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The Coach Behind Your Results

Meet Your Trainer — Ready When You Are

One coach, one private studio, never more than 3 people. First-timers, athletes, and everyone in between train here — with the same NASM-certified coach every session.

Call (631) 846-1509 Text Us
Free first weekMax 3 per session15+ years experience
Diego Batista - Founder & Trainer
Diego Batista
Founder & Trainer
Google Reviews
15+
Years
Coaching
Max 3
People
Per Session
1,000
Sq Ft
Private Studio
3
NASM
Certifications
In Diego's Words
"Every session starts with the spine — everything else is built on that foundation."

I started moving before I started coaching — capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu were just part of daily life in Brazil. I came to the States young and never stopped chasing the work.

For fifteen years I coached on other people's floors — big-box gyms, BJJ academies, boxing gyms, movement studios — building a client list one person at a time. When the schedule was full and people kept coming back, I knew the only way to do this the right way was a space of my own. That's Move Academia.

Clients tell me I'm calm. I'll take it. The body was meant to move — my job is to make that feel safe enough to try.

Read the full story
NASM Certified
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) Certified Nutrition Coach
The Studio
1-on-1 or Max 3 People One Coach, Every Session Fully Insured Private Studio · Coram, NY 11727 Free First Week
What Clients & Families Say

In Their Words

Confident
★★★★★
"I found this great place for my son… It's wonderful how my son feels comfortable and confident there… Thank you Diego for being very polite!"
KKarina J.Parent · Google Review
Over a year
★★★★★
"My name is Bishaul, I've been going to Move for over a year, I love my movements and boxing and the Move Academia friends"
BBishaul K.Member · Google Review
A safe place
★★★★★
"Diego is an amazing trainer! … Move Academia is welcoming and makes everyone feel comfortable. It's a safe place for all."
LLaura L.Parent · Google Review
NASM CPTCertified Personal Trainer NASM CESCorrective Exercise Specialist — movement & posture work NASM Nutrition CoachNutrition is built into every program 15+ Years CoachingAdults of all levels, 1-on-1 & small group Fully InsuredPrivate studio in Coram, NY CPR/AED & First AidAmerican Red Cross certified Vetted StaffEvery coach I bring in is background-checked by me
Outside the Gym

Diego Beyond the Walls

Movement isn't something Diego turns on when he walks into the gym. It's how he lives.

Diego by the water
Diego at the lake
Diego by the lake
Diego on the mountain
Diego at the beach
Diego in the forest
How Diego Got Here

The Story Behind the Method

Five chapters, in my own words — so you know exactly who's coaching you or your kid.

  1. Diego in the gi with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training group
    Chapter 01

    Brazil, Where It Started

    Movement wasn't a hobby where I grew up — it was daily life. Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught me early that a body can be strong and playful at the same time. I moved to the States young, but that way of moving never left me.

    Capoeira · Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  2. Boxing pad work session at Move Academia
    Chapter 02

    The Teachers

    I got lucky with teachers. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor early on, then a kickboxing coach, gave me the technical grounding — how the body's mechanics really work. My capoeira instructor was more than a coach; he was a life mentor. Later, studying the Ido Portal method changed how I think about teaching itself. That's when I took the deep dive.

    What I took from each teacher
    Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

    Leverage before strength, position before anything. A smaller person controls a bigger one with angles, base and timing — so a client who can't muscle through a movement can still own it. And progress is measured in years, one small problem at a time.

    Leverage over strengthPosition firstCalm under pressure
    Kickboxing

    Stance before swing. Power comes from the feet and the hips, never the lower back — the same mechanics that protect a spine under a barbell or a bag of groceries. Relax, then snap. Exhale on the effort. Combinations are counting.

    Ground-up powerFootwork & balanceRhythm & timing
    Capoeira

    Movement is a conversation, not a test. The roda taught me rhythm, play and community: put a beat under a movement and a nervous beginner — or a client with sensory needs — finds a flow their body couldn't find in silence. Respect runs in every direction.

    Play over competitionRhythm-based cueingCommunity in the circle
    Ido Portal Method (influence)

    Studying the Ido Portal approach changed how I teach. Isolate, integrate, improvise: break a skill into a piece the client can do today, rebuild it into the real movement, then explore. Joints before load, one parameter at a time. If a client can't do it, the instruction was wrong — not the client.

    Scalable progressionsJoint prep firstThe art of teaching
    Technique · Mentorship
  3. The Move Academia community working out together on mats
    Chapter 03

    Everyone Trains Here.

    I built this studio for everyone — and I mean that plainly. First-timers who have never touched a barbell, adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities (some here with a parent or care coordinator), athletes chasing a number, older adults who want to keep lifting their grandkids, and people coming back from an injury. You all train here, in the same room, with me.

