Meet Professor Kevin Southworth

Chief Instructor – Lineage BJJ® | Senior Coach – Team LINEAGE®

The Standard. The Work Ethic. The Example.

Every strong academy has someone who sets the tone.

At Lineage BJJ® and across Team LINEAGE®, that person is Professor Kevin Southworth.

Kevin is a Black Belt, Chief Instructor at our St. Mary’s location, and the senior-ranking coach of our competition team.

He’s not just teaching classes—he’s building the next generation of students, competitors, and leaders inside the academy.

And he does it the same way he built himself:

through discipline, consistency, and relentless work.

Built on the Mats, Not Around Them

Kevin started his journey in 2017 at Calvert MMA Academy®.

He didn’t come in looking for shortcuts.

He went to work.

With a background in high school wrestling and as a rugby player at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, he already understood physicality, toughness, and competition.

But Jiu-Jitsu is different.

And Kevin embraced that challenge fully.

He trained 6–7 days a week, often multiple times a day—balancing mat time, strength training, and constant refinement.

For him, this wasn’t a phase.

It became who he is.

Earned Respect, Not Given

There’s a difference between someone who wears a belt… and someone who lives it.

Kevin is the second.

He earned his position through:

• consistency
• discipline
• showing up when others didn’t
• pushing through when things got hard

That’s why students respect him.

Not because he tells them to— but because they see it every day.

A Coach Who Leads From the Front

Kevin isn’t standing on the sidelines.

He’s on the mat.

Teaching. Training. Rolling. Coaching.

Every single week.

He leads:

• daily classes at Lineage BJJ®
• competition training for Team LINEAGE®
• advanced group sessions at Calvert MMA®
• Saturday Open Mat alongside students

He’s in it with you.

And that matters.

Developing Competitors—and People

As the head coach of our competition team, Kevin plays a major role in building one of the strongest youth and adult teams in the region.

But it’s not just about medals.

It’s about:

• confidence under pressure
• discipline in preparation
• composure when things don’t go your way

He pushes students—but always with purpose.

Because he understands something important:

What you learn on the mat carries into everything else.

High Standards. No Ego.

Kevin holds a high standard.

But he’s not loud about it.

He expects effort. Focus. Respect.

And he gives the same back to every student.

Beginners get guidance.
Experienced students get challenged.
Competitors get pushed.

Everyone gets better.

A Core Part of Team LINEAGE®

At Calvert MMA Academy® and Lineage BJJ®, Kevin works directly under Professor Jim Thrift and alongside a highly experienced coaching staff.

Together, they maintain:

• one curriculum
• one standard
• one team culture

That consistency is why students improve—and why families stay.

Train with Professor Kevin Southworth

If you’re looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in St. Mary’s County or Southern Maryland, this is the level of instruction you want.

Real coaching. Real structure. Real results.

Start your New Student Foundations Pass

Call or text: 410-257-5425

Come train with a coach who leads from the front—and expects the best from you because he gives his best every day.

Show up. Work hard. Improve.
That’s how it’s done at Team LINEAGE®.