Our Story

Coach Carlos Cabrera is a third-degree black belt with 22 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience and 7 years of teaching experience. He represents the João Faria lineage and earned third place in the 2010 IBJJF Pan Championship in the Purple Belt Lightweight Division.

Coach Carlos has maintained an outstanding safety record, with no major injuries occurring in any class he has led. As a practitioner, he enjoys the problem-solving aspect of Jiu Jitsu — every position presents a different challenge, and there is always something new to learn, refine, or understand.

As an instructor, Coach Carlos enjoys helping students discover what they personally love about Jiu Jitsu and supporting them as they remain consistent and continue progressing. His goal is to provide a safe, positive, and challenging environment where students can develop practical skills, confidence, discipline, and a lasting connection to Jiu Jitsu. He wants every student to find their own reason for training and build the consistency necessary to make Jiu Jitsu a meaningful part of their life.

Coach Mark Bondoc is a third-degree black belt with more than 25 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience, beginning his training in 2001. He was awarded his black belt by João Faria in 2016. Coach Mark began teaching at purple belt and has continued since, earning medals in IBJJF Pan Championships as well as local and regional tournaments.

He has taught Jiu Jitsu and defensive tactics to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, as well as members of every branch of the United States military.

What Coach Mark values most about Jiu Jitsu is its ability to strip away the things that often define people outside the academy. On the mat, status, possessions, and background carry little weight; progress comes from preparation, persistence, humility, and a willingness to learn.

Coach Mark wants students to leave the academy with more than technical skill. His goal is to help them develop confidence in their own abilities, learn to approach difficult situations as problems that can be solved, and recognize that challenges that once seemed impossible can be overcome. For Coach Mark, making a meaningful difference in a student's life — whether large or small — is the measure of success.

Coach Trevor Wollman is a 2nd-degree black belt with 18 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience and more than 12 years of teaching adults and children. He began training under Dan Howard at Antelope Valley Jiu Jitsu in 2008 and earned his black belt under Julio Cesar Pereira in 2018, representing the Oswaldo Fadda lineage. Throughout his career, Coach Trevor has taught and trained alongside UFC veterans, ADCC champions, world champions, military personnel, law enforcement, and special operations professionals, as well as children with special needs.

Coach Trevor values Jiu Jitsu for its combination of technical complexity, problem-solving, and the ability to overcome physical force through knowledge and skill. His teaching emphasizes understanding why techniques work rather than simply memorizing movements. His goal is to empower students with confidence, technical ability, and the capacity to remain composed and solve problems under pressure, both on and off the mats.

Coach Freddy Martinez is a 1st-degree black belt with 13 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience and has been teaching martial arts since 2011, including Jiu Jitsu since 2017. He earned his brown belt under Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro and his black belt under Johnny Faria, representing a lineage rooted in high-level technical instruction and competition.

Coach Freddy trained and taught under Vitor Shaolin in New York City and also had the opportunity to teach at Alliance San Diego. While he has primarily competed in local tournaments, his experience as an instructor has allowed him to learn from and contribute to respected Jiu Jitsu communities.

Coach Freddy values Jiu Jitsu because there is always more to learn. For him, training is also a place to set everything else aside and stay fully present. His goal is to give back in any way he can by sharing his knowledge and helping others experience the same positive impact that martial arts has had on his life.

Coach David Figueroa-Martinez is a first-degree black belt with 15 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience. He represents the lineage of Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, Royler Gracie, and Marcus Norat. Throughout his Jiu Jitsu career, Coach David has competed locally while primarily approaching the art as a dedicated hobbyist.

With more than a decade of teaching experience, Coach David has instructed students of all ages. His specialty is working with busy adult hobbyists who balance their training with careers, families, and other responsibilities.

Coach David values both the community Jiu Jitsu creates and the constantly evolving mental puzzle the art presents. For him, Jiu Jitsu offers an opportunity to continually learn, adapt, and grow alongside others.

As an instructor, Coach David strives to create an environment where students of all ages and experience levels can continue learning for years to come. His goal is to show that meaningful progress in Jiu Jitsu is possible even while balancing the demands of everyday life.

Coach Samantha Pastore is a purple belt with 4 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience. She represents Five Peaks and brings a diverse coaching background that includes USA Weightlifting, CFL-3, pre- and post-natal fitness coaching, Nutrition Level 2, sports performance nutrition, and strength and conditioning.

Coach Samantha values Jiu Jitsu for the way it teaches leverage — creating strength and effectiveness while using as little energy as possible. She finds it empowering to discover how technique, timing, and intention can accomplish what brute strength cannot.

Her goal is to help students become bold, courageous, and self-controlled. She emphasizes building confidence not only in their ability to defend themselves, but also in their ability to speak up, set boundaries, and face challenging situations with courage and composure. Coach Samantha strives to create an environment where students can discover that they are capable of more than they realize, build confidence through adversity, develop self-control, and carry those lessons with them both on and off the mats.

Alex "Moose" Price is the Operations Manager at Five Peaks Jiu Jitsu and a blue belt with four years of training experience.

What I love most about Jiu-Jitsu is everything you gain from the lessons beyond the mats. You learn how to defend yourself while building confidence, discipline, and self-control.

To me, Jiu-Jitsu is like playing Tetris with humans. You're constantly trying to solve positions, find the right pieces, and figure out how to stay one step ahead while balancing offense and defense. Every roll presents a new problem to solve and another opportunity to learn.

Jiu-Jitsu has allowed me to learn a skill I never imagined I would pursue, and four years later, I'm still learning, improving, and enjoying the challenge every time I step on the mats.