Dr. Leandro de Lorenco Lima is a performance psychology scientist-practitioner with a passion for combat sports research. Dr. Leandro holds a PhD in Psychology, a MS in Human Movement Sciences, a MBA in Management, and a BS in Physical Education. A former athlete (judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, handball, and volleyball), he also holds a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a 3rd dan black belt in judo. 

As a scientist Dr. Leandro has contributed to the field through several peer-reviewed publications available on his Google Scholar Profile. 

Rui Miguel Silva is a Researcher at the Instituto Politecnico de Viana do Castelo, Portugal. He has a PhD in Education, Sport and Health from the University of Vigo, Spain. Silva's research focuses on training load monitoring, physical fitness assessment, and performance optimization in sports. Produced over 90 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals indexed in JCR, Scopus, and SCImago. Has been contributing extensively to peer review across multiple prestigious scientific publications. He holds a level 1 Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaching certification and a UEFA B football coaching certification and is now focusing on researching combat sports, mainly in skill acquisition through non-linear pedagogical methods. His publications can be found on his ResearchGate Profile. 

Dr. Jonathan Johnson is a Community Health Educator and Mental Health Counselor whose doctoral work at Columbia University investigated the impact of Afro-Brazilian martial arts and African healing-circle practices on health outcomes, belonging, and behavior change among young men of color. He brings 20 years of experience designing and leading large-scale wellness, mental-health, and violence-prevention initiatives across higher education, public health agencies, and sports organizations. His leadership at Columbia University Athletics—including pioneering healthy-relationship training for coaches, developing culturally responsive prevention curricula, and advancing racial-equity strategies—contributed to a 30% reduction in critical incidents and became a national model for athlete wellbeing. Dr. Johnson has also provided mental-health literacy training for the Toronto Raptors, designed trauma-informed coaching modules for collegiate athletic conferences, and led culturally grounded health-promotion programs across the juvenile justice system. His current research and writing explore embodied learning, healing circles, and combat-sport methodologies as tools for psychological resilience and community building. He joins the Combat Sports Psychology Lab with a focus on expanding culturally responsive approaches to athlete mental health and performance.

Olivia Cassone is an engineer and interdisciplinary researcher with a background in psychology, biomechanics, and human performance. She earned a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where her graduate work focused on robotics, control systems, and human-centered design, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. Her work bridges engineering and sport psychology through a focus on how motor control, cognitive load, and psychological resilience influence performance in high-demand environments. In parallel with her academic work, Olivia has extensive experience in athletic coaching and applied performance settings. She is the founder and head coach of Ocean Courts Volleyball, where she applies principles of biomechanics, movement efficiency, and mental skills training to athlete development. Her broader research interests include combat sports performance, embodied learning, injury risk, and the role of psychological training in long-term athlete wellbeing. Olivia is particularly interested in research examining the interaction between cognition, emotion regulation, and physical performance in combat sports and other high-pressure athletic contexts. 

Brian graduated from Georgia State University’s Honors Program with a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. Brian is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Odyssey Jiu Jitsu. He is interested in researching how combat sports can be used in conjunction with therapy to improve individuals’ mental health and flourishing.