ABOUT OUR ACADEMY
One Forty Four MMA has been a journey built on love, perseverance, and a whole lot of hard work. We began in 2021 in a small corner of Umatilla, Florida, with a vision to make a difference in our community through martial arts. What started with just a handful of students quickly grew into a family united by discipline, respect, and the drive to improve. As our community grew, so did our dream, leading us to open a full academy in Mount Dora in 2022. Our name, One Forty Four, is inspired by Psalm 144, a reminder that true strength comes from faith, preparation, and purpose. Today, our mission remains the same: to build a strong and capable community, one student at a time, by helping each person grow in both skill and character.
Corey Wingo
Owner | Lead Instructor
Corey is a life-long martial artist whose journey began in 2006 when he joined his high school wrestling team and evolved through college with MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai, and Boxing. His passion to serve led him to pursue further studies in the Combatives community. He trained under numerous skilled instructors, and eventually taught locally and internationally. Corey is currently EFC certified Law enforcement instructor and actively runs Defensive Tactics instruction to local law enforcement groups. Corey recently retired from the Lake County Sheriff's Office from his role as SWAT Operator and K9 Handler to pursue his dream of impacting the community through his Martial Arts academy.
As owner of One Forty Four MMA, Corey's primary goal is to serve and share his knowledge with the community, emphasizing the importance of character development from a young age. He strives to build enduring skills and foundations for youth, aspiring to create champions both on and off the mats.
Vanessa Wingo
Co-Owner | Manager | Kids Coach
Vanessa is Corey's wife and serves as our content creator and gym manager. She coaches both the Kids and Women's Jiu-Jitsu classes and is currently a Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, having begun her training in 2016. Vanessa manages all back-end communications and content creation, including photos, videos, and website design. She is well-equipped to answer most, if not all, of your inquiries about the gym, pricing, events, and more. Her aspiration is to achieve a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu while continuing to serve the community alongside her husband and their son.
Krysten Novillo
Kids Coach
Krysten is one of our kids coaches and our women’s self defense instructor. She’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple belt and has been training for 4 years. She is a mom of 4, and is passionate about Jiu-Jitsu and Women's Self Defense.
Her positive attitude, willingness to learn, and tenacious spirit on and off the mats are some of our favorite things about her. She is a joy to have as a student/coach, and we are blessed to have her on the team.
Dillon Gower
BJJ Professor
Dillon began his martial arts journey where many others do, Tae Kwon Do as a child. After a short hiatus, in 2006 he began training in Genbukan Ninpo Taijutsu (a form of Japanese Jiujutsu) and Judo in Virginia and Maryland. In July 2008, he moved to Orlando to train at American Top Team and to live the life of a humble martial artist to the fullest. Since then he has competed in BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA. He was promoted to a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Paul Rodriguez in 2016.
He is currently the head instructor at his academy, Cogito Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches at our academy as the head professor Wednesday evenings.
Ian Jass
Front Desk Associate | Kids Assistant Coach
Ian is one of the first friendly faces you’ll see when you walk into Dunamis Mixed Martial Arts Academy. As our Front Desk Associate, Ian keeps things running smoothly with excellent organization, communication, and a genuine passion for helping students and families feel welcome.
In addition to managing the front desk, Ian also serves as an Assistant Kids Coach, bringing energy, patience, and encouragement to every class. With over 3 years of training, Ian leads by example, showing our younger students what discipline, consistency, and growth look like on and off the mats.
Whether he’s checking in members, assisting with class, or answering questions for new families, Ian plays a vital role in keeping our community strong, supportive, and focused.
Jordan Pederson
No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Jordan is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, awarded in 2023 by Fabin Rosa after eight years of dedicated training. He has been teaching BJJ since 2016, working with practitioners of all ages and skill levels. Specializing in half guard, leg locks, and closed guard, Jordan’s approach to BJJ extends beyond technique. He believes in cultivating character, hard work, and dedication both on and off the mats. He views Jiu-Jitsu as a powerful tool for instilling these values in anyone who trains.
Throughout his competitive career, Jordan has participated in numerous tournaments and super fights, earning multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, he served honorably for five years before settling back in Orlando. We’re privileged to have Jordan on our team, and we’re excited to learn from his extensive experience both in the martial arts and beyond.
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