GARTH TAYLOR

A wrestler in his youth, Garth Taylor began his journey in Jiu-Jitsu in 1994. He soon became a local legend by winning the US Open in Santa Cruz five times in the Ultra Heavy and Absolute divisions at Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black Belt. Garth has also achieved international fame as a five-time adult division medalist at the World Championships, which made him the first non-Brazilian athlete to medal in all belt divisions at the World Championships.

Accomplishments:

• 2012 1st place Pan American Championships, Master 3, Ultra Heavy, Irvine, California
• 2009 1st place International Master and Senior Championships, Master 2, Ultra Heavy, Rio, Brazil
• 2006 3rd place Pan American Championships, Master 1, Ultra Heavy, Irvine, California
• 2003 1st place European Championships, Master 1, Ultra Heavy, Lisbon, Portugul
• 2001 2nd place Pan American Championships, Adult, Ultra Heavy, Orlando, Florida
• 2000 1st place International Master and Senior Championships, Master 1, Ultra Heavy, Rio, Brazil
• 2000 1st place International Master and Senior Championships, Master 1, Ultra Heavy, Rio, Brazil
• 1999 4th Abu Dahbi Submission Grappling World Championships, Absolute Division, Abu Dahbi, U.A.E.
• 1998 1st place Pan American Championships, Adult, Ultra Heavy, Waikiki, Hawaii
• 1997 2nd place Pan American Championships, Adult, Ultra Heavy, Waikiki, Hawaii
• 1996 2nd place Pan American Championships, Adult, Ultra Heavy, Redondo Beach, California

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Stout lives for his son, his wife, and Jiu-Jitsu. Living on the Westside, he appreciates being close to the ocean and loves the small town feel and sense of community in Santa Cruz. Stout started training Jiu-Jitsu with Garth Taylor and Paul Schreiner in October 2009 as a guy in his early 30s who was interested in focusing on his health. Garth’s continued mentorship has given Stout an appreciation for the collaborative, mutually supportive nature of Jiu-Jitsu.

Starting Jiu-Jitsu later in life, Stout has never been keen on competing, but the first time he helped a white belt, he found his passion for teaching. He has been teaching since 2016 and it continues to be immensely gratifying for him whether it’s a comprehensive class or a beginning fundamentals class. The Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle has taught Stout about incremental growth, which he applies to many elements in his life like raising a child, and has certainly improved his fitness and mental outlook. As he explains, “Jiu-Jitsu increases one’s sense of self-worth and improves mind and body health overall. The cool thing about Jiu-Jitsu is that literally anyone can learn it and improve through practice; it’s an adaptable and inclusive martial art. I love teaching Jiu-Jitsu, especially being able to help others find confidence, improve their skills, and feel a sense of community with those they train with. My promise is that I’ll always give 100% and hopefully brighten the day of those around me.”

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Luke has been training in bjj since the age of 17 and was immediately hooked on both the physical and technical aspects of training. His first competition was two months after he started and has been competing ever since as often as possible.

Luke became one of the kids instructors one year after he started training. Soon after, he started teaching adults and eventually stopped teaching kids. Although his main focus is on training for competition, Luke enjoys teaching and sharing technique, as it is an important part of one's learning process.

Accomplishments:

• World championships bronze
• pan am silver and 2x bronze
• american nationals gold
• abu dhabi trials gold
• us open gold
• american cup gold
• all stars gold
• sf open gold
• 2x guerilla bjj champs league winner
• f2w pro fight of the year

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Chris started practicing Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 16. Three years later, he had his first MMA fight under the StrikeForce banner. By the age of 22, he had become a pro, and at 25 began fighting for Bellator MMA.

During his career, Chris beat UFC prospects and Combate America’s title contenders. After more than a decade of training, Chris has learned some boxing and hybrid styles of kickboxing from Kaijin MMA, The Last Stand Fight Team, Wanderlei Silva’s fight team, Ryan Bader, and CB Dollaway’s Power MMA. Chris has learned and trained with notable UFC and Bellator title contenders and challengers such as Grey Maynard and Michael McDonald.

As a kickboxing instructor Chris’s goal is to make the art of kickboxing easy and fun to learn. He teaches concepts, drills, and techniques that he implemented as an MMA competitor. His goal, each and every class, is to help you push yourself mentally and physically. In the same fashion as Sam Radetsky, his most recent kickboxing coach, you’ll be sweating with a smile as you master practical, and fast-hitting combinations.

