John Goforth – Head Coach
John has practiced jiu jitsu for 15 years and has coached jiu jitsu for 12 years at his academy here in McMinnville. John was awarded his black belt in 2017, after training under Michael Chapman since 2009 and is now a 2nd degree Black Belt.
John played football and wrestled in high school. It’s in the Willamina High school wrestling room that John grew a love for Grappling. He found Impact Jiu Jitsu in March of 2009 and started Impact McMinnville in 2012. John has an extensive competition career and has made podium at some of the largest jiu jitsu tournaments in the world. His favorite submission is split between the paper cutter choke, and the clock choke. John says, “jiu jitsu is a great vehicle for exposing your human potential. The confidence I’ve developed and ability to take risks on the mat has translated to my daily life and in business. Jiu jitsu has helped me be better at everything I do. An interesting fact about me, I wanted to be a motivational speaker before starting Impact Jiu Jitsu and Goforth Inspired.”
Some of John's accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu include...
White Belt
Oregon Open Championships Gold Medalist 2009
Blue Belt
The Revolution Gold Medalist 2009
Alive MMA submission tournament Gold Medalist Jan 2010
United Combat Sports Submission Tournament 2010 Gold Medalsit
United Combat Sports Submission Tournament 2010 Gold medalist (Open weight)
Sub league qualifier #1Feb 2010 Silver Medalist
Sub league qualifier #1 Feb 2010 Gold medalist (Open weight)
The Revolution March 2010 Silver Medalist
Sub league Championships May 2010 Gold Medalist
Oregon Open Championships October 2010 Gold Medalist
The Revolution November 2010 Gold Medalist
United Combat Sports Submission Tournament January 2011 (Purple belt division as a Blue belt) Gold Medalist
Team Quest BJJ Classic- Feb 2011 Gold Medalist
Team Quest BJJ Classic - Feb 2011 Gold Medalist (Open weight)
Sub league qualifier #1-Mens Advanced April 2011 Gold Medalist
Sub league qualifier #2-May 2011 Gold Medalist
Sub league Championships June 2011(Weight division, Absolute, and Advanced nogi) Gold Medalist
Las Vegas International Open 2011 Gold Medalist
Las Vegas International Open 2011 Bronze Medalist (Open weight)
Pan Jiu Jitsu Championships 2012 Silver Medalist
Las Vegas International Open 2012 Silver Medalist
Las Vegas International Open Gold (Open weight class)
Purple Belt
Oregon Open 2012 Gold Medalist
Oregon Open 2012 Bronze Medalist (Open Weight)
US Open 2012 Gold Medalist
US Open 2012 Gold Medalist(Open weight)
Pan Jiu Jitsu Championship 2014 Bronze Medalist
Pan Jiu Jitsu Championships 2014 Bronze Medalist(Open Weight)
Brown Belt
Pan Ams 2017 Silver Medalist
Mike Smith - Coach
Mike started his training with short stints at a few jiu jitsu and judo gyms in the 2000s, but found his home with Impact Jiu Jitsu McMinnville in 2014. Training consistently since then, he has gone from a white belt up to his current black belt under Head Coach John Goforth.
Mike loves jiu jitsu for the consistent challenge training provides and the relationships he has formed along the way. His favorite submissions are armbars and head & arm chokes.
Mike moved to Oregon in 2011 and works in property insurance claims, specializing in catastrophe response. When he is not training or working, he is home raising his four kids.
James Bowers- Coach
James started doing BJJ/ Submission grappling around 2003 with Team Quest out of Gresham, OR. He was more focused on the MMA aspect of combat sport and had no interest in training in the Gi. In 2008, James won the FCFF armature 185lb title, ironically enough fighting a guy from Impact Jiu Jitsu. James became a part of Impact McMinnville in 2012, while running an MMA program out of the same building as Impact. James said, “John was always very supportive of and although at the time I owned a "competing" program, he welcomed me with open arms when my program started to fail. If someone is interested in starting BJJ, the first thing I would say is, ‘focus on the journey, not the destination. Being part of this will have its setbacks, and it is great times, but be prepared for a lifetime commitment because once you're addicted, it will never leave you.’”
James is a local business owner here in McMinnville- Bowers Diesel & Auto Repair. An interesting fact about James is he is a self-proclaimed secret comic book nerd.
Jake Stepisnik - Coach
Jake started training in 2012 for a brief period at Zanshin Martial Arts in Salem. Jake then started training again in August, 2014 at Impact Jiu Jitsu McMinnville. Jake has been coaching since 2017. In high school, Jake played football, basketball, baseball, wrestled, and ran track and field. Jake says, “wrestling and watching MMA sparked my interest in grappling. I have now trained for almost 10 years under John Goforth. Some of my most recent competitions include, IBJJF at Master’s Worlds, Vegas International Open, Seattle Invitational, Pan Jiu Jitsu Championship, and more local tournaments than I can count. My favorite submission is Kimura and the Darce. To anyone wanting to start jiu jitsu, the hardest part is starting. The longer you train, the more benefits you will physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and able to translate those into your everyday life. The best thing jiu jitsu has taught me is that when in times of extreme stress, I need to react with logic and reason, and not emotions.”
Jake was born in Oregon and has spent most of his life here, with the exception of a few years in Colorado. Jake has two sons- ages 4 and 11. He played the saxophone and was in the chess club.
