Mario Shonkwiler
Mario Shonkwiler is the founder and head instructor of Modus Grappling. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2015 and earned his black belt in July 2023 under Aaron Milam, a black belt under Renzo Gracie and John Danaher.
With over a decade of experience training, competing, and teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mario developed a reputation for detailed, organized instruction and an ability to turn complex grappling situations into systems students can understand and apply. His instruction emphasizes connecting systems, careful problem-solving, and long term student development.
His core focus is producing lasting development through a thoughtful curriculum, a challenging but controlled training environment, strong relationships between training partners, and a culture in which both beginners and experienced students are taken seriously.