Instructors

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda › Carlos Gracie › Helio Gracie › Rolls Gracie › Romero Cavalcanti › Mark Plavcan

Head BJJ Instructor

Mark Plavcan

Mark started martial arts at age 7, taking his first Judo class at a local Boys Club. He was immediately drawn to the grappling arts and began competing shortly after. Years later he saw the strength of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu firsthand watching Royce Gracie in the early UFCs, and went looking for somewhere to train it.

There were no real BJJ schools yet, so he traveled for seminars and competitions. He earned his blue belt in 2000 from Pedro Sauer and his purple belt in 2004. In 2009 he joined the Alliance BJJ team, received his brown belt in 2010, and his black belt in March 2013, both from the legendary Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti.

Mark has coached many MMA fighters, UFC veterans, and world champion BJJ competitors who seek out his knowledge. He is widely considered one of the best BJJ coaches in Wisconsin, and continues to train with the best practitioners in the world while growing the team here in Madison.

Accomplishments

• 2nd degree BJJ black belt under Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti and Alliance BJJ
• Head instructor for the Alliance BJJ team in Madison, WI
• Undefeated amateur and pro mixed martial arts record
• Coach to UFC veterans, Ultimate Fighter contestants, and BJJ world champions
• Alliance Certified Instructor Level 1 and 2, Kids BJJ, and No Gi
• 2016 IBJJF Atlanta Open Champion, gold medal, black belt
• 2017 IBJJF Pan American Championships, bronze medal, black belt
• 2023 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open, gold medal, black belt weight class
• 2023 IBJJF Master International, bronze medal, black belt weight class
• 20+ years of competition, training, and coaching experience

Head BJJ Instructor

Sonya Plavcan

Sonya's introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was almost accidental. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a degree in Chemical Engineering, she started teaching fitness classes on the side. Offered a Cardio Kickboxing slot and unwilling to teach something she did not fully understand, she enrolled in kickboxing classes at a local academy.

One day after class her instructor suggested she try the BJJ class in the next room. She sat in on her first class and was competing only months later.

Sonya is the most distinguished female grappler in the state and only the second woman ever to receive a black belt from Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti. One month after her promotion she took 2nd at the IBJJF Pan Ams. Five months after that she won gold at the IBJJF Master World Championships, then returned hours later to take gold in the open weight class. She is the only female black belt world champion in Wisconsin.

Accomplishments

• 1st degree BJJ black belt under Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti and Alliance BJJ
• Alliance Certified Instructor Level 1 and 2
• Only female black belt world champion in the state of Wisconsin
• 2016 IBJJF Master World Championships, double gold, black belt weight and open class
• 2017 IBJJF Pan Championships, gold medal, black belt
• 2017 IBJJF Master World Championships, gold medal, black belt
• 2018 IBJJF Pan Championships, double gold, black belt weight and open class
• 2019 IBJJF Master World Championships, double gold, black belt
• 2021 IBJJF Master World Championships, double gold, black belt
• 2021 IBJJF Master International Championship, gold medal, black belt

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda › Carlos Gracie › Helio Gracie › Rolls Gracie › Romero Cavalcanti › Sonya Plavcan