Neil Melanson
Neil Melanson is an American submission grappling coach. Melanson specializes in catch wrestling, while drawing elements from judo, and focuses his coaching specifically on grappling in mixed martial arts. He is especially known for his guard work, leg locks and triangle chokes. He is currently the head grappling coach at Jaco Hybrid Training Center. He is the former head grappling coach at both Xtreme Couture Las Vegas and Alliance MMA. Melanson's hybrid grappling style comes from his training under Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and Karo Parisyan (who awarded him his black belt) at the Hayastan MMA Academy . Gene LeBell learned catch wrestling from feared wrestlers Lou Thesz and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, which is mixed with Gokor Chivichyan's expertise in judo and sambo. Melanson considers this unique style a massive influence on his grappling, and has since incorporated techniques from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling into his own style. Throughout his career, the professional fighters Melanson has trained include: Randy Couture, Karo Parisyan, Gray Maynard, Todd Duffee, Goran Reljic, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson, Patrick Cummins and also professional wrestler Bryan Danielson. Prior to working at Xtreme Couture Las Vegas, Melanson spent seven  years in the United States Navy and five years as a Special Agent for the Federal Air Marshals. Melanson's book "Mastering Triangle Chokes: Ground Marshal Submission Grappling" was released by Victory Belt Publishing. The book serves as a complete guide to the physiology and science of triangle submissions. Personal life. Melanson married female MMA fighter Erin Toughill in a private ceremony on November 20, 2009. As of 2011 the couple was going through a divorce. Melanson was born with Behcet’s disease which caused him to go blind at the age of 28. With the help of doctors and  Remicade Infusions, he regained sight but only in his right eye.