our trainers
meet the experts who shape our champions
From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to strength and conditioning, The Arena’s instructors bring expertise across a range of disciplines and skill levels. Our coaches are as experienced as they are passionate, working alongside you to unlock your potential and achieve your goals.
professor cris
Cris, our head instructor for both Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, brings a deep passion for the arts and for teaching students of all ages and skill levels. He’s dedicated to challenging his students, refining technique, fostering a supportive community, and inspiring a pursuit of health, confidence, and safety for future generations.
Cris is a 2nd-degree Paragon Jiu Jitsu black belt with 26 years in federal law enforcement, where he served as a defensive tactics, firearms, and combatives instructor. Since 2010, he has taught Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Conditioning for Combatives, bringing unmatched expertise to every class.
Co-owner, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Professor, Self defense & Muay Thai Instructor
Coach luis
Luis is a dedicated fitness professional with a passion for helping individuals achieve their personal health and performance goals. With a comprehensive background in strength and conditioning, he focuses on delivering programs that not only improve physical ability, but also build long-term confidence and resilience.
His experience includes, but is not limited to, working with diverse populations such as young athletes, seniors, and seniors with disabilities. He specializes in one-on-one training as well as group sessions, emphasizing strength, speed, agility, and overall functional movement. Each program is tailored to the unique needs of the individual, ensuring safe and effective progress. In addition to training, Luis also provides nutrition guidance to help clients fuel their bodies for optimal performance and results.
Co-owner, Wrestling, Speed & Agility, Strength & conditioning head coach
The opportunity to support clients on their fitness journey is what drives Luis the most. He strives to create an environment that is both motivating and professional, where individuals feel empowered to challenge themselves and achieve sustainable results.
Luis's certifications include: NSCA Certified Personal Trainer, NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, TRX Certified, GGS Pre and Postnatal Exercise Certified
coach Victoria
Victoria’s journey into health and fitness began in the most relatable of places, in her own living room. After years of struggling with diet culture norms, she made the decision to rewrite her story by focusing on strength, balance and sustainability. Through consistent effort and learning to fuel her body instead of deprive it, Victoria naturally lost over 100 pounds.
But her transformation didn’t stop at weight loss, it sparked a passion for empowering others. As a mother of three daughters, she is committed to showing women that strength is not only physical but also mental and emotional. Her approach is built on breaking free from quick fixes and embracing long-term, realistic habits that make fitness a lifestyle.
co-owner, Strength & conditioning head coach
Today, Victoria is the co-owner of The Arena, where she inspires both beginners taking their first steps and experienced lifters chasing new levels. With her certification in Sports Nutrition, she combines science-backed strategies with her own personal experience to help others fuel their bodies, build resilience and discover their true potential.
Victoria now trains for her first wellness bodybuilding show, continuing to push her own limits while setting an example for her daughters and clients alike. Her mission is simple: to prove that sustainable strength changes lives in the gym and far beyond.
Coach STEVE
Steven Clark was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and is a proud husband and father of three. He is currently a Paragon BJJ Purple Belt under Professor Crisantos Rivera with over six years of dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience. Steven focuses on teaching BJJ fundamentals, Children’s BJJ, Law Enforcement BJJ, Women’s Self-Defense, and Anti-Bullying programs.
With over 30 years of martial arts experience, Steven brings a diverse background to his instruction. He has trained extensively in Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do (brown belt), Boxing, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Wrestling, Muay Thai, and the U.S. Army’s Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP). His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey began in 2005 under the Yamasaki Family, and he has competed in numerous grappling promotions including AZBJJL, Grappler’s Quest, Jiu Jitsu World League, NAGA, and Tap Cancer Out—earning multiple podium placements.
Self Defense, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu INSTRUCTOR
Steven is a U.S. Army veteran with over a decade of service. He held roles as an infantryman, military police officer, reconnaissance specialist, and communications specialist, and served in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Following his military career, Steven served as a police officer in Tucson, Arizona for eight years until his medical retirement. He served as a Lead Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, General Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Active Shooter Instructor.
Steven’s mission is to use martial arts as a tool to empower, protect, and build stronger individuals—on and off the mats.
coach JASON
Jason’s love for the grappling arts began when his brother started wrestling, and he quickly followed his example. Wrestling taught him the value of hard work and instilled in him a passion for competition.
In 2007, Jason began training in No-Gi jiu-jitsu locally in Tucson to further develop his abilities in self-defense. After taking a break to focus on his career, he returned to jiu-jitsu—this time training in the gi. He has actively competed in jiu-jitsu as an opportunity to test his skills and identify areas for future improvement.
In 2024, Jason was awarded his black belt under Marcus “Scooby” Ribeiro. He has also been an Arizona-certified Defensive Tactics Instructor since 2012.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Professor
For Jason, jiu-jitsu is more than simply mastering techniques; it is about learning to control oneself physically, emotionally, and mentally—strength under control. As the saying goes, “A harmless man is not a good man; a good man is a very, very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control.
Coach Madeline
Madeline was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where music, dancing, and nightlife are an inseparable part of the culture. Growing up, she often joked, like many Puerto Ricans do, that she had "two left feet" and believed she had little athletic ability. That changed when her husband encouraged her to take women’s personal defense classes, hoping she would feel confident and prepared if she ever needed to defend herself. This decision led Madeline to discover Jiu Jitsu.
She began training in 2015, and what started as a step toward self-defense quickly became a lifelong passion. Over the years, Jiu Jitsu has been a continuous journey of learning and growth for Madeline, eventually earning her a Purple Belt. As part of a military family, her life has taken her across the United States and overseas to Spain, where she continued training and learning from different Jiu Jitsu and grappling styles.
Women's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu INSTRUCTOR
As a mother of two energetic boys, competing has taken a backseat for Madeline, but she finds fulfillment in coaching and empowering her teammates as they pursue their own Jiu Jitsu journeys. Outside of the sport, Madeline enjoys dining out, exploring arts and crafts, and sharing her belief that Jiu Jitsu should be simple, fun, and accessible for all ages.
CONTACT US
EMAIL:
ADDRESS:
HOURS:
9013 E OLD VAIL RD, UNIT 105
TUCSON, AZ 85747
INFO@THEARENABJJ.COM
MONDAY: 4-7:30 PM
TUESDAY: 9-10:30AM, 5-7:30PM
WEDNESDAY: 11AM-12:30PM, 4-7:30PM
THURSDAY: 9-10:30AM, 4-7:30PM
FRIDAY: 4-6:30PM
SATURDAY: 9AM-12:30PM
SUNDAY: CLOSED
