ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Since opening our doors in 2015, DiamondHeart has made it our mission to improve individuals and the community through the practice of play-based strength, movement, and martial arts – specifically Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
We’re a friendly, inclusive gym and welcome members and guests of all ages, experience levels, and walks of life. We take pride in training hard, fighting easy, and giving you the tools to reach your athletic goals, whatever they may be.
MEET OUR COACHES
Gavin Van Vlack
Founder
Head Coach
Gavin Van Vlack: An established name in the fitness/wellness and combat sports community in New York City, Kru Gavin Van Vlack has worked over the past 20 years honing his craft as a strength and conditioning expert, martial arts instructor and movement specialist. Gavin holds an Associates Degree from the Swedish Institute for massage, is a nationally certified Master Trainer under both DVRT Sandbag Systems and Monkey Bar JGXT Suspension Systems, and is a Training for Warriors Level 2 instructor under Martin Rooney. He is highly recognized in the martial arts community as a Kru (high level instructor) under Master Cheetah Chanthanao as well as the holding the rank of Brown belt in Jiu Jitsu under Sensie Josh Griffiths of Clockwork Jiu Jitsu and has worked with every facet of client over his career from high level competitive athletes to absolute fitness beginners as well as helping clients with rehabilitative and corrective strategies.
Coach Sandy is available for both private and semi private sessions and they can be booked by appointment personally.
Mark Sayer
Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Nutrition Specialist
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Take your martial arts practice to the next level. Get faster, stronger, and move pain-free with our in-house nutritionist and head strength coach Mark Sayer. With over 20 years of experience, Mark has helped countless martial artists break through the physical barriers keeping them from progressing – inside and outside the ring. Mark is currently a strongman competitor and can help you use our wide selection of strongman equipment here at Diamond Heart into your athletic development program.
As an amateur and professional Muay Thai fighter, Mark understands the unique challenges of combat sports, including injury recovery, resilience building, strength training, making weight, and general nutrition and supplementation. If you’re looking to up your game, win in the ring, or just feel and look better, book a consultation with Mark today.
– ISAA Certified Nutritionist
– ISAA Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
– ACE CPT
– NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
Ariel Medina
Third Degree Black Belt
Submission Grappling
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Ariel has been involved in the grappling arts for over two decades, starting with wrestling in high school, and being introduced to Brazilian jiu jitsu by his best friend in 2001. Since then, he has worked with many BJJ and MMA teams locally and internationally as both a competitor and a coach – the latter for nearly 16 years. Ariel now makes his home in New York City as Head of the Grappling Program at Diamondheart Striking & Grappling in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Alex Munro
Head Muay Thai Coach
Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Alex spent almost a decade in Thailand training and fighting. In that time, he had 38 professional Muay Thai fights in Thailand, Chine, and the U.S. He also had a brief run in mixed martial arts, fighting four times and earning his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Hannah Fons
Advanced Kettlebells
Intermediate Kettlebells
Private & Semi Privates Coaching
With a background in BJJ, Muay Thai, and capoeira, Hannah has been helping people get strong for over a decade. Her tools of choice include kettlebells, sandbags, and calisthenics to improve strength, movement, and conditioning for fighters and hobbyists alike. Hannah’s group classes and individual programs are designed to help newcomers gain solid foundational skills while encouraging more experienced students to challenge themselves. She believes that above all training should be fun, and is committed to demystifying and democratizing gymspace for all.
Jesse Bogorad
Muay Thai Coach
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Jesse began studying martial arts at 10 years old, and has been training in Muay Thai for the last 13 years. Known for his technical style of fighting, Jesse loves being in the ring and gaining experience that he can impart to his students.
At heart, Jesse is a coach who loves helping people deepen in and appreciate the art of Muay Thai. Celebrated for his precision, rigor and humor, Jesse enjoys training brand new students as well as advanced fighters. He enjoys introducing folks to the art of Muay Thai as well as empowering people with basic tools of self defense, especially those who have been historically marginalized.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Jesse now calls Brooklyn, NY, home. When he’s not in the ring or cornering for one of his fighters, he’s tending to his urban farm—gardening, raising chickens, and helping others learn to become rooted and self-sustaining.
Hugo Lin
Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt
Submission Grappling
Wrestling
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Hugo’s foundation for martial arts began at age 11 with the art of Capoeira. The art’s emphasis on mobility and balance became the foundation for his approach to martial arts.
In High school he took up Scholastic Wrestling, becoming co-captain of the team his junior year. He would train Boxing and Judo off-season at PAL (Police Athletic League). Hugo became Judo state champion in New Hampshire in 2010, and runner up in 2011. His Senior year, Hugo began training Mixed Martial Arts with Team Link in Hooksett, NH, while continuing to train wrestling at PAL.
After a long break from Martial arts due to acquiring his BFA in Communications Design, a 3 month trip to Japan led Hugo to rediscover his passion for combat sports while training Mixed Martial Arts at AACC in Tokyo, Japan.
After returning to Brooklyn, Hugo started training with Diamond Heart Muay Thai/Jiu Jitsu. His current goal is to expand his base of knowledge as a multi discipline instructor and coach while helping to grow the combat sports program at PCC/DiamondHeart.
Nhi Nguyen
Muay Thai Coach
Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Nhi (they/them) started their martial arts journey just a little over a year ago right here at DiamondHeart. As soon as they did their first class, they fell into the world and art of Muay Thai and wanted to take in everything as much as possible.
