Triad Martial ArtsCullman, Alabama
Since 1996, Triad Martial Arts Academy has grown into Alabama's oldest and most credentialed martial arts academy, a Cullman institution home to 40 black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Karate under one roof.
Triad Martial Arts Academy opened its doors in Cullman in 1996. What began as a place to train has become one of the most respected martial arts communities in the state, the dojo where complete beginners and seasoned competitors train side by side, and where families have grown up on the mat across generations.
Today, Triad is home to 40 black belts in both Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, the most accomplished group of martial artists under one roof in the area. That depth of experience is something you feel the moment you walk in: every class is led by people who have spent years, often decades, mastering their craft and learning how to teach it.
Our founder, Kyoshi Johnny Lee Smith, built Triad on a simple belief: that real martial arts should make you a better, stronger, more confident version of yourself, on the mat and off it. He pioneered the academy's approach and created the strategic self-defense system that law enforcement and security professionals still train in today.
Head Instructor Shihan Daniel O'Brien carries that standard forward. Holding a 4th Dan in Karate and black belts in both Karate and Jiu-Jitsu, Shihan O'Brien leads a teaching staff with rare cross-disciplinary depth. Under his guidance, Triad has continued to produce black belts, champions, and, most importantly, confident, capable everyday students.
The highest-ranked Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts in Alabama train and teach here, backed by a full team of coaches.
Alabama's first and highest-ranked BJJ black belt. Earned his rank under Carlos Machado with close training alongside Rickson Gracie. Creator of SSGT, the defensive tactics system adopted by law enforcement agencies nationwide, and The Equalizer, a self-defense program built for women.
One of the most senior Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts in the state and a pillar of the Triad mat for decades. Doubles as the academy's wellness coach, helping students build durable bodies that hold up to a lifetime of training.
Leading Triad's daily instruction since 2010. The first Triad student to hold black belts in both Karate and Jiu-Jitsu, with a competitive resume few coaches anywhere can match.
Every coach on this wall trains. Every belt was earned on this mat.
Triad's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage runs straight to the Gracie and Machado families, the founders of modern BJJ. That matters because lineage in Jiu-Jitsu is a direct line of knowledge passed instructor to student. When you train at Triad, the techniques and principles you learn trace back to the source of the art itself, taught by some of the highest-ranked black belts in Alabama.
This is why we can say, honestly, that Triad is Alabama's most credentialed academy. It is not marketing. It is a verifiable chain of instruction and a roomful of black belts who earned their rank the hard way.
For all the credentials, what people remember about Triad is the community. We offer a safe, supportive, and genuinely challenging environment for learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, and MMA. There is no ego on our mat, just people who want to get better together and who go out of their way to welcome newcomers.
Whether you are a total beginner who has never thrown a punch or an experienced martial artist looking to sharpen your skills, Triad is built for you. Our instructors meet you where you are and help you grow one class at a time.
The best way to understand what Triad is about is to step on the mat. Your first class is free, with no obligation and no experience required. Come find out why Cullman families have trusted us for nearly thirty years, and join a martial arts family that has been growing since 1996.