    Every session is 1-on-1 or a group of three at most. One coach, start to finish. Spine first, then mobility, then real strength. Adapting to your pace, sensory needs, or comfort level is one of the things I do best — not a separate program, just how I coach.

    Total first-timersAdults with developmental disabilitiesAthletes & competitorsOlder adultsComing back from injury
  4. Diego coaching a 1-on-1 personal training session
    Chapter 04

    Fifteen Years on Other People's Floors

    For fifteen years I coached on other people's floors — big-box gyms, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies, boxing gyms, movement studios. Early mornings, borrowed corners of the weight room, building a client list one person at a time. When the schedule was full and people kept coming back, I knew: to do this the right way, I needed a space of my own.

    15+ Years · One Client at a Time
  5. Balance and stability training at Move Academia
    Chapter 05

    Spine and Stability First

    Every session starts with the spine and the stability around it — the NASM way. Mobility and core control first, then clean movement patterns, then strength, then power, in that order. Build the base, earn the load. Kickboxing and BJJ shaped how I think about mechanics and discipline; NASM gave it the structure — and it's the same progression for every client, at every level.

    NASM CPT · CES · Nutrition Coach

Why Spine and Stability First?

If the spine doesn't move well and the core can't stabilize it, nothing built on top will hold. So every session, every level, every body starts in the same place and climbs the same ladder — the NASM OPT progression: stabilization, then strength, then power.

1Spine & mobilityGet it moving properly before anything is loaded — corrective work first.
2Stability & core controlBalance, bracing and control — the NASM stabilization phase.
3Movement patternsSquat, hinge, push, pull, carry — plus crawl, hang and play.
4Strength & powerEarn the load, then the speed — tracked, progressive, never random.
NASM OPT model Corrective Exercise (CES) Same method, every level
What Guides Us

Our Training Philosophy

Three principles that shape every single session at Move Academia — from the very first minute to the last rep.

Spine First, Always

Every session starts with spine mobility. If your spine doesn't move well, nothing else will either. This is what separates us from every other gym.

Mobility · Control · Strength

You're a Person, Not a Number

We keep our client list small on purpose. We know your name, your story, your limitations, and your goals. Every session is built around you.

Coaching · Connection · Accountability

Movement for Life

We don't just train you for the gym — we train you for real life. The movements you learn here will help you move better at 30, 50, and 70.

Move · Adapt · Thrive
Your Next Step

Ready? Start Here

Two ways to reach me, three steps to your first session — and your first week is free.

Call (631) 846-1509 Text Diego ✍️ Sign the waiver
How to Start
  1. Step 1

    Text or call (631) 846-1509. Tell me what you want to work on. I answer myself.

  2. Step 2

    Come in for your free first week — just show up. Or come watch a session first if that feels better.

  3. Step 3

    Pick a weekly time. Self-direction families: I send the statement and attendance sheet your FI needs.

Self-direction funding accepted. Move Academia accepts OPWDD self-direction funding — families pay through their fiscal intermediary, and I provide monthly itemized statements and signed attendance sheets.

Private 1-on-1 · Gi Focus

Choose Your Discipline

Click a discipline to learn more

Private Sessions · A Arte Suave — "The Gentle Art"

1-on-1 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — One Focus

From your first day in a white belt to wherever the journey takes you — every session meets you exactly at your level.

What Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

A ground-based martial art built on control, submissions, and defense — winning with leverage, not strength.

Gi vs No-Gi

The Gi — the traditional uniform. Every grip, pass, and finish becomes deliberate: patience, sensitivity, control. No-Gi — no jacket to hold. Pure mechanics, speed, and timing. You'll see both in the sessions below.

Private Session · Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Work

The Back-Take Chain — De La Riva to Back Control

The chain you'll see in this session ↓
1
De La Riva
Guard
2
Guard
Pass
3
Crab Ride
Position
4
Back
Take
!
Plan B:
Leg Attacks
Step 01
De La Riva Guard
Outside hook wraps the lead leg. The ankle grip is your lifeline — it controls posture, disrupts balance, and opens every attack in the chain.
Step 02
Guard Pass
Passing the DLR requires precise weight distribution, level changes, and timing. The pass is never forced — it's earned by neutralizing the hook and reading the hips.
Step 03
Crab Ride
Hooks land behind the knees — lifting the hips, exposing the back. Push with the legs, pull the belt. That push-pull tension makes your opponent weightless. The Crab Ride is the bridge between guard and back mount.
Step 04
Back Take
The most dominant position in grappling. From the Crab Ride, timing is everything — read the reaction, insert the seat belt, secure the harness. Control before submission.
Troubleshooting
Leg Attacks
When the back take is defended, the Crab Ride opens a direct path to heel hooks, knee bars, and ankle locks. Defense creates offense — the leg attack is always waiting.

