Christian Gerhardt
“Master the system. Control the mats.”
Christian is the Head Coach and Founder of Iron Vikings, and a Brown Belt under Professor Nicolas Gregoriades. He has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2011 and has dedicated over a decade to developing both his own practice and the next generation of grapplers.
As a youth coach since 2016, he has worked extensively with children and teens, building confidence, discipline, and technical foundations through structured, engaging training.
His coaching is rooted in a system-driven, positional approach that prioritises efficiency, control, and high-percentage solutions. With a focus on structural biomechanics and practical application, his method is designed to remove unnecessary complexity and help students think clearly under pressure.
“Being a bigger guy, I’ve learned that Jiu-Jitsu belongs to the technician, not the athlete. My approach is about building a system that works for anyone — regardless of size — by focusing on position, control, and intelligent movement.”
Whether coaching children or preparing adults for competition, the objective remains the same: develop technical control, functional movement, and a resilient mindset.
Antonie Van Wyk
Antonie van Wyk is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Professor Roberto Atalla, having trained since 2015. He began coaching adults in 2023 and brings a broad martial arts background to his teaching, including a second brown belt in Shotokan Karate and many years of Tai Chi practice.
His approach to Jiu-Jitsu is rooted in strong fundamentals, drawing on principles from Judo, combat Jiu-Jitsu, and self-defence. While he values the foundations of the art, he also enjoys exploring leg locks and the strategic possibilities they offer, particularly for a more measured and technical grappling style.
As a coach, Antonie focuses on helping students understand not only how a technique works, but why it works and where it fits within the larger framework of Jiu-Jitsu. His goal is for every student to leave class having enjoyed the experience while discovering another piece of the Jiu-Jitsu puzzle.
For Antonie, Jiu-Jitsu is more than a martial art—it is an extension of who he is. The lessons learned on the mat, from perseverance and self-reflection to growth through failure, continue to shape his approach to life both on and off the mats.
Steven Martheze
Steven Martheze is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt under Christian Gerhardt, having trained since 2018. He also has seven years of experience in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. He assists with coaching in the beginners classes and supports the development of new students.
On the mats, he favours pressure passing and strong guard retention, and emphasizes a calm, controlled approach that focuses on staying relaxed and working with what his opponent gives him.
His approach to coaching is centered on simplicity and clarity—helping newer students understand one key concept at a time and build confidence as they progress.
Brian Gailis
Brian is the assistant coach for the advanced kids’ class and a blue belt under Christian Gerhardt. Brian has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2020. What started out as a way to deal with his divorce at the time, an outlet, turned into a passion that has grown exponentially ever since. After his daughter joined the Vikings in 2023, the progression to coach was a natural one, as it helped form an even greater bond between him and his daughter and, together, Jiu Jitsu.
As one of the ranking ‘old men’ of The Iron Vikings, starting BJJ in his mid-40s was always going to be seen as a challenge when it came to a full contact martial art. However, as his journey has progressed, so has his understanding of the importance of movement, position, control, and PURPOSE. Being intentional with every movement.
His goal is to help every student unlock their true potential and carry the positive values of BJJ both on and off the mats and into their daily lives. Children have a different perspective on life and their journey through BJJ, and it is this perspective that is so inspiring to not only the other kids in the class but, just as importantly, to us as coaches.
“Create space, take it away.” The ultimate chess game for not only Jiu-Jitsu but life. Live each day as if it were on purpose; every moment we can either face something good or something bad. BJJ teaches us to see the good in every situation and how to control it positively in a myriad of ways.
His greatest achievement was starting BJJ in his 40s. Starting a martial art that is so intentional later in life has its ups and downs more regularly than someone considerably younger. The first year started with multiple injuries, but that only created more passion, energy, and understanding for the journey that had only just begun. Facing fears more often than not was more bruising than the injuries, and after joining The Iron Vikings a year and a half in, his path and purpose had now been set.
Our greatest accomplishment in life is to START!!