Instructors at 36 Chambers

Bios

COACH & OWNER ALEXANDRA STOKMAN BRACKETT

Years Training Muay Thai: 23
Competitive Experience: Amateur Muay Thai –regional, national and international
Weight Class: 135lbs/62kg
Signature Move: Teep

Alexandra (Alex) Stokman Brackett began training in Muay Thai after she moved to New York City immediately after college and took a class at a local gym. She was hooked after that first class, and knew she wanted to fight. Having never received training in any combat sport, she was awed by the power generated by seemingly ‘small’ statured people, as well as the tradition of respect and discipline demanded by Muay Thai.

Alex trained with Kru Edge Brown and Kru Steve Milles, at the NYC Muay Thai camp under famed trainer Master Toddy. After learning the fundamentals of the sport, Alex began competing in venues in New York City, Virginia and Boston. In 2001, Alex won the 135lb (Women’s Welterweight) World Kickboxing Association (WKA) U.S. Championship and qualified for Worlds. She then went on to represent the USA and won a silver medal at the 2001 WKA World Championships in Vienna, Austria. Upon her return to NYC, she witnessed 9/11 first hand, and decided to try fighting for a different reason. She joined the U.S Marine Corps and served two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2008, Alex moved to Peoria, IL, and after a eight year hiatus from the sport, and severe back injury, she began training again. She took the first of several trips to Thailand in 2011, to deepen her knowledge of Muay Thai, as well as learn and appreciate Thai culture.

During the day, Alex works as a Marketing Manager for a large heavy equipment manufacturer. In 2018, Alex graduated with a professional certification in dog training and education, and is pursuing an advanced degree. She has rehabilitated two rescue pitbulls, and has a passion for working with ‘tough’ cases. Alex lives in Holly Springs with her 10 year old son (who does train at 36 Chambers!), pitbull and Cane Corso.

Alex enjoys sharing her love of Thai boxing with her students, particularly women of all ages. She feels very strongly that all women should be given an opportunity to understand the power they can generate, and be taught to throw and take a punch (or kick).

 

COACH FRANK DEES

Frank Dees has 28 years of Martial Arts training to include Shito-Ryu Karate, Judo, Aikido, Thai Boxing, wrestling MCMAP and is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Gustavo Machado. He started studying BJJ after watching UFC 2 while in college. At the time there were no schools to train at so he bought the Rorion and Royce VHS, yes VHS instructional tapes, and would travel to any seminar he could find with Rickson and Royce Gracie.
Frank and another karate student would watch the tapes and then practice on an old rollout wrestling mat. Over the years he has had the opportunity to train with and learn from some of the best in the world to include: Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, Gustavo Machado, Roberto “Gordo” Correa, Mario Sperry, Charuto Verrisimo and more.
Frank was among the early students of BJJ in North Carolina. In 1996 he attended one of the first BJJ seminars in NC with Rickson Gracie. He started formal BJJ training in 2002 at Raleigh Institute of Martial Arts with Jason Culbteth (Cary BJJ) and Billy Dowey (Royce Gracie Raleigh) until his Marine Corps Reserve unit was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After moving to Miami he trained at Gracie Barra Miami with Daniel “Montahna” de Lima who grew up training and fighting in Rio out of the original Gracie Barra Academy. In 2007 after moving home from Miami, he connected with an awesome group of guys training jiu jitsu in Rocky Mount and Wilson under Eric Griffin, Guy and Rob Pendergrass (PAMA). They were one of the first and only teams training BJJ in Eastern NC. Many of these original training partners are now Black Belts and school owners. Eric Griffin (Gustavo Machado -Rocky Mount), Scott Bass (Gustavo Machado – Wilson), Mark Bryant (Carlson Gracie -Nash County), Brandon Holt, Marcus Brown, Cliff Bush, Tim Suber, David Sutton (Carlson Gracie -Melbourne, FL) Since then, he as trained and competed as a member of the Gustavo Machado team in MMA, jiu jitsu and winning multiple competitions in NAGA, US Grappling FUJI and IBJJF
In 2021 and 2022 he won Bronze Medal at the Pan Ams and multiple other IBJJF Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. He ended both years ranked top 10 in the world in his IBJJF division.
In addition to his BJJ background, he is a USMC Veteran and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, received his MBA from East Carolina University and MA in Leadership from SEBTS in Wake Forest. He and his wife Sharon have been married for 21 years and have two adopted children, Will Franklin (11) and Caroline (5).

COACH KEVIN SPRUILL

Coach Kevin brings over 20 years of wrestling and combat sports experience to build a wrestling program at 36 Chambers, with a focus on developing high school and collegiate wrestlers. Kevin was a high school wrestling coach in various states, growing his programs to win 3x state titles, and 13 state champions.

 

“SENSEI” SETH ADAMS

Sensei Seth is a lifelong Karate Practitioner! Having learned Okinawan Kempo from his parents since the age of 3, he has grown up in the dojo surrounded by kids and adults who loved practicing Martial Arts. He’s used those experiences to add to his own teaching, and create a curriculum and game base class that kids LOVE.

Seth has also been able to learn and apply knowledge from other styles like Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to make sure his students are learning their best!

 

 

 

COACH CORY MINTON

Coach Cory recently moved to North Carolina from Columbus, Ohio where he has practiced various martial arts including, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), MMA, and Boxing since 2007. He has 12 years of coaching experience and continues to study Muay Thai under Aaron Boggs (Columbus, OH). Cory has a four-stripe purple belt (BJJ) under Dave Freetage (Grove City Jiu-Jitsu Academy), who is a 3rd degree black belt under Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam).

Cory comes to 36 Chambers with many years of mentoring students of all ages and skill levels. Although Cory no longer fights competitively, he has coached multiple amateur and professional fighters both here in the United States and abroad (Dubai, United Arab Emirates).

At 36 Chambers, Cory coaches Fundamental Muay Thai, Advanced Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes.