JONATHAN BURKE

Founder of Next Level Combatives and 6 Levels Orlando

With more than 27 years’ experience in mixed-martial arts, armed and unarmed self-defense and close-quarter combat, Jon has developed a unique, systematic approach to training individuals in close-quarter-combat that enables high retention levels for those who train with him.

Jon’s expertise and his student-friendly teaching methodologies have been implemented by U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Army Rangers and other highly skilled and qualified members of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as U.S. federal and state law enforcement agencies.

Jon’s ability to break down complex fundamentals and teach them to practitioners of all ages and abilities has earned him wide recognition. Jon’s work with world-famous actors, musicians and athletes on multiple continents range from fitness training in off-seasons to teaching security details how to be more efficient to acting as a personal bodyguard. However, Jon is most proud of his work with the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and domestic law enforcement agencies. During his 27-year career, Jon has been privileged to teach non-compliant assailant and cuffing techniques, weapons retention and upright and ground self-defense techniques to U.S. Special Forces, 82nd Airborne and active duty forces in South Korea. Jon makes it a point to teach rape prevention to female military personnel as well as wives and daughters of military families. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, Jon served as a Team Leader and Instructor in advanced close-quarters-combat for S.A.I.C. for counter terrorist teams, who at the time held the exclusive contract to train the then newly created Federal Air Marshals.

Jon’s introduction to self-defense began in the mid-1990s. Working first as an intern and then full-time, at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California with three-time Ultimate Fighting Champion and Hall of Fame member, Royce Gracie. Jon learned the tenets and discipline of practicing and teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. During his time studying under Royce, Jon demonstrated such commitment and skills, that it earned him a place as a member of Royce’s competition fight team for Royce’s fights in PRIDE Fighting Championships in Tokyo, Japan. In 2004, Jon became the second person in the world ever awarded a black-belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu by Royce Gracie.

Jon’s early commitment to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu lead him to explore and develop his abilities and skills in mixed martial arts, general fitness and nutrition as paths to successful self-defense, fitness and confidence for men, women and children of all occupations and socio-demographic arenas. He has done work with schools, universities, and private families to help improve their personal and group safety environments.
Jon’s instruction techniques have had such an overwhelming impact on the organizations and individuals he has trained throughout the world that he has been featured on ABC, NBC, FOX News, ESPN, Inside MMA, Fight! Magazine and Orlando Sentinel among others.  In addition to Next Level Combatives, Jon owns and operates The VI Levels (Six Levels) Orlando MMA facility and is the author of the book “Safe is the New Sexy,” a women’s guide to self-defense. He has also spent the past 4 years in his own combatives laboratory where he has developed a program called Tactical Jiu-Jitsu™. This program is focused more on teaching concepts that anyone can retain and apply under stress and pressure versus teaching tons of techniques. The law enforcement, personal protection and combatives industry is already taking notice of his highly effective and efficient program and he also teaches the civilian sector for home invasion, counter measures for abduction and street defense in general, whether weapons are involved or not. He is also an avid firearms student and practitioner and his thirst for excellence and helping others is what has pushed him and continues to do so.