About Our Team at Phoenix Fitness & Martial Arts

In 2015 we opened our doors and began transforming the lives of others. At first it was our closest friends and former co-workers who believed in us, trusted us, and became our initial success stories.
Over time word has spread and we’ve helped hundreds of others get in shape and improve their self-image. Today there are more commercial gyms and franchise fitness studios than ever, but there are also more people struggling with their physical and mental health.
Our mission is to serve those who need a different solution. A place that combines the amenities of big gyms, the excitement of boutique studios, and the trust and comfort of a local family owned business. If that’s what you’ve been looking for we’d love to welcome you to the Phoenix family.

I have a method that I call, “wringing the towel,” which basically means I like to squeeze out every little bit of effort in a session or class that I can — and have fun while doing so!

My interest in fitness started in high school after my dad suffered several severe injuries in an accident as a construction foreman. He fell off a two-story roof and broke his back along with many other bones. He couldn’t do anything by himself for months.

My dad (also my best friend) needed a lot of help. I cheered him on through months of rehab, and then started lifting with him to help him get back in shape. He’s now fully recovered, and in the best shape of his life.

I moved to Richmond from White Stone, Virginia, to attend VCU in 2016. At that same time, I began working my way through college as a personal trainer at VCU Rec Sports. There I became head trainer. I ran classes, trained clients and provided training and education for the other trainers on staff. I am also the head coach for the VCU power lifting team.

In my time outside work and school, I’m a volunteer firefighter and I help with fundraising efforts for our local fire station in my hometown of White Stone, VA. I also volunteer for Jacob’s Chance which is a program to get young people with mental disabilities active through exercise. Also, I compete in power lifting competitions.

I’ve been a part of fitness from all sides — a competitive athlete, and a caregiver to my dad after his traumatic injury. I understand all the things fitness means to people — and the impact it can have on your quality of life. Wherever you are on your fitness journey, I hope to be a part of it.

CERTIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
Virginia Commonwealth University, BS in Health Education and Physical Exercise (in progress),
ACE Personal Trainer,
ACE Sports Nutrition Specialist,
ACE Athletic Development Specialist,
NSCA First Responder and Special Force Training,
American Red Cross (Adult and Child) First Aid, CPR and First Aid,
Class 1 FireFighter,
USA Level 1 Power Lifting Coach

My fitness journey started early. My dad is a professional tennis player, so as soon as I was able to hold a racquet I was playing. I ended up playing over 15 years of tennis, 8 years of soccer, and meddled in various other sports. I have always been an athlete and my journey through that life led me to studying about exercise in college. The science greatly interested me and I applied what I learned to my own personal exercise regime.

I have trained as an athlete, bodybuilder, powerlifter, and strongman. I graduated from Lynchburg College with a B.S in Exercise Physiology in 2015. During my senior year I acted as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the school and solidified my desire to train athletes at the college level.

Before I could, I needed to refine my skills and experience all forms of fitness within the industry. I have been a trainer for commercial gyms, private gyms, performance centers, physical therapy and injury rehabilitation, corporate fitness, and Division I and III strength and conditioning coaching.

I worked at Pivot Physical Therapy as head performance coach working with rehabbing William and Mary athletes, and at VCU as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach for the men’s and women’s tennis team. I also worked at Capital One as a Training Lead, teaching and educating many trainers in exercise science and practical applications of exercise.

In my spare time I like to go hiking, play music, and experience what life has to offer. I have experience in all facets of the fitness industry and have experienced them all as both the student and the teacher. I’d be honored to help you on your journey.

CERTIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
Lynchburg College B.S in Exercise Physiology
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach Level 1
Functional Movement Screen Level 1
American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED

Muay Thai Kickboxing is not just a great workout, it transforms you into a better version of yourself. All levels are welcome, and students gain confidence and learn “real-life” self-defense skills — all in a supportive environment.