Daniel Krug- Coach
Daniel started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1996 during his time in the Army, where he was first introduced to it through guest instructors. With so few gyms in the U.S. at the time—fewer than 10—Daniel relied heavily on instructional DVDs and books to further his training. In the early 2000s, Daniel joined Straight Blast Gym in Beaverton, Oregon, which later became Impact Jiu Jitsu. Daniel trained and competed there for several years.
Daniel’s MMA career began to take shape when he joined the Team Quest professional fight team under the guidance of Robert Follis and Randy Couture. He was privileged to train alongside some of the sport’s most respected fighters, including Chael Sonnen, Matt Lindland, and Ed Herman, among others who were prominent UFC athletes at the time. During this period, Daniel worked as a high-threat protection officer and diplomatic security specialist for the U.S. Department of State, operating in austere combat zones and protecting high-ranking diplomats. Despite the demanding nature of his work, Daniel trained in MMA and BJJ for 6+ hours a day, honing both his physical and mental skillsets.
While much of Daniel’s instruction over the years was unconventional due to his employment, the unique combination of martial arts training and operating in high-stakes environments shaped his approach to combat, discipline, and self-defense. He gained an eclectic set of skills centered on shooting, moving, communicating, and staying composed under direct threat—all of which were constantly refined through both training and real-world experience.
Eventually, Daniel returned to the U.S. full-time and became a dedicated BJJ instructor at Nemesis Jiu Jitsu. Although Daniel was offered promotions during this time, he made the decision to honor fallen brethren by declining. It wasn’t until Daniel joined Impact Jiu Jitsu McMinnville, under John Goforth, that he finally embraced the role of a black belt.
Today, Daniel is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with others, helping students develop not only as martial artists but also as individuals who approach life with discipline, confidence, and humility.
Ali Hosseinian- Youth Coach
From a young age, Ali was fascinated by martial arts — a passion sparked by watching Bruce Lee films and The Karate Kid. As a smaller individual and often the “new kid” due to his family’s frequent moves, Ali learned early on the importance of standing up for himself and developing confidence to avoid bullying.
Ali began wrestling in California as a Varsity 103-lb competitor during his freshman and sophomore years. When his family later moved to Iowa, he continued wrestling and experienced elite-level training under Head Coach Paul Castro.
In 2008, Ali attended his first few Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes and was immediately hooked. Although life circumstances did not allow him to continue training at that time, the opportunity came again in 2016 after relocating to Oregon. Ali began training consistently, first at a Gracie Gym in Tigard, then later in McMinnville, where he started training under John Goforth at Impact Jiu Jitsu.
Competition has always been an important part of Ali’s martial arts path, driven by a desire to challenge himself. Ali has competed in over 30 local and national tournaments in the featherweight division—often facing younger or larger opponents. Ali has gained valuable lessons from every competition match, no matter the outcome. Among his most notable accomplishments are multiple local championship gold medals across belt levels, a Brown Belt Bronze (Gi) and Silver (No-Gi) at the IBJJF Oregon Open, and a Bronze medal at the 2021 IBJJF Masters Worlds (Masters 3, Purple Belt).
In addition to Jiu Jitsu, Ali has also trained casually in Muay Thai and continues to enjoy the striking art.
When asked, Ali said one of his proudest achievements in BJJ has been serving as the Head Youth Coach at Impact Jiu Jitsu McMinnville. Coaching and mentoring young athletes—both on and off the mats—has been a true passion of his. Ali began coaching as an early blue belt and continued through his first degree as a brown belt before taking a break to focus on his career and recover from injuries. Now, healthy, and back on the mats, he looks forward to supporting the youth program in every way possible as a 4th-degree Brown Belt.
For anyone considering starting Jiu Jitsu, Ali said, “Just do it. The worst-case scenario is discovering it is not for you—but the best case is finding something transformative. Health, fitness, friendships, self-defense, and confidence are just a few of the gifts Jiu Jitsu has brought to my life. I believe surrounding yourself with driven people, is one of the most powerful choices you can make.”
Ali’s favorite jiu jitsu submissions are the Baseball Bat Choke and the Triangle.
A hidden talent of Ali’s is that he is a skilled fabricator who has owned and operated a performance automotive shop for many years—able to build almost anything with the right tools and materials.
OSS!
Eric Eide- Youth No Gi Coach
Eric began wrestling at age 12 and later competed in the Marine Corps, where he became the base champion in 1996. He started his jiu jitsu journey in 2005 and has trained with some of the best coaches in Oregon and across the country. In 2018, he became co-owner of Pacific Northwest Jiu Jitsu Academy, where he taught both youth and adult programs. Most recently, he served as assistant head coach at Resolution Jiu Jitsu under UFC veteran Evan Dunham, leading the youth program, training the MMA team, and teaching advanced No-Gi and beginner Gi classes. Eric started coaching youth classes at Impact Jiu Jitsu McMinnville in 2025, sharing his passion and knowledge in No Gi jiu jitsu. He is currently a Brown Belt in Jiu Jitsu and an Orange Belt in Judo.
Youth Collective
The Youth Collective is a group of awesome jiu jitsu practitioners who have taken a special interest in coaching our youth members. Each Coach adds something unique to the experience, as well as a different perspective. Listed below are each of the coaches and the year they started their jiu jitsu journey.
Coach Johnny, Black Belt- March, 2009 Coach Eric, Brown Belt Coach Frank, Purple Belt- May 2021 Coach Morgan, Purple Belt- October, 2022