Meet our team

A accomplished professional mma fighter with over 20 years of BJJ, wrestling, and striking experience. traveling and competing across the globe. Tonya has high level mma IQ with an drive for competition.

31 professional fights-Competed in some of the biggest promotions in the world. (UFC, Invicta FC, Elite XC, etc)

Trained  across the united states with some of the best coaches and fighters. (Team. Alpha,  Lions Den, Team Quest, gracie BJJ, etc)

 Born in Belém, Brazil, Coach Zezinho first discovered martial arts through karate before finding his passion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the late ’90s. Inspired by Royce Gracie and the early UFC, he began training under lifelong friend Alexandre Quintella and Master De La Riva, earning each belt through years of dedication. His journey has taken him from Brazil to Spain and eventually to the U.S., where he has competed, taught, and built communities around Jiu-Jitsu.

Along the way, he has worked with everyone from law enforcement to professional fighters, but his greatest passion remains helping everyday students discover confidence, discipline, and resilience through training. Now back in Houston—his first home in the U.S.—Coach Zezinho is excited to share his experience and love for Jiu-Jitsu with a new generation of students.

Meet Coach Diego Ruiz — Taekwondo Specialist & Elite-Level Competitor

Coach Diego brings over a decade of experience in both traditional and Olympic-style Taekwondo. Beginning his martial arts journey at just 10 years old, he transitioned into high-level Olympic Taekwondo competition by age 16, quickly establishing himself as one of Texas’ top rising fighters.

Diego has competed across the United States and internationally as a member of the Texas Taekwondo Team, earning medals in multiple Olympic divisions, including:

Bantamweight
Featherweight
Lightweight

A proven champion, Diego is a 3x Texas State Champion and a multi-regional & district gold medalist, showcasing both exceptional skill and disciplined training. His technical precision, speed, and coaching style make him an incredible addition to our martial arts program.

Students can expect structured, high-energy classes with a focus on technique, discipline, and confidence-building—perfect for both beginners and competitive athletes.

Meet Coach Joe — Elite Boxing Coach & Proven Champion

Coach Joe brings championship-level experience and a deep technical understanding of the sweet science to every class he leads. A lifelong student of boxing, Joe has trained and competed at the highest levels, earning respect throughout the Houston boxing community and beyond.

He is a Houston Golden Gloves Champion in 2009 and 2011, showcasing his skill, discipline, and competitive edge inside the ring. In addition to his regional success, Joe also competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials Reload, further solidifying his status as a top-tier athlete.

Joe’s foundation comes from learning under two of the most respected names in boxing:

Kenny Weldon – world-renowned trainer, strategist, and one of the most influential boxing minds of his era
Aaron Navarro – elite USA Boxing coach known for developing high-level amateur and professional fighters
With this pedigree behind him, Coach Joe brings world-class training, crisp fundamentals, disciplined movement, and a motivating coaching style that pushes every student to reach new levels—whether they’re beginners or seasoned competitors.