About
Highland Jiu-Jitsu Club first opened in King, NC in October 2023 with only three adult members. The Club grew to double digits in both the adults and the kids groups within a few months. This necessitated a larger space which also provided for opportunities to offer more classes and services for the community. The Club moved to Broad Street in Rural Hall in September 2024 and has been growing ever since.
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Coach Wesley McCarter, a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu and a community leader, first started an early morning adult JJ class four days a week and a kids' class one evening per week. Soon after, Coach Weston Klett, a Brown Belt, joined the Club to teach JJ classes two evenings per week for adults and teenagers. Now, we have several classes throughout the week for girls, boys, men, women, and all ages.
We aim to be service oriented and affordable for the whole family.​​​​
COACH Wesley McCarter (Black Belt, Jiu-Jitsu)
Born in Lenoir, NC, Wesley McCarter is a dedicated Jiu-Jitsu instructor with over a decade of training experience. After several years of preliminary training, taking his first JJ class around 2008, Wesley decided in 2015 to commit himself full-time to JJ. His instruction has come from schools with prestigious affiliations with the likes of world-renowned masters Lucas Lepri (Alliance), Royler Gracie (Gracie Humaitá), and links to Carlos Gracie Jr. (Gracie Barra). He has attended Lepri and Royler seminars to refine his technique. He earned the rank of Black Belt under second degree Black Belt, Professor Tony Harris who, in turn, is under Professor Joe Hurst.
Coach McCarter’s journey has been shaped by consistent practice—maintaining six hours of mat time weekly for ten years—and by the guidance of local professors who helped him master the fundamentals. Since earning his Blue Belt in 2017, he has served as an associate teacher and collaborated with his Black Belt professor to develop a comprehensive curriculum that supports student progression.
In 2023, Wesley founded Highland Jiu-Jitsu Club, where he currently teaches six JJ classes per week and hosts even more. His competitive coaching record includes several tournament medals. Since opening Highland, he has rewritten his entire curriculum to best serve students.
Beyond his martial arts career, Wesley holds several academic credentials including a Bachelor's, Master's, and two Doctoral degrees. He has completed the SafeSport Trained course with the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the CDC's Heads Up Concussion Training for Youth Sports Coaches and has CPR Certification from the National CPR Foundation.
A resident of Rural Hall, NC, Wesley enjoys spending time with his wife, Bridget, and two amazing daughters, researching family history, training in jiu-jitsu, community service, mountain excursions, and cooking his signature dish—fried rice with homemade white sauce.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Wesley and Bridget also founded Homeschool in the Hall, a cooperative educational program that has been a blessing to more than 150 students over the last three years.
COACH Wes Klett (Brown Belt, Jiu-Jitsu)
Born in Fall Creek, NC, Weston Klett has dedicated himself to the art of Jiu-Jitsu since 2015 when he began training full-time. His martial arts journey has been enriched through training at academies affiliated with BJJ legends Lucas Lepri (Alliance) and the renowned Royler Gracie (Gracie Humaitá) as well as links to Carlos Gracie Jr. (Gracie Barra). He is now under second degree Black Belt Professor Tony Harris.
​ As a Brown Belt, Coach Klett brings both technical precision and practical experience to his instruction. Since 2023, he has been leading dynamic evening classes twice weekly, creating an inclusive training environment for adult men and teenage boys alike. His teaching philosophy skillfully balances competitive sport jiu-jitsu with essential self-defense applications, ensuring his students develop well-rounded martial arts capabilities.
Beyond his dedication to Jiu-Jitsu, Coach Klett has cultivated striking experience through several years of training in boxing and Muay Thai. This comprehensive combat sports background allows him to provide his students with valuable insights on the strategic integration of various martial arts disciplines.
A devoted family man, Wes resides in Kernersville with his wife and four children. He balances his family responsibilities and entrepreneurial activities as a business owner with his commitment to martial arts instruction. Wes enjoys spending time with his family, training in JJ, and photography.
​​Coaches Wesley and Wes are long-time friends and have trained under the same professors since the beginning of their martial arts training. They enjoy getting together for lunch when they can and discussing all of life's big questions. In addition to our resident coaches, there are very helpful and supportive Blue Belts regularly in the Club, and Black Belt Professors who make occasional visits.
Bridget McCarter (FiTOUR Certified)
Bridget leads the Women-Only Fitness group classes at Highland after training in several different group fitness styles for many years. Bridget holds the Advanced Group Fitness Instructor Certification with FiTour. She is a homemaker and home educator after a lengthy career in the health field as a certified ophthalmic technician and later as a certified medical coder. In her little bit of free time, she enjoys crocheting, cooking, and baking.
Business Hours
Come Visit Us!
Open usually 30 minutes before and after classes.