Our Instructors
Bill Walters
Bill Walters is the Owner and Founder of the 302 Group.
The 302 group is made up of 302 Jiu Jitsu (302BJJ), 302 Tac Ops Group, and 302 Phalanx Foundation 501c3.
Bill Walters has 25 years teaching and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu he started training in BJJ in 1998.
He has competed in: IBJJF Pan Am, Grapplers Quest, US Grappling, and NAGA.
Bill earned his Blue Belt in 1999, Purple Belt in 2001, Brown Belt 2005, and his Black Belt from Phil Migliarese in 2009.
Firearms and Combatives Schools and Certifications:
20 years as an Adjunct Instructor and Affiliate of Storm Mountain Training Center.
Bill holds certifications in the following: NRA Basic Pistol Instructor, NRA Law Enforcement Pistol Instructor, NRA Law Enforcement Shotgun Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Basic Rifle, IDPA Range Safety Officer, International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, Sig Arms Tactical Folding Knife Instructor, Crucible Training Center, Ernest Emerson Instructor Course for Edged Weapons and Combative’s: Surviving the Deadly Attack, Storm Mountain Training Centers Modern Combatives Gracie Jiu Jitsu Instructor Graduated from the following SMTC Courses:
High Risk Personnel / Pre Deployment Direct Action Training / Close Personal Protection / Personal Security Detail / Basic Handgun / Combative Handgun Instructor / Ernest Langdon’s Tactical Competitive Handgun / Sniper I / Sniper II / Combative Shotgun / Instructor Patrol Carbine / Long Range Rifle
302 Phalanx Foundation 501c
Bill is a founding board member and President of the foundation that specializes in immediate Local Community Outreach.
Projects include K9 Ballistic Vest Initiative, Sunday Breakfast Mission, Exceptional Care for Kids, Adopt a Highway, First Responder and Military Fundraising, Trauma Initiative, YWCA Outreach to Woman at Risk, Combating Human Trafficking, and Freedom Path.
Larry Edwards
Larry Edwards is a martial arts instructor with over 35 years of experience. He started Jiu Jitsu in 2006 under William Walters and now holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (professor) in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Phil and Ricardo Migliarese (B. Walters). He also holds 1st Dan (black belt ranking) in Kyokushinkai, Shotokan, and Goju Ryu Styles of Karate (W. Brown, A. Abdulkareem), and JKD instructor certification (K. Nelson). Professor Edwards is also an experienced amateur boxer, CACC wrestler, Judoka (1st kyu brown) and has studied various other styles of martial arts over the years. He is also an experienced wrestling, boxing, and MMA coach/instructor. Larry has won at some of the highest levels of competition, winning IBJJF Pan Titles in 2008 and IBJJF International Open Titles in 2013. He has also won numerous boxing matches, kumite competitions, and grappling tournaments such as Grapplers Quest, US Grappling, NAGA, and Diamond State Games. He instructs in the advanced/basics classes and kids Jiu jitsu programs.
Tim Williams
Tim Williams is the Muay Thai instructor, or Kru, at our Kirkwood Highway location. He is also a second degree black belt in BJJ.
Tim “the South Jersey Strangler” Williams’ record is an impressive one that is only superseded by his drive to share his knowledge with future generations of students of all ages.
Amateur record: 3-0 kickboxing | 7-1 am boxing | 6-0 MMA Combat in the Cage Middleweight Champ
Pro record: 15-5 Mid | Atlantic Middleweight Champ | Locked in the Cage Middle Weight Champ | XCC Middleweight Champ | Cage Fury Middle Weight Champ | Season 19 TUF Alumni
Fought in 2 UFC fights
Ro D’Souza
Ro has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 1995, receiving his black belt in May of 2019. He competed earlier on in his career, placing first and second in many NAGA and Grappler’s Quest competitions.
Ro is currently one of our Breakfast Club instructors and can be found on the mats before the sun comes up. Before coming to train and teach at 302 BJJ, he spent several of his early years at Tai Kai before Bill Walters opened the 302 BJJ organization we know and love today.
When Ro isn’t on the mats you can find him coaching his daughters soccer teams or behind the taps at his brewery in North Wilmington.
Sam Hirzel
Sam is a founder of our “Breakfast Club” and serves as itsinstructor. Sam started training in 2008 under Ken Primola, and later joined Bill Walters at 302BJJ in 2010.
Sam received his Black Belt from Phil Migliarese on October 21, 2017, and he received his first degree on his Black Belt on April 21, 2022.
Sam has competed successfully, but generally prefers building new training partners at Breakfast Club and “jiu jitsu tourism.” Many years ago, Sam was a competitive wrestler in Delaware and at Columbia University.
When not training, Sam spends his days as a practicing corporate litigation attorney.
Ray Matikonis
Ray has been training and competing up and down the East Coast in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2005. He’s been with 302 BJJ for his entire journey. In 2013, Ray became an instructor here at 302 BJJ.
Ray took an ownership role in the gym in 2017, receiving his blackbelt in 2019. He is also co owner of the Middletown location which opened in 2022.
Ray is an instructor at both of our locations, teaching the afternoon adult class at our Kirkwood location and the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday adult classes at Middletown. He also runs the kids program at our Middletown location.
Nick Novarnik
Nick is 23 years old and has been an avid Jui Jitsu practitioner and competitor for well over a decade. He started his Jui Jitsu journey under Professor Ronnie Wuest, later finding his new home here at 302 BJJ under Professors Bill Walters and Ray Matikonis.
Growing up, Nick was a competitive wrestler, earning himself several accolades. Some to honorably mention are HS Junior Olympic All-American, 3X HS Conference Champion, 2x HS Delaware State Finalist, 2018 Delaware HS State Champion and ranked #1 P4P Best lightweight HS wrestler in the State of Delaware, ending his High School career record with 156W-26L.
Nick contributes his wrestling success to his background of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the confidence and experience it instills into its students. Jiu Jitsu has changed my life and given me the confidence to walk through any doorway with my head high and shoulders wide ready to handle what’s to come, and it can change yours or your child’s as well, don’t wait get started today, the change is forever.