Gary Meek
Gary Meek is the Owner and serves as Chief Instructor at S.I.M.S. Martial Arts Academy/10th Planet Jiu Jitsu in Waterloo, IL. Gary has been in martial arts for more than 40 years, starting at age 4 under his father, Senior Master Gary Meek, an 8th degree black belt in Taekwon-Do and achieved the rank of 5th degree black belt in 2004 before hanging it up to focus solely on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In 2019, Gary was promoted to black belt in 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu under Master Eddie Bravo. Now with more than 20 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience and operating 10th Planet O'Fallon for 10 years, Gary decided to open 10th Planet Waterloo in Feb 2024 to be closer to his home in Smithton, IL.
Throughout the years, he also cross-training in a variety of other martial arts; including Bruce Lee's JKD, Kali/Silat, boxing/kickboxing, and Japanese Jiu Jitsu. Gary has also been a combat tactics and Certified Krav Maga instructor for law enforcement/military during his 12 years spent in the US Air Force; where he served in IT and as a Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations (OSI).