This quest led me to joining 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu in 2015, where I immersed myself in the realm of MMA under my Coach & Mentor — Casey Halstead. Coach Casey has coached and cornered numerous elite UFC, ADCC, BELLATOR, & PFL athletes out of 10th Planet Las Vegas and is widely considered one of the World’s most elite coaches.

In 2016, I made the move to Las Vegas, fully dedicating myself to training under Coach Casey full time and taking on the role as Head Coach of 10th Planet Downtown Las Vegas. After venturing into MMA competition over the next several years during my time in Vegas, the honor of earning my 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Black Belt came in July 2019.

During my time in Vegas, I was exposed to world renowned MMA coaches such as Robert Follis & John Wood, where I gained valuable insight into some of the most important aspects of sport. Training at both Syndicate MMA & Xtreme Couture shaped my approach to coaching by implanting deep game planning strategies, technical nuance, as well as mental preparation. Once I stepped away from being a competitor and into a coaching role, I continued to harness my teaching experience by leading Team USA Grappling at the 2021 UWW World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia as Team Coach.

Grappling/MMA Coaching Experience: I have held the privilege of guiding and preparing exceptional athletes in their fight camps and corners such as — Joe Benevidez, Lance Palmer, Tim Elliot, Natan Levy, Ben Saunders, Ashlee Evans-Smith, and a plethora of other top-tier UFC athletes.

Since opening the doors of 10th Planet Whittier in April 2023, I have focused on building one of the most formidable competition teams in Southern California. Notable accomplishments include Team Titles at the 2 top Jiu Jitsu organizations in the world:

- Nov 2024 | 1st Place JJWL Pan American Championships | NOGI Team Title

- Feb 2025 | 3rd Place IBJJF OC Open | NOGI Team Title

- July 2025 | 3rd Place IBJJF LA Open | NOGI Team Title

My personal weekly training regimen includes training under the guidance of world renowned Olympic Judo Coach/MMA Grappling Coach — Justin “JFlo” Flores since September 2020, as well as training my S&C at Functional Patterns Costa Mesa. The Villains and myself also make regular visits to 10th Planet HQ under the watchful eye of Master Eddie Bravo, and cross train alongside several of our 10P sister schools in the LA/OC area.

Join the Villains as we embark upon a journey of learning and growth in the Art of Grappling at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Whittier! C/T=R