Sim Go

Raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Simpson Go's early athletic life briefly included wrestling during high school — enough exposure to grappling to spark an interest, but not enough to define a path. That definition came at age 15, when he discovered a BJJ school close to home and stepped onto the mats for the first time. The decision would shape the entire course of his athletic career.

At that academy, Go trained under John Lewis, a coach rooted in the Nova Uniao lineage who served as one of his most formative early influences. The school also brought him into contact with Marc Laimon, who was an instructor there at the time. Go's development under Lewis was steady and purposeful, culminating in the award of his blue belt — the first significant milestone in a competitive journey that was only just beginning.

When Marc Laimon departed to open Cobra Kai, Simpson Go followed, committing to a long and defining chapter under Laimon's direct guidance. The Cobra Kai environment accelerated Go's development considerably. Without exceptional size or raw strength, Go built his game on two pillars that proved equally effective: outstanding flexibility and a meticulous attention to technical detail. These qualities allowed him to construct a highly refined system capable of neutralizing opponents with far greater physical advantages.

Training alongside Jeff Glover — widely recognized as a specialist in the Deep Half Guard — further expanded Go's technical vocabulary. The combination of Laimon's structured coaching and exposure to elite training partners forged Go into one of the top submission grapplers in the United States.

In November 2006, Marc Laimon awarded Go his black belt, a moment that carried particular historical weight: Go became the first student under Laimon to reach that grade. The milestone reflected both Go's individual dedication and the credibility of the program Laimon had built at Cobra Kai.

Competing in the super featherweight division at 64 kg (141 lbs), Simpson Go became one of the most respected no-gi and submission grappling competitors on the Las Vegas circuit — and well beyond it. His competitive record demonstrates that technical precision and flexibility can consistently overcome physically stronger opposition at the highest levels.

Go claimed the Grapplers Quest championship title and won the ADCC US Trials in 2007, earning qualification to represent the United States on the international stage. In 2008, he reached the podium at the World No-Gi Championship, finishing third at the black belt level — a result that firmly established his standing among the submission grappling elite. Earlier in his career, competing at purple belt, Go reached the final of the Pan American Championship in 2006, finishing as runner-up. He also contributed to the FILA World Team, with that squad earning a runner-up finish in international competition.

Across this period, Go's reputation as a no-gi specialist grew in parallel with Cobra Kai's standing as a serious incubator of submission grappling talent.

As his competitive career matured, Simpson Go transitioned into a central leadership role at Cobra Kai, eventually becoming the gym's head instructor. Under his direction, Cobra Kai maintained its position as one of the largest and most respected no-gi and submission grappling schools in the Las Vegas region, drawing competitors in pursuit of high-level technical instruction in a grappling-focused environment.

Go's coaching philosophy mirrors the qualities that defined his own rise — meticulous technical detail, positional precision, and a problem-solving approach that equips smaller athletes to compete effectively against larger opponents. Among the competitors he helped develop was Chris Holdsworth, who went on to compete in the UFC, a testament to the caliber of instruction Go delivered within the Cobra Kai system.

Through his role as head instructor, Go carries forward the technical lineage established by Marc Laimon, transmitting the standards and methods of Cobra Kai to successive generations of grapplers. His journey — from a teenager discovering BJJ near his Las Vegas home to becoming the gym's primary instructor — stands as a compelling reflection of what technical dedication can produce within the sport.