Our Team
SENSEI GREG GUTMAN
A lifelong martial artist from St. Petersburg, Russia, Greg Gutman stepped onto a judo mat before he started grade school and never looked back. After decades honing his craft through judo and combat sambo, he immigrated to New York in his thirties. Finding no gym that truly blended striking and grappling under one roof, he opened New York City’s first multidiscipline fight gym in 2008—International Training Center.
Nearly twenty years later, at 66-years-old, Sensei Greg still leads every judo and striking session with the same no‑nonsense Russian work ethic that earned him the nickname “The Terminator.” His classes balance old‑school rigor with modern sports science, emphasizing efficient technique, real‑world application, and mutual respect on the mat. Whether you’re a first‑day hobbyist or a seasoned competitor, expect concise instruction, high‑rep drilling, and plenty of live rounds.
What began as Greg’s dream to house both striking and grappling under one roof has come full-circle two decades later: his sons now help to carry each pillar forward—Danny as the club’s Judo black-belt coach, and Mark as its resident Muay Thai fighter and instructor.
Career Highlights
50+ years of continuous training in Judo & Combat Sambo
Founder of NYC’s first Muay Thai–Judo hybrid academy (est. 2006)
Former Vice‑President, USA Sambo Federation & Former President, USA Hand‑to‑Hand Fighting
Featured in Martin Rooney’s bestseller Ultimate Warrior Workouts as “Greg ‘The Terminator’ Gutman”
Coached athletes across world MMA, grappling, and striking tournaments
Mentored hundreds of students to national‑level competition and black‑belt ranks
Join a Legacy of Authentic Training. ITC New York prides itself on real fighters teaching real technique. Under Sensei Gutman’s guidance, you’ll train the way combat athletes do—while still feeling welcome and supported from day one. Come experience the difference that four decades of mat time can make.
COACH SRIJAN MUNIER
With nearly two decades in the ring and on the pads, Coach Srijan Munier delivers authentic, fight‑tested Muay Thai to Astoria. A direct student of legendary five‑time world champion Coban Lookchaomaesaithong, Srijan absorbed the old‑school Thai system from one of the sport’s most feared punch‑knee artists—then pressure‑tested it in 27 international bouts across the United States, Thailand, China, Russia, and Uzbekistan.
CAREER Highlights
Two‑time Amateur Muay Thai Champion, including a WBC Amateur title
Bronze Medalist – World Championships of Hand‑To‑Hand Fighting (Russia)
Continues to compete professionally, logging two pro fights already in 2025
Cornerstone of ITC’s fight team, often stepping back between rounds to coach the very athletes he trains—including coach Mark Gutman
Since 2014, Srijan has shaped the striking program at ITC New York. Students know him for:
Laser‑focused technique – precise footwork and balanced power generation.
Strategic instruction – scenario‑based teaching that build fight IQ, not just toughness
Individualized game‑plans – tailoring combos, clinch tactics, and conditioning protocols to each athlete’s strengths and fight goals
Mind‑set coaching – routines for composure under pressure, visualization, and adaptive thinking mid‑fight
Whether you’re just looking to get into shape, chasing your first smoker or getting ready for your next pro contract, Srijan’s blend of traditional Thai technique and modern fight science gives you actionable skills from day one. Expect crisp pad work, honest feedback, and a coach who still laces up the gloves himself—proving the system works at the highest level.
Join Coach Srijan and the ITC family to experience Muay Thai the way it’s meant to be taught: authentic, disciplined, and relentlessly practical.
SENSEI ANTHONY Vennitti
Awarded his black belt by legendary 9th‑degree Sensei Yoichiro Matsumura, Sensei Anthony Vennitti brings more than 25 years of mat time and a pedigree forged on the East Coast’s toughest judo circuits. His technical depth and quiet intensity make him the ideal mentor for students looking to elevate their throwing mechanics, grip fighting, and competitive mindset.
Career Highlights
Senior National Medalist – 1×
Liberty Bell Classic – 1× Gold, 2× Bronze
Presidents Cup – 5th Place
New York Open – 2× Team Member
Sensei Anthony’s classes focus on fundamental kuzushi and seamless transition to ne-waza, drilled at realistic tempos to build instincts you can trust in competition. Expect:
Grip-dominance drills that set up high‑percentage throws
Timed situation rounds to refine decision‑making under pressure
Technical mini‑lectures that connect classical judo principles to modern rule sets
A teaching style that combines Japanese precision with the pragmatic intensity of American competition
Under Sensei Anthony’s guidance, ITC offers a complete judo journey from your very first breakfall to podium‑ready performance.
