Alex is a Black Belt (First Degree) in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Paul Nava.  He has been training and competing across the country since the rank of white belt.  Alex has won and been the runner up in many International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) tournaments as well as professional “Super Fights”.  He has extensive experience as a kids coach, a fundamentals coach, and advanced techniques coach.  He received his Black Belt from Paul Nava and the Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association in September 2019.  As the head instructor of Ares East Mesa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, his goal is to make a positive change in the lives of his students and the community.

Steve is an Air Force Veteran and has been a student of Jiu Jitsu since 2017 He has studied under great instructors such as Paul Nava, Amir Allam, John McKeam and Steve Rosenberge.  He has dedicated his life to grappling and fitness and is certified in Kettle Bell and Animal Flow personal training.  He is currently the 1pm fundamentals instructor and fills in as the Mixed Levels coach.

Carlos is a Ares Black Belt under Professor Paul Nava.  He receive his Black Belt in December of 2023.  He is a Navy Veteran who achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer.  His primary focus is to help his students excel in the Jiu Jitsu Fundamentals program.

Justin is the Ares East Mesa Kids Head Instructor.  He started Jiu Jitsu in 2010 and is originally from Chino, California.  He not only learned self defense but has gained a lot of self-confidence, and self control thanks to Jiu Jitsu.  “I love Jiu Jitsu for the family aspect of things.  I’ve met a lot of great people I would have never met thanks to Jiu Jitsu”. – Justin

Justin wants to be a kids coach because he was once in their shoes.  He wants to help the next generation not only better themselves but become good people in the community.  “Being a kids coach is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life and I can’t see myself doing anything else”. – Justin

Justin is an active competitor, winning or finishing on the podium in several tournaments.

Virginia born but Californian by heart my fitness journey started in 2008 when my fiancée and I moved across the country. I wanted to be in the best shape of my life for my upcoming wedding however, growing up a bookworm with very little desire to be athletic left me uncertain on where to start. I decided that trying group fitness classes would help give me some direction and was hooked!Leaving countless classes full of motivation and inspiration from the instructors I decided that this was something that I wanted todo. I want to show others that it doesn’t matter where you start-you just have to start. I love showing other show to challenge themselves and just how strong they are both mentally and physically. My journey started over 12 years ago, and I continue chasing my fitness and helping others meet their goals. Experiences: Athletics and Aerobic Fitness Association (AFAA) Group Fitness Instructorand Nutrition certified. Schwinn Indoor Cycle Instructor NPC Bikini Competitor trained bycurrent Ms.Fitness Olympia Whitney Jones Crossfit and Olympic Lifting trained by one of the worlds top athletes Chyna Cho. These experiences have opened doors to allow me to become a MuscleEgg sponsored athlete and a BSN/Optimum Nutrition regional demo representative during my competing years. I’m also owner of Wanderlust Studio AZ and have done hair and makeup for tons of events andphotoshoots. Fun! You can find me training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (current obsession!), teaching our exciting FitMethod classes here at Ares East MesaBJJ or doing a little hair and makeup on occasion!

I was born on the mean street of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I started wrestling at the age of 5 and competed in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman style wrestling for the next 13 years. After passing on wrestling in college, I moved to the Milwaukee area for college. In 2006, a co-worker invited me to an open mat at the BJJ academy he trained at and I was hooked after one class. I began training under Henry Matamoros who would eventually become Wisconsin’s first Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Pedro Sauer. After taking a couple years off to focus on my rugby career, I started training BJJ again under Eric “Red” Schafer, another Pedro Sauer black belt. There I was promoted to purple belt. Life then brought me to Mesa, Arizona. After taking a couple years off to get my family situated in the desert, I began training again at Ares East Mesa BJJ. I earned my brown belt in 2022. I have competed all over the country with notable wins in Submission Hunter, Wanderlust Grappling, and Fight2Win. As a coach, I like to create an environment that allows creativity and engagement from everyone on the mats.

Dee Cardoso holds the rank of Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal and his parents are from Praia, Cape Verde.

Dee first began training in 2014 at Elijah Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in New Jersey with Tyrone Elijah, earning his Blue Belt during this time. He later moved to San Jose, CA, in 2018 and joined Caio Terra Academy under Vitor Paschoal, where he earned his Purple Belt. At the start of 2022, Dee relocated to Arizona and trains at Ares East Mesa at 6 AM with Alex Martinez.

Dee is passionate about passing on the knowledge he has acquired from the different schools he has trained at and teaching it to his teammates and students.

His primary focus as a coach is to help his students build strong fundamentals, be proficient in all positions, and master techniques at the level of a black belt with the understanding that there are no black belt moves, only white belt moves done at a black belt level.

Bill Walker is a transplant from Everett Washington.  He is a Black Belt under 4th Degree Professor Andrew Solheim.  He received his Black Belt in a little over 5 years.  He credits his fast progression to the consistency of training and studying  outside of the gym.  In his final brown belt tournament, he reached the podium at Master Worlds, and at Black Belt, he won multiple tournaments in the Northwest.

Once a guard puller, Bill dedicated the last few years to becoming proficient in the standing position and has studied Judo under the Jason Morris Judo Center lineage under Sensei Nick Irabli.  Bill prides himself on adapting competition Judo techniques to Jiu Jitsu.  He’s known to be a “silly goose” and tries to train and create an atmosphere with the motto in mind “Light Vibes, Heavy Jiu Jitsu.”

Niva Frank was born and raised in American Samoa. A lifelong competitive athlete, she found a new passion in BJJ. Niva is a multi-time champion and medalist in World, International and National IBJJF competitions. She enjoys working with women and teens not only in her career as a personal trainer, but also while sharing her love of the sport as the coach of the women’s class. When she’s not on the mats she enjoys yoga, lifting, training in various shooting disciplines, riding motorcycles and especially spending time with her Pomeranians and husband. 

Aaron is a Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Professor Augusto Tanquinho.  He is an avid competitor with wins on some of the biggest stages such as EBI ADCC and UFC Fight Pass.  Aaron uses his extensive wrestling knowledge to complement his high level Jiu Jitsu game.