Instructors — Western Plains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Head Instructor

Professor Miles Fortner

I fell in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007 in Laramie, WY after transitioning from a high school career in basketball. I was awarded my blue belt in 2010 by Professor Robert Wunderlich and then moved to Dallas to start Chiropractic College.

During my time in Dallas, I was awarded my purple belt in 2012 by Professor Jose Reyes and competed in many competitions in Dallas as both a blue belt and purple belt. Once I moved back to Gillette in 2014 to start a practice, I also started a training club at the Rec Center to continue to pass along the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I was awarded my brown belt by Professor Robert in 2016 and then my black belt in 2021.

The passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has grown in our community and caused us to grow into our own location now. We are able to offer more classes and have more variety in what we do. We host self-defense seminars for groups, teach kids to be bully-proof, have competition circuit training, and intermediate and advanced classes. I am proud to say that we have built a state-of-the-art facility and I hope you will find a clean, fun, and enriched environment when you drop in to check it out.

Professor Travis Glace

My training started way back in the 20th century, as a little kid who wanted nothing more than to be a ninja turtle. I'm a few feet taller now, and some of my hair has turned grey, but my aspirations haven't changed much.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have trained with many knowledgeable and talented martial artists from a wide variety of backgrounds. Along the way, I got to dabble in a bit of fighting, and earn the rank of black belt in several disciplines.

As a teacher, I hope to maintain or improve upon the quality of information that has been gifted to me.

Dan Stroup

I have been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2015. With an extensive background in law enforcement, I quickly saw the need for Jiu Jitsu in everyday life and appreciated its ability to control larger aggressive opponents safely.

Initially, I began training as my 13-year-old son had begun training with Professor Miles. He was quickly gaining skills that I appreciated. In April of 2016 I was awarded my Blue belt by Professor Robert Wunderlich. I then entered the instructor's program in 2018 and began learning the process of teaching. In July of 2021 I received my Purple belt.

In addition to instructing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in 2025 I retired after 23 years with the Gillette Police Department where I trained officers in Use of Force and Firearms. I look forward to meeting everyone and showing them this awesome community we are building to improve each other.

Chris Tabor

I started amateur MMA sometime around 2007 with very little idea what I was doing. I ended with a 7–2 W/L record and the knowledge that I liked grappling and disliked being punched in the face. After an interlude with rugby and running, that eventually led me to trying out BJJ when I turned 30.

I haven’t been able to quit since. The thing I love about Jiu-Jitsu is that it is a problem that can’t be solved. The situations and opponents are always evolving — and so must you. BJJ is great for the mind, soul, and body.

I enjoy long walks on the beach, pressure tapping white belts, and spreading the joy of Jiu-Jitsu by sharing my favorite dirty tricks with other students.

Kyle White

Coming from a wrestling background, I began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu looking for a challenge and found something that became a much bigger part of my life than I ever expected.

Nearly two decades on the mats have taught me that progress rarely comes quickly or easily—but if you keep showing up, difficult things become possible. Jiu-Jitsu has given me lasting friendships, hard-earned lessons, plenty of humbling moments, and a suspiciously high tolerance for being uncomfortable. I’m proud to be part of Western Plains and to give back to a community that has given me so much.

Elijsha “Toad” Eckhardt

Started BJJ in 2018 to get in shape and learn self defense. It worked so good I never stopped showing up. I started the kids class with Dan in 2019 and haven't stopped showing up to that either.

Doing something you never thought you could do is rewarding, and seeing that in others is even more so.

Alex Bredthaur

I have always been interested in martial arts and self-defense from an early age. After studying and participating in several disciplines, Jiu-Jitsu has become my absolute favorite. I began training in 2021 and fell in love with the art for its effectiveness and practicality.

Jiu-Jitsu is many things to many people. To me, it has been a way to improve myself physically and mentally, it has given me an opportunity to do something I enjoy with my family, and it gives me the opportunity to teach students how to compete and defend themselves, using skills they can depend on.

I look forward to seeing new and existing members’ faces as I continue sharing the knowledge I have gained through this adventure.