1-on-1 sessions can integrate movement, martial arts, and strength — tailored entirely to your goals.

Private Session · No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Work

Guard Retention Under Pressure

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu · No-Gi
Leg Entries & Guard Retention
What You're Watching

Working Leg Entries and Guard Retention in No-Gi. No jacket — just mechanics, pressure, and timing. Every movement has to be technically clean to work.

Option 1 — Leg Entries

A leg entry gets you into a leg entanglement — Ashi Garami, Single Leg X, or 50/50 — from guard. Once your legs control their leg, three submissions open: Ankle Lock (blade the forearm into the Achilles, thrust the hips), Heel Hook (rotational torque on the knee — the most common high-level No-Gi finish), and Knee Bar (hyperextend the knee across the hips, same mechanics as an armbar). All three entries open when the opponent tries to pass.

Option 2 — Guard Retention & Sweeps

Guard retention is a constant battle of hips, frames, and angles — not a single technique. Hip movement is the engine; frames buy the time. Shrimping (explosive lateral hip escape) is the foundation of all guard recovery. When the opponent overcommits to pass, sweeps open: the Butterfly Sweep uses inside hooks to tip opponents twice your size with leverage over strength; the Single Leg X Sweep isolates one leg and destroys their base entirely. Defense becomes offense in a single movement.

Private Session · No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Work

Back Control & Back Attacks

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu · No-Gi
Back Control · Rear Triangle · Head & Arm
What You're Watching

Back Control — the checkmate of BJJ. The foundation is the seatbelt grip: one arm over the shoulder, one under the armpit, chest glued to their back. Hooks inside the thighs prevent hip rotation. What the opponent does in defense determines which finish opens.

Option 1 — Rear Triangle

When the opponent pins your choking arm to defend the Rear Naked Choke, their defense creates the opening. Scoot the hip out, swing your top leg over their shoulder and across the back of their neck, lock your ankle behind the other knee. The wedge cuts both carotid arteries and the trapped arm makes escape nearly impossible. No strength required — the geometry does the work. The opponent's own defense builds the setup for them.

Option 2 — Head & Arm Choke

Also called the Arm Triangle — it uses the opponent's own shoulder against them. Drive the top arm deep under and across the neck, threading over the far shoulder. Your shoulder compresses one carotid artery; their trapped shoulder compresses the other. Key detail: head low, chest tight, no space. If it feels loose, there is space — adjust the angle and drive in. Works in Gi, No-Gi, from back control, mount, and side control.

What Members Say

Straight From the People Who Show Up

Every review below is real, verified on Google. No scripts, no stock photos — just people who trained here and wanted to share.

Verified Google Reviews · ★★★★★ 5.0 · 35 Reviews
★★★★★

"Diego is a wealth of knowledge and a pleasure to work with! From Movement, Capoeira, Jiu Jitsu, and Fitness he walks the walk. His passion for helping others radiates outward."

R
Randy G.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"It is rare to encounter a trainer so dedicated to his craft. Diego at Move Academia genuinely cares about the health and wellness of his clients, and his thorough knowledge of exercise and mobility will ensure you are on a safe path towards fitness. The only thing you need to bring is your own dedication!"

R
Robert W.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego is an outstanding trainer. He is passionate about what he does and it shows. He is patient and knows how to motivate his clients to reach their fitness goals. I highly recommend him and his gym."

A
Andrea B.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego is extremely reliable and punctual. He is very understanding and explains what's necessary for better results. He is an amazing PT instructor."

S
Samuel Z.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego encourages each individual to work towards their goal, while also having the understanding to work with them at their pace. My son looks forward to attending the program every week. Diego, thank you for looking for ways to keep us active and conscious of our food choices in a caring way."

B
Beatrice R.
Parent · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego showed a series of movements focused on getting to and from the ground, with insightful instruction on proper falling techniques — a skill I found invaluable for injury prevention. If you're looking to get in shape, I can't recommend Diego enough. It's not just a workout; it's a whole vibe that makes you want to come back for more."

I
Isabelle G.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego is an amazing business owner who is wonderful with all his clients. He is so personable and makes his clients feel at home."

D
Dale M.
Member · Google Review
★★★★★

"Diego is someone who cares deeply about his craft and takes great pleasure in sharing his knowledge. As a long course triathlete, he has been helping me overcome nagging overuse injuries."

D
D.
Member · Google Review
Read all 35 reviews on Google
A Note From Diego

THIS SPACE WAS BUILT
TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE

I built this space so you'd walk in feeling comfortable — and walk out ready to move your body the way it was meant to. Bring your questions, bring your kid, come watch a session. Your first week is on me.

— Diego Batista, Founder & Coach
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