INSTRUCTORS
HEAD INSTRUCTOR
JOSH LITTLETON
JOSH
LITTLETON
Josh Littleton is a 3rd degree black belt and one of the most well-established figures in the Kansas City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. He received his black belt in 2016 from Jason Bircher and Renato Tavares after a decade of dedicated training that began in 2006.
A member of the Renato Tavares Association and IBJJF certified instructor, Josh founded Cast Iron BJJ in 2014. His background spans karate, wrestling, boxing, and MMA — experience that shows in the structured, technical approach he brings to every class.
Josh maintains a balance between welcoming complete beginners and training serious competitors. He regularly competes and continues his own education through seminars with world-class practitioners including Renato Tavares, Royce Gracie, Vinicius Orelha, and João Miyao.
2016
3RD DEGREE BLACK BELT
RENATO TAVARES
ASSOCIATION
2014
FOUNDED GYM
INSTRUCTOR
TRAVIS MADDOX
TRAVIS
MADDOX
Travis Maddox is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Josh Littleton and Renato Tavares, with roots going back to the early Kansas City BJJ scene in 1999.
A multiple-time International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation gold medalist, he's known for his guard and a laid-back coaching style that emphasizes clean technique, smart decisions, and fundamentals that hold up under pressure. He takes particular interest in competitive coaching and developing students for success on the mats — whether in training or competition.
INSTRUCTOR
TYLER BERG
TYLER
BERG
Tyler Berg brings 20 years of mat time and one of the strongest wrestling pedigrees in the gym. He wrestled collegiately at the University of Missouri during the J'Den Cox and Dom Bradley era, and went on to spend years coaching wrestling before dedicating himself to jiu-jitsu.
That wrestling foundation makes Tyler's game a blueprint for modern grappling — relentless pressure, positional control, and the athleticism to make technical work stick. He teaches the 6am class and holds a brown belt competed at Master level, earning 3rd place at the 2024 IBJJF World Masters.
INSTRUCTOR
ANDREW LUNNEN
ANDREW
LUNNEN
Andrew Lunnen is one of the most technically precise grapplers at Cast Iron BJJ. His jiu-jitsu is clean, methodical, and deeply understood — the kind of game built on mastering the fundamentals until they become unstoppable.
His ability to break down technique and make it click for students of any level is something coaches spend careers developing. If you want to understand why jiu-jitsu works, not just how to do it, Andrew is the person to train with.
INSTRUCTOR
JARED KERNS
JARED
KERNS
Jared Kerns picked up jiu-jitsu in 2018 — years after a decorated backyard wrestling career under the name Gruesome Grimsley — and has spent every year since building one of the most stubborn half guards at Cast Iron BJJ.
With over 40 tournaments and two pro fights on his record, he brings real competitive experience to the Friday night fundamentals class he coaches alongside Josh.