Professor Sam Merz is a 20+ year resident of Lathrop and has been playing Jiu-Jitsu for 15+ years. He received his Black Belt from Professor Jason Cortez in 2024. Professor Sam has been a part of the Cortez Full Circle Martial Arts family either by teaching or attending and has always considered this gym as his home since 2004 when his son and later, his daughter, began training with Sensei Jason Cortez in the art of Kosho-Ryu Kenpo. Coach Sam started his BJJ journey in 2007 with the Charles Gracie academy in Tracy.

After achieving blue belt in 2012 from Charles Gracie, he transferred to Ralph Gracie in San Francisco due to the proximity to his work place. While training in San Francisco he also started with 10 Planet San Francisco under Denny Prokopos. Professor Sam has been back home training with Cortez Full Circle Martial Arts since 2019 and received his Brown Belt from Professor Jason Cortez in 2021 and his Black Belt also from Professor Jason in 2024. Sam is also still involved in 10Planet where he polishes up on his No Gi game and focuses on his leg lock and rubber guard tactics.

Although his BJJ journey has taken him to other gyms since 2007, Cortez Full Circle has always been his home gym. Professor Sam’s philosophies for training are: Train for fun and always take a chance on all the new techniques. It’s ok to tap to anyone as long as you were trying something new. if you were using the same moves as you always do then you aren’t progressing.