COACH MARK GUTMAN
Following ITC’s Muay Thai path, Coach Mark Gutman started striking a heavy bag at age ten and never stopped. Decades later he channels that same enthusiasm into every Tuesday and Thursday fundamentals session at ITC, where newcomers and seasoned strikers alike sharpen their technique, conditioning, and fight‑ready mindset under his guidance.
career highlights
Mark’s formative years were spent under two elite mentors hand-picked by his father, Sensei Greg:
Igor “Houdini” Zinoviev – UFC Middleweight title contender & Extreme Fighting World Champion
Armin “The Bosnian Prince” Mrkanovic – WBA Fedecaribe Boxing Champion
Their influence forged Mark’s hybrid striking style: crisp combinations layered onto iron‑clad defense and relentless conditioning.
Won his Debut Fight at the IKF East Coast Winter Classic
Competitor in the WBC Muay Thai Development League – two developmental bouts for ring craft and experience
Active competitor, continuously testing his own skills to keep coaching cues fresh and relevant
Fundamentals Coach – designing progressive lesson plans that blend technical precision, high‑output pad work, and mindset drills
Cornered students and teammates across amateur shows and professional bouts, including guiding first‑time fighters to successful debuts
Expect concise technical demos, purposeful conditioning rounds, and constant feedback that meets you where you are—whether it’s your first day in gloves or your tenth year chasing razor‑sharp mechanics. Mark’s sessions build a foundation you can lean on under fire: balanced footwork, a strong defense, and the mental composure to execute when the bell rings.
Join Coach Mark and the ITC family to experience Muay Thai that’s authentic, detail‑oriented, and powered by a coach who lives what he teaches—on the mats and in the ring.
SENSEI DANNY GUTMAN
Raised on the very mats his father laid down, Sensei Danny embodies the Judo half of ITC’s founding vision. With more than 30 years of continuous training and a second‑degree black belt in Judo, Danny carries the legacy of seamless throws, pins, and submissions that define the club’s DNA.
Career Highlights
Catch Wrestling World Champion – 2014
USA Team Member – 2013 Sambo World Championships
Winner of Several Hand-to-Hand Combat Matches
Sambo Nationals – Bronze Medalist
New Jersey Judo Open – Silver Medalist
Garden State Judo Championships – Bronze Medalist
Danny’s classes focus on precision over power—cultivating crisp kuzushi, efficient transitions, and relentless mat pressure. He sharpens classical judo grip fighting, razor‑sharp kuzushi, and seamless transitions from standing to ne‑waza, giving students a competition‑ready toolkit that also cross‑pollinates naturally with other grappling arts.
Real competitive pedigree tested at national and world levels
Integrated curriculum that complements MMA training
Detail‑driven instruction—expect individual corrections and plenty of live situational rounds
Danny keeps the original dream alive: one roof, two disciplines, and an open door for anyone ready to put in honest work.
SENSEI TOM PETtERSEN
A lifelong student of grappling arts, Coach Tom Pettersen first stepped onto a tatami in 2010 and has been refining his craft ever since. Now a Judo Shodan—with his Nidan (2nd-degree) test scheduled for next month—Tom also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, giving his classes a well-rounded edge. Since joining the academy in 2015, he has become a cornerstone of ITC New York’s judo program, known for his technical precision and insistence on rock-solid fundamentals.
Career Highlights
Judo Black Belt (Shodan, awarded 2021); testing for Nidan in 2025
Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
15 years of judo experience; 10 years on the mats at ITC New York
Instructor for fundamentals classes, mentoring scores of new judoka
Coach Tom creates an inclusive environment where every athlete can thrive, regardless of age or experience. Classes open with a dynamic warm-up and ukemi (the technique of falling safely) to build confidence and injury-proof bodies. Each session then zeroes in on one or two standing or ground techniques, followed by ample live practice so students can ingrain movements, troubleshoot, and apply skills in real time. Whether your aim is competition, cross-training for MMA, or simply moving with greater balance and power, Tom’s detail-oriented approach will keep you progressing safely, steadily, and with purpose.