Dylan Benningfield

Dylan Benningfield brings years of competition and coaching experience to the mats. A black belt under Jason Rau and Nick Ronan, he has taught at Vanguard Academy on Long Island while continuing to test his jiu-jitsu against high-level opponents.

His competition results include gold in his division at the 2024 Nashville Fall International Open No-Gi Championship, silver in the open class at the same event, and podium finishes at the 2025 ADCC Atlanta Open and 2025 ADCC US National Championship. IBJJF

As an instructor, Dylan’s goal is to help students understand what they are doing, why it works, and how to keep improving. His classes connect practical technique with the problem-solving and persistence that jiu-jitsu demands.

bjj Black Belt · Coach · Competitor

Hi, I’m dylan.

My Approach

We aim to develop each practitioner’s technical and artistic expression’s of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The curriculum is meticulously designed to allow for each member of a class meet their individual goals. Through active, hands on coaching we keep each member in their ideal physical and intellectual space become the best grappler they can be. This means we cater to everyone’s personal goals; fitness, weight-loss, self defense, competition, community and many other goals that have been achieved through Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Simple ideas

Good coaching makes complicated positions easier to understand. I break techniques down into clear decisions: what to look for, why it works, and what to do when your partner reacts. Then we practice until you can use those ideas in live training.

Lasting impact

Progress is built one class at a time. My goal is for you to leave each session with something you can use, the confidence to keep testing it, and a clearer sense of where to go next. Whether you want to compete or simply get better, the work you put in should show up on the mats.

Past events

Explore a curated collection of our past events we’ve competed at.

Location
Finishers Submission Only

Two men grappling on the floor during a wrestling match, with several spectators and American flags in the background.
Two men are practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu on a black mat, one man with tattoos on his arms is on his back attempting a grappling move while the other man is above him in a dominant position. In the background, a group of people are sitting on the ma
Man wearing a championship belt over his shoulder, looking down, dressed in black athletic wear, tattoos on his arm.
Two men practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on a gray mat, with one man on his back and the other attempting an arm lock, while a group of people watches in the background.
Two male athletes grappling and struggling on the mat during a wrestling match, with one pinning the other.
Two men practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on a mat, with one man gripping the other's arm and neck in a grappling position. Several people watch in the background, some sitting and others standing, in a martial arts gym with black walls and logos.
Two male fighters in mixed martial arts match; one in black shorts is on top, pinning the other in maroon shirt to the mat during a grappling exchange in a gym with American flag and sponsorship banners in background.
Two men engage in Brazilian jiu-jitsu on a gray mat, with a diverse group of spectators sitting around and watching.

Location
LIJJN

Two men are engaged in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match on a mat, with one man on his back and the other on top, holding him and attempting a submission move. In the background, there are other people, equipment, and furniture in the gym or training facil
Two men engaged in a grappling match in a martial arts competition, holding each other's wrists and leaning in on a mat, with spectators seated in the background.
Two men are grappling on the mat during a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match, with one man in black dominating the other in a submission hold.
Two male mixed martial artists, one in a black shirt, grappling on the mat during a fight.

Location
PGF Qualifiers

Dylan grappling on a blue wrestling mat during a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match, with an audience watching in the background.
Dylan in a grappling hold on a blue mat, with spectators blurred in the background.