Home / Coaches
Meet Our Coaches
Expert instruction from experienced coaches who are invested in your growth. Our team brings decades of combined experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Strength & Conditioning.
Founder
Gavin Van Vlack
Founder & Head Coach
Kru, BJJ Brown Belt, DVRT Master Trainer, TFW Level 2 Instructor
An established name in the NYC fitness/wellness and combat sports community with 20+ years honing his craft as a strength and conditioning expert, martial arts instructor, and movement specialist. Holds an Associate’s Degree from the Swedish Institute for massage. Nationally certified Master Trainer under DVRT Sandbag Systems and Monkey Bar JGXT Suspension Systems. Training for Warriors Level 2 instructor under Martin Rooney. Kru under Master Cheetah Chanthanao. Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Sensei Josh Griffiths of Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu. Has worked with every facet of client, from high-level competitive athletes to absolute fitness beginners, including rehabilitative and corrective strategies.
BJJ Coaches
Paloma Schultz
Head of Grappling Program
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3rd Degree Black Belt, 12+ Years Teaching Experience
Paloma is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3rd Degree Black Belt with over 12 years of teaching experience, originally from Brazil and based in the U.S. for the past decade. Her approach goes beyond technique, blending strong fundamentals with a relational and somatic understanding of learning. Paloma specializes in working with women and children, integrating self-defense, confidence-building, and trauma-aware practices into her teaching. She creates a safe, supportive, and empowering environment where students can develop skill, resilience, and self-trust, whether training for competition, self-defense, or personal growth.
Scott Perry
BJJ Coach
David Csizmadia
BJJ & Judo Coach
Bruno Santos
BJJ & MMA Coach
Harrison Block
BJJ Coach
Alessandro Echevarria
BJJ Coach
Muay Thai Coaches
Jesse Bogorad
Head Muay Thai Coach
13+ Years Training Muay Thai, Private Coaching
Jesse began studying martial arts at 10 years old and has spent 13 years in Muay Thai. Known for his technical style of fighting, he loves being in the ring and gaining experience to impart to students. At heart, a coach who loves helping people deepen in and appreciate the art of Muay Thai. Celebrated for precision, rigor, and humor. Enjoys training brand new students as well as advanced fighters, and is passionate about empowering people with basic tools of self-defense, especially those who have been historically marginalized. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, now calls Brooklyn home. When not in the ring or cornering for fighters, he tends to his urban farm: gardening, raising chickens, and helping others learn to become rooted and self-sustaining.
Alex Munro
Muay Thai Coach & S&C
38 Professional Muay Thai Fights, 4 MMA Fights, BJJ Blue Belt
Alex spent almost a decade in Thailand training and fighting. With 38 professional Muay Thai fights in Thailand, China, and the U.S., plus a brief run in MMA with four fights, and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he brings authentic, battle-tested instruction to every class. Known for technical expertise and clinch work, Alex leads the popular Clinch Extravaganza class: 60 straight minutes of technical clinch drills for advanced students.
Bill Pearce
Muay Thai Coach
Gabe Begin
Muay Thai Coach
Jin Lee
Muay Thai Coach
Marianne Ayala
Muay Thai Coach
Nhi Nguyen
Muay Thai Coach
Ben Davis
Muay Thai Coach
Isak Buan
Muay Thai Coach
Will Kim
Muay Thai Coach
Mike Levinson
Muay Thai Coach
Athletic Development
Hannah Fons
Kettlebell & Conditioning Coach
Advanced Kettlebells, Intermediate Kettlebells, Private Coaching
Hannah has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and capoeira, and has been helping people get strong for over a decade. Her tools of choice: kettlebells, sandbags, and calisthenics to improve strength, movement, and conditioning for fighters and hobbyists alike. Group classes and individual programs designed to help newcomers gain foundational skills while encouraging experienced students to challenge themselves. She believes training should be fun and is committed to demystifying and democratizing gym space for all.
Mark Sayer
S&C Specialist / Nutritionist
ISAA Certified Nutritionist, ISAA Sports Nutrition Coach, ACE CPT, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
Mark brings over 20 years of experience helping martial artists break through physical barriers. Currently a strongman competitor who can help members use Diamondheart’s wide selection of strongman equipment. As an amateur and professional Muay Thai fighter, he understands the unique challenges of combat sports: injury recovery, resilience building, strength training, making weight, general nutrition and supplementation. Offers consultations.
Jack Calnan
S&C Coach
Train With Our Team
Experience our coaching firsthand with a free trial week.