Neil "The Ground Marshal" Melanson is one of the most sought after ground fighting coaches in the world, due to his intense and relentless grappling style and paramount fighting techniques. As a Hayastan Grappler, Neil trained under "Judo" Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and received his black belt from Karo "The Heat" Parisyan.
At Hayastan, Neil learned this hybrid art of grappling that focuses on the use of neck and leg locks. Neil is well known as a master of the guard and has developed many different guard systems such as K-control, shoulder pin series, Irish collar, and others. Not only do guard players seek Neil out to learn and master the guard, but top game players do as well. Neil has made a name for himself as the man to see to learn how to beat the guard. He teaches an MMA style of grappling that focuses on protecting the head from strikes along with the practical application of the turtle in MMA.
Neil has trained champion fighters such as Randy Couture, Gray Maynard, Frank Trigg, Vitor Belfort, Michael Chandler, Chael Sonnen, and others, to become a legend in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
Much of Neil's time is spent at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada, but he also travels throughout the country to teach seminars.
Marshal D. Carper grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania running from bullies and playing video games. Now, much to the surprise of his family, his former bullies, and himself, he trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Pedro Sauer black belt Sonny Achille and writes about fighting. In addition to being the Editor-in-Chief of Lockflow.com, Marshal has been published in Ultimate MMA Magazine, Fight! Magazine, and the Escapist. He is also the author of Cauliflower Chronicles: A Grappler's Tale of Self-Discovery and Island Living, and coauthor of Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Marcelo Garcia and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Open Guard with BJ Penn.
Lance Freimuth is a writer, editor, and photographer who lives in Las Vegas, NV. He also teaches grappling at Xtreme Couture, one of the most highly respected MMA gyms in the world.