Head Coach, Mike Rethmeyer

The head coach of BJJ Lifestyle Academy is “Brazilian Mike” Rethmeyer. He started training BJJ as a young teenager in Brazil before moving to the United States. Through many years of dedication and practice, he has become a well-respected instructor in the area. He has earned a 4th Degree Black Belt under the guidance of Leo Peçanha, a highly-regarded BJJ practitioner and athlete who has won many prestigious titles in the sport. Coach Rethmeyer’s personal accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are notable and can be found in his competition record below.

BJJ Mike & Brandon Vera
BJJ Mike Oldd School
BJJ Mike and Black Belts

Mike Rethmeyer’s Competition Record:

IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) Championships:

2001
Blue Belt (Adult)
IBJJF Pan American Championship
• Silver Medal in Weight Division (Gi)

2004
Purple Belt (Adult)
IBJJF Pan American Championship
• Bronze Medal in Weight Division (Gi)

2005
Purple Belt (Adult)
IBJJF Pan American Championship
• Bronze Medal in Weight Division (Gi)

2010
Black belt (Master 1)
IBJJF International Chicago Open
• Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Bronze Medal in Open Weight Division (Gi)

2013
Black belt (Master 1)
IBJJF Winter International Chicago Open
• Silver Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Gold Medal in Open Weight Division (Gi)

2015
Black belt (Master 1)
IBJJF Spring International Chicago Open
• Silver Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Gold Medal in Open Weight Division (Gi)

2016
Black Belt (Master 1)
IBJJF Spring International Chicago Open
Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Gold Medal in Open Weight Division (Gi)

IBJJF Summer International Chicago Open
• Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
• Gold Medal in Open Weight division (No-Gi)

IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi Championship
• Gold Medal in Weight Division

IBJJF No-Gi World Championship
• Bronze Medal in Weight Division

2020
Black belt (Master 3)
IBJJF Kansas City International Open
Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)

2021
Black Belt (Master 3)
IBJJF Memphis International Open
Gold Medal in Weight Division (Gi)
Bronze Medal in Open Weight Division (Gi)
Silver Medal in Weight Division (No-Gi) 

 

bjj-mike-gold-medal


Non-IBJJF Accolades

2001
Blue belt (Adult)
Gracie Nationals 2nd place

2002
Blue belt (Adult)
Arnold Classic No-Gi Qualifier 172-187 Champion
Gracie U.S. Nationals 1st place (Gi)
Gracie U.S. Nationals 1st place (NoGi)

2003
Purple belt (Adult)
Gracie U.S. Nationals 1st place
World Gracie Championships No-Gi Qualifier Champion (185-200)

2004
Purple belt (Adult)
Arnold World Gracie Championships 3rd place
NAGA Chicago Pro/Am 2nd place
NAGA Chicago 1st Place
Gracie Pro/Am 1st place
Music City Grappling Championships 1st place Purple belt Gi Absolute
Music City Grappling Championships 2nd place Pro-Division
Music City Grappling Championships 1st place
Music City Grappling Championships 1st place Gi – over 210

2005
Purple belt (Adult)
Gracie Pro/Am 1st place (Gi weight class)
Gracie Pro/Am 1st place (Gi open class)

2006
Brown belt (Adult)
Arnold world Gracie Championships 2nd place
NAGA Ohio 1st place (Gi)
NAGA Ohio NoGi pro open class runner-up

2007
Brown belt (Adult)
Arnold Grappling Classic Gi 3rd place (Gi)
Arnold Grappling Classic No-Gi 1st place (NoGi)
Gracie Pro/Am 2nd and 3rd place.
NAGA Pro Midwest Champion pro open class
NAGA Atlanta No-Gi 2nd place
NAGA Atlanta Gi 1st place

2008
Brown Belt (Adult)
Arnold Grappling Championship 1st place (Gi)

2009
Brown belt (Adult)
Arnold Grappling Championship 1st place
Corrals Combat Classic 1st place black belt

2011
Black belt (Adult)
Best of the Best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pro/Am circuit 1st place
NAGA St. Louis 1st Place
NAGA St. Louis 3rd Place pro NoGi open class

Team Trophies:

2009 Missouri Jiu-Jitsu Championships
2nd Place Team No-Gi

2010 Missouri Jiu-Jitsu Championships
2nd place team No-Gi
2nd place team Gi

2013 NAGA
2nd place overall team

2014 AGF
1st place Adults Gi
3rd Place Adult No-Gi
Team Champions (Overall)

2015 AGF
3rd place adult No-Gi

2016 NewBreed Ultimate Challenge
1st Place adult team

2018 AGF
3rd place adults Gi
3rd place adults No-Gi

2019 AGF
3rd place adults No-Gi

2022 Submission Challenge
3rd place team

2024 FUJI BJJ Missouri State Championship
• 2nd place team (adults)

2024 Submission Challenge O’Fallon
• 1st place team

2024 CXBJJ St Louis Open Championship
• 1st place Overall Team/Best Academy

 


In-Depth Interview

Want to learn more about Mike and his background? Here he is on The Vance Crowe Podcast where he talks about growing up as a kid that was bullied, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt system, and how one makes the most out of training BJJ. PLEASE NOTE: the episode has some adult language and discussions of violence.

 


Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)

Coach Mike Rethmeyer’s commitment to self-improvement, continuous education, and deepening his understanding of the human body to assist with his coaching is evident. Recently, he attained certification as a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Accredited Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), aligning with the rigorous standards set by the NCAA.

mike-rethmeyer-certified-trainer