Co-Founders
Samantha Glenn
Samantha is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt and a former (5 year) police officer from the St. Louis County, St. Louis, MO. Samantha transitioned out of law enforcement after her daughter was born to a more safe environment and workplace. Samantha has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for approximately 9 years - 5 of those 9 years was spent assisting and teaching the children’s classes. She has competed in multiple tournaments across the United States as well as many local tournaments. Samantha has a Bachelors of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, (UMSL) While attending UMSL, Samantha discovered her passion and began focusing her efforts on combating human/sex trafficking. Samantha founded A New Grip with Christina, with hopes to help and teach survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can provide the therapy, stress relief and self confidence they need to get through anything.
Christina Houck
Christina is an accomplished fitness and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach. She has competed and participated in local and international events. After graduating high school, she went on and trained MMA at Ultimate Athletics in Ithaca, New York under Ryan Ciotoli, Alex Stewart and Rene Nazare-Azevedo. She then competed in multiple grappling tournaments. Once she received her purple belt, she was given the opportunity to teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She taught at an all girls school, Al Erteqa`a School. In the short amount of time she was there, she had won 3 consecutive UAE Jiu Jitsu World Pro Championship coach titles and went on to meet Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed. She obtained her black belt in 2021 under Rene Nazare-Azevedo and is now partnering with Samantha to make their dream come true, passing on their passion and knowledge to those who need it.
Meet the Board!
Holly Medlin
Secretary & Social Media Coordinator
Holly firmly believes in the power of exercise, martial arts; specifically jiu-jitsu, as a way to facilitate healing through empowering oneself to challenge and push through adversity. Holly earned her purple belt in (no gi) Jiu-Jitsu, black belt in Okinawan Karate from Absolute Martial Arts and formerly taught Muay Thai Kickboxing at Absolute Martial Arts. Due to a neck injury, Holly currently passes her time taking her aggression out on barbells training in CrossFit until she is recovered enough to return to the mats. Holly supports her need for obnoxious grappling spats through her day gig working in cyber security. Holly additional assists Samantha in teaching survivors at the St. Louis branch.
Treasurer
TBD/ Contact A New Grip if interested!
Email Us at: Team@anewgripbjj.org
VOLUNTEERS
Amanda McGuire
Survivor Workshop Volunteer - St. Louis, MO branch.
Amanda is used to being called mom, Ms. McGuire or Coach Amanda; depending on if she is at home, the elementary school or the Jiu-Jitsu gym. She has always been passionate about working with kids, from working at daycares to elementary schools and coaching the kids Jiu-Jitsu classes at her gym. She is almost finished with her Bachelors degree in General Studies with a Minor in Family studies and hopes to keep teaching or move onto counseling or possibly a lead in youth support programs. Amanda has been training Jiu-Jitsu for 5 years and is currently a blue belt. Amanda accredits Jiu-Jitsu to overcoming many things in her life such as social anxiety and it has given her enough confidence so she was able to stand up for herself in an emotionally unstable relationship and leave. Jiu-Jitsu has been the best thing for her, and also her daughter!
Jessica Seidel
Survivor Workshop Volunteer - Philadelphia, PA branch.
Jessica has been training in Jiu Jitsu for approximately 4 years and is currently a blue belt. She trains at her home gym, but also volunteers as a women's coach at another gym, where she enjoys building up a women's program and encouraging the women to reach their potential. She likes to compete periodically to keep pushing herself forward and challenging herself. At her day job, she works in a cancer center which she finds incredibly rewarding. She has always enjoyed giving back, and is very excited to be able to combine her passions of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and serving others with A New Grip.
You may not see them…but behind the scenes, these guys are making things happen! Our lead volunteers!
Brian Glenn
Brian runs the private Facebook page: A New Grip Warriors. Brian is married to Samantha (co-founder.) Brian is a United States Marine Corps Veteran and is currently working as a sales representative for a 5-star telecommunications equipment supplier. Brian recently accepted a position as an apprentice instructor to help teach Xtreme Krav Maga. Brian is extremely passionate about self-defense and has been practicing various arts for most of his life. He is also passionate about helping A New Grip any which way he can to reach more survivors and spread the mission!
Jason Lautrup
Jason is the designated photographer for A New Grip. He shows up to all of the events hosted and photographs the details. Additionally, those nifty little decals that we are selling on our shop…he made those and cut them out, by hand. Jason is a United States Navy Veteran. Jason is currently working on becoming a certified personal trainer and registered dietician.
Do You Or Someone You Know Need Help?
National Human Trafficking Hotline (800) 373-7888
SMS: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”)
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Languages: English, Spanish & 200 more
Website: humantraffickinghotline.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233
SMS: Text “Start” to 88788
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Website: thehotline.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline (800) 656-4673
Online Chat: Online.rainn.org
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Website: rainn.org
National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 422-4453
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Languages: English and 200 others
Website: healthysafechildren.org