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Brandon was raised in a small town in North Dakota with two older brothers and began wrestling at the age of four. His grandfather was also very influential in his love for boxing. Brandon moved to Santa Cruz in the summer of 2001, at the age of 17, and began training himself in boxing. After an amateur fight in Oakland in 2008, Brandon began to search for an academy to train boxing and found Westside Jiu-Jitsu Club in 2010 where he trained with Dion Edge and George Pascal. During this time he would watch the Jiu-Jitsu classes and thought to himself “I wrestled for 11 years, I betcha I would be really good at that.” He was hooked after his very first class.

Jiu-Jitsu began to change his behaviors and attitudes on and off the mat and he hoped to share that same peace of mind he had found with others, especially kids and youth. He began helping coach the Westside youth program in 2016 and has never wanted to do anything else since. Helping kids and youth in his community to find self confidence in who they are and becoming compassionate human beings for the rest of their lives is his overall goal. His wife, family and friends, his community, and his academy continue to be the most loved and cherished things in his life.

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Jerome began training martial arts at the age of 14 under the watchful eye of Francis Farley. After 2 years of kickboxing he was then introduced to Jiu Jitsu. Immediately Jerome found a passion for Jiu Jitsu because he felt like it implemented discipline, respect and confidence in his life as a youth. Since then, he has won gold at multiple tournaments such as Allstars, Jiu Jitsu by the Bay, NAGA and Jiu Jitsu World League. Jerome was awarded his blue belt in BJJ under Joey Thomas then in 2015, he relocated to the West Side of Santa Cruz to train under Garth Taylor and through years of hard work has earned his brown belt. Not only is Jerome a competitor of the sport but he has also become a very passionate coach. In 2016, he began helping with the kids program and has never looked back since. He hopes to teach students the same discipline and respect that martial arts brought to his life as a youth.

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A lifelong track and field athlete, Desmond Stockard was looking to walk onto the track team when he arrived at UCSC in 2004 but the University was missing a track and -- more importantly -- high jump and triple jump pits. Wondering how a University could make a mistake such as this, Desmond was left without something to compete in. Not for long though, Garth Taylor handed Desmond a flyer at the OPERS festival and the rest was history.

Desmond competed in just about all of the major competitions the west coast had to offer: US Nationals, US Open, All Stars, Pan Ams, and the World Championships. Most recently Desmond finished in second place at the 2017 Nogi Master Worlds. When Desmond hasn't injured himself recently from getting out of bed or falling while walking up a flight of stairs, he has been known to compete in kickboxing, crossfit, and most recently old person soccer.

Desmond was born into a family of instructors and teachers. Taking teaching seriously, Desmond aims to teach classes for all levels with a particular knack for strategy, details, and overarching concepts around body mechanics. Always looking to improve Desmond spends free time watching competitions and instructionals, traveling to other gyms, and asking younger athletes with brains better able to learn new moves, "hey, how did you do that?"

** Desmond's ACL up and left the building so he is currently on hiatus from teaching and training

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Colton is a dedicated coach and esteemed leader in our kids' Jiu-Jitsu program. Colton's journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu started at just 6 years of age under the guidance of Garth Taylor, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for the sport. With each passing year, Colton has remained unwavering in his commitment to training, accumulating a wealth of experience and accolades along the way.

Drawing from his own journey growing up in Jiu-Jitsu, Colton brings a unique perspective to his coaching approach, allowing him to connect with young practitioners on a profound level. Beyond teaching the technical aspects of the art, Colton instills invaluable life lessons of discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship in his students, shaping them into well-rounded individuals both on and off the mats.

In addition to his coaching duties, Colton is pursuing an education in kinesiology, with aspirations of a career in athletic training. His dedication to academic and professional growth mirrors his commitment to excellence in Jiu-Jitsu, solidifying his position as a role model and mentor within our gym community.

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Kajahl, our esteemed head kickboxing coach, began his journey in martial arts over a decade ago, immersing himself in Dutch-Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Boxing. Guided by masters Sam Redetsky and Luis Azeredo from Chute Box, as well as Ken Nguyen at Class 1MMA in NYC, Kajahl honed his skills and passion for the sport.

With a global perspective cultivated through training at high-level gyms worldwide, Kajahl brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our gym community. Since assuming the role of head coach in 2022, he has spearheaded the significant growth of our kickboxing program, inspiring students to reach new heights in their martial arts journey.

