community, but gifted at transmitting that knowledge to all levels of participation.

Andrew Winge

Andrew is a Ralph Gracie jiu-jitsu Black Belt who has been training BJJ for over 15 years. He is a former Air Force officer and practicing Emergency Medicine physician.

Andrew began training while stationed in Idaho and continued training despite frequent moves and overseas deployments. After separating from the Air Force, Andrew moved to Central Oregon to be closer to his family. In 2013 Andrew began training with Paul Moresi. Andrew enjoys sharing jiu-jitsu with new students as a way to improve confidence, persistence, physical fitness, and resiliency.

Matt Juarez

Matt Juarez is a Ralph Gracie jiu-jitsu Black Belt who started his jiu-jitsu journey in his late 20’s back in 1998 and trained with a close friend who was a local MMA fighter in mostly no-gi tactics. Boxing was always his go to growing up and he was instantly hooked on the effectiveness of jiu-jitsu. After a few years of casual training with friends, he connected with Paul in 2014 and began to dedicate his time to learning Jiu Jitsu. Their common interests in Jiu Jitsu and hunting forged a tight bond and became a strong mentorship through training.

Matt earned his brown belt from Paul in early 2021 and assists in instructing the adult classes. His goal is to provide clear instruction with the fundamentals of strong, positional Jiu Jitsu while helping each student develop their individual styles. He emphasizes the context of the moves and the reason for each detail so everyone on the mat understands why it’s needed and how a move can be used as well as expanded upon. Matt always tries to maintain a humble approach to jiu-jitsu simply because there’s so much to learn and the possibilities are virtually endless.  If Matt is not on the mat, he’s usually with his family taking care of their farm, out on the river fly fishing or archery elk hunting.

Orell Moreno

Orell is a seasoned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who has been dedicated to the art since 2009. He earned his black belt under the renowned Carlson Gracie Jr. while living and training in Los Angeles. With extensive competition experience, Orell has competed in prestigious tournaments such as the IBJJF, NABJJF, and numerous local competitions, showcasing his skill and commitment to the sport throughout his career. Prior to moving to Central Oregon, he was an instructor at Carlson Gracie Paramount, where he shared his expertise and passion for BJJ with students of all levels.

Kristopher Morgan

Kris is currently a Ralph Gracie jiu-jitsu Brown Belt under Paul Moresi. He began to train under Paul in 2013. “Training at Ralph Gracie BJJ has improved my overall health, mental toughness, and the opportunity to compete. I started training BJJ when I was 21 years old due to the fact that I was a fan of martial arts and wanted to become knowledgeable in self defense. I enjoy training at our gym because I have been able to compete under Paul Moresi for 6 years now. Which has lead me to meet great people in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community around the country and understand what it take to become Brazilian jiu jitsu competitor”. Kris has helped with our kids program creating an environment where they are being challenged physically and mentally. He has focused on simple instruction of the fundamentals to encourage discipline, focus, and confidence. This makes classes fun and exciting adding elements for our kids to learn that brings out their full potential.

Steve Kaneda

Steve Kaneda’s (or Captain Steve) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) journey started in 2009 under Roy Dean in Bend. He is currently a Brown Belt under Paul Moresi.

“I was looking for something that would supplement my workouts while being off duty as a firefighter. What I found in BJJ was so much more. The intense workout, its effectiveness, and the camaraderie that accompanied the art fascinated me. I was hooked immediately.

In 2014 the Roy Dean Academy closed its doors and I transitioned to training under Paul. My passion continued, and my understanding of the art deepened. I currently hold a brown belt under Paul, and am honored to share my love of this martial art. I enjoy fostering a fun, technical and welcoming environment for every student at every class.

I am now retired from the fire service and get to focus all my attention on my family, the BJJ gym, fly fishing, and golf.”