Meet Our Mentors

Head Mentor Aaron Michael Schwartz

Coach Aaron has dedicated over 20 years to understanding and mastering martial arts for the sole purpose of being able to deliver a high level and authentic learning experience. Much of his time has been spent in China learning from the source for all the styles mentioned below. Coach Aaron’s goal is to bring authenticity and practical sparring/fighting culture back into traditional martial arts by constantly pressure testing and ensuring that everything he teaches works and gets results.

Coach Aaron’s first experience with traditional Chinese martial arts was Chen Style Taijiquan, learned in the Chen Village in China. He was trained in the lineage of Chen Zhaosen, also known as the Halberd King of China. He then trained in Baguazhang and Xing Yi Quan with the lineage holder of the Zhang San Feng School and head Daoist monk of the Wudang Mountains, Yuan Xiu Gang (seen in the Karate Kid Movie). Coach Aaron has been a longtime close student of well known grandmaster and Wushu Professional Liu Yu of San Luis Obispo.

Coach Aaron has been competing and instructing in martial arts for the last 20 years. In 2017, he competed in an international competition in Taizhou China, winning 1st place with Chen style Taiji Cannon Fist (老家二路). He has even been on HunanTV and Channel 1 News in China for his acrobatic and martial skills, playfully being dubbed Sun Wu Kong (The Monkey King) for his fun, creative and dynamic attitude towards the martial arts! Coach Aaron has also coached Competitive Gymnastics for over 10 years, and is a Certified Elite Personal Trainer with ISSA.

Coach Aaron’s areas of expertise include:

Chen Style Taijiquan (Ultimate Fist)
Cheng Style Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm)
Wudang Xing Yi Quan (Shape Intention Fist)
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)
Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling)
Sanda (Chinese Kick-Boxing)
Contemporary Wushu (Acrobatics)
Competitive Gymnastics Coach
Martial Arts Tricking Coach
Elite Personal Training Coach ISSA Certified
Transformation Specialist
Nutritionist
Head coach for Flexibility and Mobility with GYMGUYZ #1 Personal Training Company in California
Recognized as a Taiji Master by the Taiji Science Federation

Achievements

1st Place in Chen Taijiquan at the Tai Zhou Traditional Martial Arts Competition in Zhejiang Province, China 2016
1st Place at the Chinese Wrestling Taiwanese & Chinese American Athletic Tournament, Cupertino 2023
1st Place in Chen Taijiquan at the Golden State International Wushu Championships, San Jose 2023

Mentor JACK STERLING

Coach Jack started martial arts at the age of six and for the past 20+ years Coach Jack is a lineage holder of Shotokan Karate under his late teacher, hall of fame inductee Sensei Eddie Rivera.

As well as having years of experience in:

Muay Thai
Judo
Escrima
American Boxing

Along with Coach Jack’s experience in martial arts

Coach Jack has an extensive background in fitness and strength training ranging from:

Certified Tactical Conditioning Instructor
Certified Muay Thai Fitness Trainer from Muay Thai School USA
Certified Personal Trainer with ISSA

Coach Jack cares deeply about the strength and confidence martial arts can provide. Striving every day to impart this to all of his students!