In college, they were a part of their school’s powerlifting team and competed in various state and national competitions, even becoming the team’s president their senior year. Thus, they are no stranger to competition. They have done three smokers so far and are eager to start their amateur debut… 😛
Luis Escobar
Muay Thai Coach
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Luis Escobar has been dedicated to the art of Muay Thai for nearly four years. Initially inspired by a desire to get in shape while learning self-defense, Luis has made significant strides in his training and competitive journey. Starting at 34, an age when many athletes have already established their careers, Luis has shown remarkable dedication and resilience. Within a year of starting his competitive journey, he has participated in two exhibition fights and three amateur fights, boasting a record of 2-1.
Luis finds immense satisfaction in helping others master the foundational aspects of Muay Thai, believing that a solid grasp of the basics is key to advancing in the sport. He specializes in pad work and sharpening striking skills, always emphasizing the importance of overcoming hurdles and continuous self-improvement—a lesson he feels is invaluable both in and out of the ring.
In his coaching, Luis prioritizes fun and encourages his students to push their limits and take pride in every achievement, no matter how small. His most memorable moment in Muay Thai was his first fight, where the initial nerves quickly turned into pure enjoyment as he showcased his skills.
Outside of Muay Thai, Luis enjoys life with the community of friends he has made in and out of the gym. He describes his coaching style as breaking down techniques to their basics and re-explaining them in ways that make them easier to understand and execute.
Bill Pearce
Muay Thai Coach
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Bill has been training Muay Thai since 2013, coaching since 2018, and has fought at 190lbs and 185lbs. He is motivated by the mental and emotional aspects of combat sports and its impact on learning technical, and kinetic skills.
Jin Lee
Muay Thai Coach
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Jin started his martial arts journey with BJJ and MMA a decade ago, but his passion for striking and Muay Thai was sparked when he joined Diamond Heart in 2021. An active competitor, he’s always looking for ways to pass along what he learns from his fights and training sessions to his students. He places an emphasis on form and technique first, with the firm belief that you must look good before you can truly get good.
Christina Smith
Early Burn HIIT
Evening Burn HIIT
Private & Semi Privates Coaching
Christina is a fitness enthusiast who is passionate about helping people with their fitness journeys! She loves showing people the joy in working out and that everyone can do hard things – go a little faster, get a little stronger, and reach that PR! When Christina is not coaching, you will probably find her strength training, running social events at DiamondHeart, or creating video content.
Jump into Early or Evening Burn HIIT if you want to take a fun interval training class that will get you stronger, faster, and more mobile. Christina’s class is a great full body workout and is open to people of all fitness levels. Plus, if you’re looking for a killer workout playlist…this is the class for you!
Brianna Farris
Body Ownership
Artistic Performance
Kettlebell Fundamentals
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Brianna Farris is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, Barefoot Training & Interoceptive Performance Specialist and Holistic Movement Coach. Originally from Chattanooga, TN she moved to New York City on a Division I basketball scholarship to LIU-Brooklyn where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Business & Sociology. Upon graduating, she began her personal training career at Crunch then continued her journey at Equinox before starting her own company GetFit+BeWell & joining the Diamondheart community in 2021.
With the knowledge & experience has gained through her continued education & personal healing journey, she helps people who are looking to reconnect, explore & develop strength within their body through play & intentional movement coaching, nutritional guidance, self-empowering tools, & a holistically integrated approach.
Dávid Csizmadia
Jiu Jitsu Black Belt
Judo
Private & Semi Private Coaching
David began his martial arts career with Judo in his native country, Hungary, when he was a teenager. After 15 years of practicing David holds a brown belt in Judo, and a black belt in Jiu Jitsu.
Isak Buan
Muay Thai Coach
Private & Semi Private Coaching
Isak began martial arts as a child with Kung Fu and moved into boxing in college. He started Muay Thai 7 years ago, transferring his knowledge from traditional martial arts and boxing, and quickly became obsessed. Isak’s love for the sport pushed him to compete and now is proud to represent Diamondheart both in the ring and on the mat.
Scott Perry
Submission Grappling
Scott started training jiu jitsu back in 2012 while still in high school. After graduating, he moved to NYC to start training full time under Murilo Santana. He joined the crew at Diamond Heart in 2021, and in addition to coaching is still an active competitor, honing his own game and helping his students develop and refine theirs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No, We have set our program up so that the total beginner will feel safe learning the skills at a pace they are comfortable with.
No, We love our competitors and we love helping them on their journey but we do not require our members to partake in our sparring classes if they do not feel safe about it. Our program is primarily designed to help people build skills while getting in awesome shape at the same time.
No, This may some nerdy but all human movement is based off basic patterns that carryover right down to how we walk , crawl and climb. Using these concepts we have been able to have practitioners from other disciplines be able to add awesome new tools into there already well stocked movement tool box.
We supply loaner gloves and wraps for all our new members for their intro class. We do suggest that you eventually acquire your own gear but to start out, we got you covered.
We strive to keep our program as safe as possible and all of our competitors have been grown up and raised within a system that understands that your training partners are the most valuable pieces of equipment we can supply you with.
All participants need to be cleared by our coaches to take part in the advanced program and this might take a couple of weeks to a month for us to make sure that all new entries to that program have an understanding and respect for the community and our program structure.
Achieve Your Fitness Goals
Flexible membership packages to suit all levels of training to help achieve your fitness goals