In his personal philosophy kickboxing transcends physical activity; it's the ultimate form of self-expression, an essential method of self-defense, and the most efficient and engaging form of exercise. Beyond the ring, Kajahl thrives on the trust, camaraderie, and intellectual engagement within the kickboxing community, making it a lifestyle that embodies athleticism and camaraderie.

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Elena is a Santa Cruz local whose journey in martial arts began at Garth Taylor Jiu-Jitsu in January 2020. Instantly captivated by the world of combat sports, Elena immersed herself in the disciplines of boxing, kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, displaying an unwavering commitment to her craft.

During the challenges of the pandemic, Elena dedicated herself to honing her skills in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, demonstrating remarkable determination and resilience. Her efforts culminated in December 2021, when she proudly earned her Blue Belt under the guidance of Garth Taylor, following an impressive streak of victories in local White Belt competitions.

Elena's journey took a pivotal turn when she assumed the role of head instructor for the kids' kickboxing program, entrusted with the position by her former coach and teammate, Chris Buron. Embracing the opportunity wholeheartedly, Elena later expanded her teaching repertoire to include kids' Jiu-Jitsu, successfully running her own fundamentals class alongside Colton Smith.

In addition to her accomplishments on the mats, Elena is pursuing an associate's degree in kinesiology at Cabrillo College, complementing her work within sports education at Garth Taylor Jiu-Jitsu. Her dedication to both her academic and martial arts pursuits exemplifies her commitment to personal growth and excellence in all aspects of her life.

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Steve is a seasoned practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu with over a decade of experience in the art. Throughout his journey, Steve has had the privilege of learning from esteemed coaches enriching his knowledge and refining his skills along the way.

Steve’s journey started at Heroes Martial Arts in his hometown of San Jose, CA where he studied the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu under Alan “Gumby” Marques. Later moving to Santa Cruz to study music at UCSC, he began training under his current coaches, Garth Taylor and Luke Pollard. As a consistent and successful competitor, Steve brings a wealth of firsthand experience to his role as a coach.

In 2021, Steve assumed leadership of our kids' jiu-jitsu program, bringing with him a vision for excellence. Drawing on his experience as a music teacher, he revitalized the program, implementing reforms that have elevated it to new heights.

Steve instills in his students the building blocks of the art, laying a solid foundation for their growth and development. With his passion for the sport and unwavering dedication to his students, Steve Forbes embodies the ethos of excellence that defines our academy.

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Introducing Robert Terrence, our esteemed boxing coach, whose illustrious career in the martial arts world is marked by a long list of accomplishments. With a wealth of experience garnered from training under renowned figures in martial arts and the sports industry, Robert brings a level of expertise and insight that is second to none.

Specializing in training the body for elite athletic performance, Robert has honed his skills as a strength and conditioning coach. He has had exclusive personal teaching under Gary Marinovich, co-founder of Marinovich Training Systems. Gary has been responsible for conducting strength and conditioning training for multiple professional and amateur athletes including but not limited to MMA athletes B.J Penn, Gray Maynard, many more throughout a wide spectrum of sports. He has trained both amateur and professional athletes in a variety of sports, including local boxing legend Carina Moreno.

His dedication to optimizing physical prowess and maximizing potential sets him apart as a leader in his field. He has received certifications under the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist, fitness nutrition specialist, cardiorespiratory training for sports performance, performance enhancement specialist, and stretching and flexibility.

Robert began his boxing experience with well known local boxing coach Rick Noble and his fighter, Hall of Fame, 5x world champion Carina Moreno. Rick and Carina provided guidance and instruction which resulted in him becoming a coach at their gym in Watsonville. He is recognized as a coach under the national USA boxing association.

In his dynamic boxing classes, Robert seamlessly blends high-level boxing technique with dynamic fitness training, providing students with a comprehensive and invigorating workout experience. Through his guidance and mentorship, Robert empowers individuals to reach new heights of skill and athleticism, embodying the ethos of excellence that defines our gym.

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Colin is a distinguished leader in our kids' Jiu-Jitsu program. With a wealth of experience working with children, Colin brings a dynamic blend of expertise and passion to his role. His journey in Jiu-Jitsu began in 2018, and since then, Colin has amassed a remarkable record of success in competition, demonstrating his prowess on the mats.

Colin's true calling lies in sharing his deep understanding of Jiu-Jitsu with the next generation of practitioners. As a mentor and guide, he instills in his young students not only the technical aspects of the art but also the values of discipline, respect, and perseverance. Through his dedication and unwavering commitment, Colin empowers young minds to reach their full potential, fostering a nurturing and supportive environment within our kids' program.

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