The best jiu jitsu in Lafayette!

Damien Cordova (He/Him) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who began training in 2010 at Dark Horse Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Longmont, Colorado. He earned his blue belt from Professor Matthew Jubera followed by his purple belt from Professor Andrew “The Dude” Dudderar. He quickly excelled and within a few years was teaching his own classes, as well as running administrative operations for the gym. In 2015, he moved to Hiroshima Japan, and began training under Sensei Yoshihiro Fujita (Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Gracie Jr. > Yuki Nakai). While in Japan, he also began Cordova Jiu-Jitsu, offering free training and instruction to expats and locals in the Hiroshima Area. In June 2022 he was elevated to black belt by Fujita Sensei before returning to Colorado to launch his own academy.

Jiu-Jitsu aligns with many tenets that Damien already integrates into his life such as mindfulness, respect, and control. He notes that Jiu-Jitsu “puts you in uncomfortable situations and teaches you how to deal with things rationally, not emotionally. It’s all about changing the way you react to a situation in the moment — not as an animal, not instinctually, but logically.”

With compassion and a strong will to guide students on their martial arts journey, Damien enjoys teaching anyone and everyone.

Competition Highlights:

• 2016 Torao Nation State Tournament No-Gi (silver)
• 2016 7th JBJJF Chugoku Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Bronze)
• 2017 Dumau Saga Championship (Gold)
• 2018 JBJJF Hiroshima International Championship (Gold)

Tobin’s (He/Him) Jiu-Jitsu journey began in his hometown of Missoula, MT in 2015. After attending several different academies, he settled in Lafayette, CO and found Chroma Jiu-Jitsu, where Professor Damien Cordova awarded him his black belt in 2025. Tobin is passionate about the problem-solving aspect of Jiu-Jitsu and seeks to instill this knowledge in his teammates. Apart from training and teaching Jiu-Jitsu, he also enjoys drawing and playing music.

Ben started his Judo journey in fall of 2008 at Kin-Tora in Buffalo, NY. A year and a half later, he began training at the Boulder Judo Training Center. He joined Dark Horse BJJ to cross-train and improve his newaza, then ended up spending several years exclusively focused on BJJ. In BJJ, he received his blue belt from Matt Jubera and purple belt under Andrew Dudderar, and is currently ranked ikkyu in Judo (final degree brown belt). He continues to train at Front Range Judo in addition to Chroma. 

Ben has Tourette’s and ADHD, with visual processing and sensorimotor deficits that make learning physical skills like martial arts challenging; but this also turns every grappling position and situation into a delightful analytical puzzle. His greatest joy as a coach is using the insights he’s earned through this process to help people with similar challenges succeed while also elevating the games of his more athletically gifted students. 

Alec is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt who began his training journey in 2014. Over the last 10 years he has trained at various academies in Northeastern PA and Colorado. He has an abiding passion for learning and sharing information with others as well as robust experience offering instruction in several areas including BJJ, yoga, music, rock-climbing, and swimming. Alec is especially passionate about how martial arts and other embodiment practices can assist one in learning how to build confidence, regulate their emotions, and form lasting connections in community with others.

Cath has been in and out of Jiu-Jitsu training for almost 20 years, and got her purple belt with Drew Ash at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu before coming to Chroma. She also has black belts in several Korean arts, a brown belt in Ninjitsu, and instructor certifications in Martial Blade Concepts and a style of self-defense called FAST Defense, which focuses on scenario-based, state-dependent learning.

Needless to say, martial arts are her thing. She’s lucky to have a fantastic family that feels the same way and is excited to share her love of Jiu-Jitsu with her fellow students at Chroma.