PHIL HARKER
Owner/Head Coach
Aka “Coach Phil” is a Black Belt under Jim and Dylan Whyte. He has been involved in combat sports for most of his adult life. His journey began with high school wrestling that quickly transitioned into a full-time jiu-jitsu commitment at Renzo Gracie Weston in South Florida. After high school, he brought his talents to Tallahassee to attend FSU and begin a career in Amateur MMA. He represented Capital City Combat Club (Josh Samman) banner in a few fights in the Combat Night Promotion before returning to full-time Jiu Jitsu. Professionally he works as a Head Coach at Orangetheory® and is a Personal Trainer at Premier Health & Fitness Center. He has done over 4,000+ classes and Personal training sessions and uses that experience while teaching on the mats. Coach Phil’s style of teaching is easily digestible by all skill levels. His attention to detail and high energy create a safe and successful experience for all Higher Performance students.
BRETT HOTCHKISS
Coach
Coach Brett has trained in various martial arts during his lifetime from TKD (Tae Kwon Do) to MCMAP (Marine Corp Martial Arts Program), as well as wrestling, kickboxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). He has also dabbled in various others. He started his journey in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) in September of 2018. He is currently a Brown Belt under Phil Harker of Higher Performance Jiu Jitsu.Brett manages our Cairo location and is a fulltime firefighter with the City of Cairo Fire Department since 2017.
BRAD HOARD
No Gi Wrestling Coach
Coach Brad Hoard started wrestling in 1982 at North Davie MS in North Carolina and has coached and competed ever since. Brad specializes in utilizing height and leverage from all positions of wrestling. His coaching style is hard-nosed with a strong focus on details and persistence. Brad is a 3x time World Jiu Jitsu Champion (IBJJF) and a Purple Belt under Phil Harker.
MALIK
Coach
Coach Malik bounced around between Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Boxing throughout grade school as a way to alleviate discipline problems and to deal with the everyday violence of the bad neighborhoods he grew up in. He returned to martial arts in 2021 as a way to rekindle the discipline in his life and to find a physical outlet. With a competitive drive and an aggressive, submission hunting style he earned a purple belt in just three years while traveling the country racking up dozens of podium placements. Coach Malik's goal is to provide a deep understanding of the how's and why's so that his students can create their own style while ensuring they understand the rulesets that may apply to his competitors.
CALEB LAKIN
Coach Caleb may be young in his jiu jitsu journey but he brings a unique blend of discipline, recent mat experience, and
focused intensity that makes him a great mentor for younger students. He emphasizes persistence, defense and self control all while teaching easy-to-digest steps. He is patient with slower learners and firm with those who lack focus.
SAMANTHA HARKER
COO/Coach
Coach Sam is Coach Phil's better half and Chief Operating Officer of Higher Performance. Phil introduced Sam to jiu-jitsu and she quickly grew to love training and being part of the community.
Sam serves as an assistant coach for the kids' program and is mom to mascot, Bentley the golden retriever. Sam strives to create a welcoming enviroment for everyone, especially the women and girls trying jiu-jitsu for their first time. Whether she's assisting in class or creating jiu-jitsu content, Sam is passionate about promoting a family-friendly space where everyone feels part of the team.
BENTLEY
Mascot
Bentley is Higher Performance's unofficial mascot and Chief Dog Officer (CDO). He oversees daily operations, morale, and snack-related security. He monitors students' progress and loves attention from the kids, especially. Bentley is currently working toward earning his golden belt after years of consistent training. Challenge him to a match, but prepare to get dogged.