meet the team
Lily Sanchez
Owner
BJJ Blue Belt, Running & Fitness Coach, and Successful Entrepreneur
Liliana Sanchez, or Lily for short, is a native of Mexico who grew up in the El Paso, TX, and Las Cruces, NM areas. She is an avid athlete who participates in a wide variety of sports and activities. She has competed in a number of triathlons and races of all distances including Ironman, Spartan, half, full, and ultra-marathons. She has coached several athletes in training for their own competitions. Her competitive spirit has led her to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over the last several years and now a Blue belt under Professor Ivan Rios. She has taken in all disciplines as a whole through her journey in Martial Arts. Lily has trained with Muay Thai experts in Thailand, with MMA legend Tom DeBlass in Costa Rica, and learned the business side of a Martial Arts Academy with Professor DeBlass and his team in New Jersey. With humble beginnings, Lily worked her way up into the business world through hard work. She started in the medical field building several private practices, all while managing and leading them to success. Her entrepreneurial mind has guided her into several successful business ventures. Her latest engagement, Ocelotl Martial Arts Academy, brings together her acumen for business with her passion for Martial Arts. Lily has put together a team of outstanding instructors whom will be teaching a wide variety of Martial Arts classes to the El Paso community.
Head COACH
IVAN RIOS
Ivan “The Terrible”
Professor Ivan has been actively training and competing for the past 10 years under the tutelage of Professor Jacob Benitez (Three Crosses Jiu Jitsu, Las Cruces, NM). In January 2023, Professor Ivan received his Black Belt from his Professor Jacob Benitez. Professor Ivan has participated in numerous BJJ competitions both on the regional and national levels. He as also competed in amateur and professional MMA bouts as well.
Along with his love for the Martial Arts, Professor Ivan also carries a passion for endurance training having completed a marathon and partaking in various other endurance challenges. Still, his main obsession remains with the art of BJJ and the burning desire to strive for greatness both on and off the mat. He is forever grateful to have the opportunity to coach and the privilege to teach all who are willing to learn. This is exemplified in his ability to instill the techniques, virtues, and values that he has learned over his years of being a student.
"As a Coach, I will always cultivate my students to continually strive towards personal growth and development. Anything is possible. OSS!"
“Martial Arts Saves Us”
Head Coach Professor
Ivan Rios
BJJ Black Belt Belt, MMA Pro Fighter, Endurance Athlete, Runner.
Justin Winn
Fourth Degree Black belt in Judo, BJJ Purple belt, Triathle Coach
Sensei Winn has experience as a Continental & National Referee and a Master's Degree in Exercise Science
sensei
Justin winn
Sensei Winn is a Fourth-Degree Black belt through USA Judo. He is a continental Judo Coach and National Referee. After wrestling for years, he started Judo to continue with combat sports. His passion for combat sports and coaching led him to his Master’s Degree in Exercise Science to better serve the conditioning needs of his athletes. That education afforded him the opportunity to teach at the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School, where he started to transition to health coaching by looking at the individual and their goals holistically. Credentials include Personal Trainer, Special Needs Judo Coach, and many more.
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On July 9, 2023 Sensei Winn received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Purple belt from Professor Ivan Rios.
coach
luc nguyen
Luc Nguyen began training at age 7 in various forms of Karate and Kung Fu until the age of 14. In 1994 he was introduced to Muay Thai, Boxing, and Jeet Kune Do and dabbled in various martial arts expanding his striking range which included more elbows, knees, clinches, and throws.
He gained grappling experience from traveling over 30 miles on a weekly basis to train with his black belt BJJ sensei and spent the other 6 days of the week training under a purple belt. coach Nguyen is skilled at NoGi for Mixed Martial Arts and Self Defense including wrestling and leg-locks providing a well-rounded IQ for close-quarter combat.
After taking a hiatus, Nguyen returned to BJJ training in 2018 and after 2 years received and was ranked a purple belt by Professor Carlos Freire. In July 9, 2023 Coach Luc received his brown belt from Professor Ivan Rios.
Nguyen has learned from the best coaches of Jiujitsu and created a simplified curriculum that is cohesive, easy to learn for beginners, and also great at finding new concepts for himself and those with more experience.
"Learning how to learn is important and I have been very fortunate to be allowed the freedom to teach a more modernized Jiujitsu grappling system. As of November 2022 I now have 20 years of martial arts experience and am truly grateful to share my Journey with everyone."
Luc Nguyen
Brown Belt in BJJ, skilled in MMA, Kickboxing and Self-defense
Coach Nguyen has over 20 years of experience in martial arts training
coach
RICKY MERJIL
Pending
RICKY MERJIL
HIIT Kickboxing Instructor
Pending
coach
Damian Medina
BJJ Brown Belt
Damion Medina
Brown Belt in BJJ, skilled in MMA, and Kickboxing
Oscar Galicia
Assistant
Sensei Winn has experience as a Continental & National Referee and a Master's Degree in Exercise Science
Oscar Galicia
Becca Meza
Front Desk Associate