MEET THE Coaches
QUINNTON “Q” HOWARD
HEAD COACH- Adult and youth NoGI All Levels / Nogi Foundations
Q is a Brown belt under Ruben Vera at the renowned Queen City Grappling Club. He began his training in 2018 with the goal of getting in shape. Soon, he had lost the weight that he had struggled with his whole life and had also fallen in love with the game of jiu-jitsu. In 2021, he was led to QCGC, where his knowledge and skills began to improve rapidly. Q used his new skills to lead to opportunities to compete at a high level and train with some of the best grapplers in the sport.
In 2022, he began teaching on an as-needed basis at Queen City. It was in that moment that his true passion began to reveal itself. Known for his obsessive studying and deep understanding of the leg lock game, Q carved out a role as teacher and leader in the gym. In 2024, he was given his own classes and curriculum to build. He applied the same methods of study and intentional training that he used for his own jiu-jitsu as a way to improve as a coach. Q is an experienced and hungry coach with goals as an active competitor as well.
Above all else, Q is a devout family man. He is the proud father of two young boys (Raidenn and KINNDLE). And a loving husband to his dear wife, Kaitlynn.
Jeff kingsley
Head Coach - Gi and NoGi BJJ
Jeff Kingsley is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Shawn Chitwood at the legendary Team Chitwood. He began his jiu-jitsu journey in 2009 after a lifetime dedicated to athletics. Early in his journey, Jeff was a bit of a jiu-jitsu nomad. This challenged him to learn grappling in a way that best suited his individual game and style. What initially presented as a challenge ultimately became an opportunity that allowed Jeff to distill grappling down to its most fundamental and effective elements.
As an established black belt, Jeff draws on this deep understanding of grappling to teach at a very high level. He specializes in the timeless art of GI jiu-jitsu and is particularly passionate about identifying the connections between every position and the most dominant position in grappling—the back mount.
Over the past three years, Jeff has successfully run his own jiu-jitsu program, Bandit BJJ. During this time, he has cultivated a healthy, welcoming, and enjoyable culture that fosters a comfortable environment for learning and training. Jeff and the Bandit BJJ team are excited to bring this culture with them over to 5th Shield as we continue our grappling journeys together!
Outside the gym, Jeff is a devoted husband to his wife Awny, and a loving father to his children.
kAITLYNN HOWARD
ASSISTANT YOUTH COACH / WOMEN’S AMBASSADOR
Kaitlynn is a white belt under Ruben Vera at Queen City Grappling Club and has over 5 years of grappling experience in both Gi and NoGi jiu jitsu. In addition to her training, she has extensive experience working with children, having served as a daycare assistant for the past three years. Kaitlynn is passionate about fostering a family-friendly environment where all 5th Shield members and their families feel welcomed at the gym. She is also passionate about supporting women in jiu-jitsu.
As a busy mom and wife, having jiu jitsu as a productive outlet has been very beneficial to both her physical and mental health. She is committed to sharing this gift of jiu-jitsu with other women at 5th Shield Grappling Club