Martial Arts has always been a part of my life. My mother, a 6th degree black belt, owns a martial arts gym, where I began taking Taekwondo classes as a toddler. At age six, I began competing, and eventually became a coach and referee in 2009 for the Martial Arts World organization.

I’m now a 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and I’ve trained at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand — the world’s leading Muay Thai program. I’ve competed in hundreds of Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, and Wrestling tournaments, and I have a winning 3-0 record as an amateur Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

My goal for my students is self-improvement, not perfection. I strive to make classes supportive, while leading a fun, safe workout and teaching practical skills needed for real-life self-defense situations. I look forward to being a part of your journey — see you on the mat!

Certifications/Education
5th Degree Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do
Brown Belt, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
25 years Martial Arts Training
Trained at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand

My classes are perfect for beginners or experienced competitors. As an active jiu jitsu competitor, I’m committed to the journey of always improving — and I hope to pass that on to you.

When I was 18, my brother Luis encouraged me to try Jiu Jitsu. I fell in love with it and began training and competing as much as possible, winning multiple tournaments and even my first MMA fight.

When I first began competing, I used to get so anxious I would get physically ill after matches. Remembering what it was like to be so nervous helps me be a better coach now — especially for beginners.

I have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and trained under Carlos David Oliveira. I’ve been teaching others since 2014 and love showing the technical details that help smaller people beat larger and stronger opponents.

Outside Phoenix Fitness and Martial Arts, I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend Tia (who is also a BJJ and MMA competitor) and playing guitar — or more specifically, trying to shred like the metal guitar gods of the 80’s.

CERTIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (under Carlos David Oliveira / Team Roberto Traven)
1st Place 2019 Grappling Industries Advanced No Gi Winner
2019 Toro Cup 1st place
2017 No Gi US Grappling 1st place
2015 and 2016 Newbreed Advanced No Gi Champion
2015 Sprawl N Brawl MMA 1st place
2014 NAGA No Gi Advanced

I began training as a boxer under Freddy C and my father, Coach Brett, in 2015 and started coaching boxing alongside the two of them in 2018. Initially, my brother and father inspired me to give boxing a try, but little did I know it would become my whole life in just a few years.

In the process of training as a fighter and building up amateur experience in boxing, I started teaching people of all ages the sweet science. It eventually became my full-time job, and now I am a USA Boxing certified boxing coach as well as an ACE certified personal trainer.

I think boxing is the best workout physically and mentally, and learning about the sweet science can change your life! Like Coach Freddy says, “if it was easy, there’d be a line outside the gym going all the way to Brooklyn.”

As I continue the life of training, fighting, and teaching, I will always stay learning, improving, and evolving.

CERTIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
USA Boxing Level 1 Coach
USA Boxing Elite Athlete
ACE Certified Personal Trainer

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is awesome! I practiced other martial arts for almost 20 years before trying it, and I was amazed at how technical and strategic it was. I also found it to be a fantastic workout I could continue doing for a long time without getting bored. Once I started, I never stopped, and after ten years I earned my black belt.

BJJ did not come easy for me because I just wasn’t a natural at it. I had to work harder than most to get better at the techniques, but I feel that has ultimately made me a better instructor. I understand the challenges a lot of people have when they start out on this journey and I can offer different approaches for them.

As our oldest instructor, I also know how to adjust techniques and training intensity for those who have a bit more mileage on their body. Jiu Jitsu isn’t just for young competitors. It’s also for older working adults, parents, and even grandparents who want to learn something new and feel better about themselves. If you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s and feeling anxious about trying this, I’ll be happy to guide you through it.

Outside of jiu jitsu, I also lift weights to stay resilient and pain-free and strongly encourage others to do so, especially as they age. Outside of the gym (which isn’t very much, as the owner), I spend time with my wife Renee, my two sons Garrett and Logan, and go fishing as much as possible.

CERTIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (under Carlos David Oliveira / Team Roberto Traven)
Black Belt in Shotokan Karate (under Al Taylor / School of the Iron Bridge)
NCSA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
DFNFit Certified Trainer
BS in Economics from Colgate University