Instructors

Professor Mauricio Zingano - Head Instructor

3rd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)
Muay Thai

Professor Zingano began training in Martial Arts at age 10 doing Karate and Judo. At 16 years old he began taking Jiu Jitsu lessons from the world famous Gracie brothers.

Professor Zingano was fortunate enough to learn from Rickson, Rorion, Rolker, Relson and Royce Gracie for many years and also from the patriarch of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Gracie Jiu Jitsu), Master Helio Gracie.

Not only he was taught the art of Jiu Jitsu but more importantly he received private training form Master Helio Gracie himself on how to teach Jiu Jitsu. He began teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the young age of 17.

Professor Zingano learned directly from the source of Gracie Jiu Jitsu and defended the honor of the Gracie family in several occasions during the “Gracie Challenge Matches”, where black belts and experts from other disciplines such as Karate, Tae Know Do, Kung Fu, Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai, Shoot Fighting, Sambo and many others would come in to the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy and have No Holds Barred matches against the Gracie Jiu Jitsu fighters.  In this challenges matches Professor Zingano fought without hesitation opponents who out weight him by as much as 150lbs and were over a foot taller than him never suffering a single defeat. He was known as one of the “gate keepers” at the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy during an era where bouts were fought without protective gear, weight classes and on a moment’s notice.

Over the years Professor Zingano also studied Wrestling, Boxing and Muay Thai Kick Boxing and fought in numerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions. He became a two time national BJJ champion and remained undefeated in MMA having had over 30 amateur and professional bouts.

In 2004 Professor Zingano moved to Denver and established his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Westminster.

He was also the founder of the Rocky Mountain Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, an organization that promoted and organized local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Grappling tournaments, helping the growth of the sport in Colorado.

Professor Zingano teaches daily between both Zingano Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academies in Broomfield and Brighton and in 2010 he was voted Colorado’s MMA Coach of the Year.

Professor Zingano has leaded his Team to win 10 State Championships, 4 National Cup Championships and several other prestigious titles in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Grappling. He has made in to champions many of his fighters who had never had any previous MMA experience.

Professor Zingano own wife, professional fighter Cat Zingano, is currently ranked #1 in the world in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Professor Dave Ruiz

2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)

Professor Ruiz is a BJJ Black Belt under Rigan Machado (Machado brothers). He trained alongside with Professor Zingano for many years in California and he also operates his own gym in Colorado.

Professor Josh Ford

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)

Josh began his BJJ career under Professor Dave Ruiz and received his BJJ Black Belt from Professor Zingano in 2009. He is a Pro MMA fighter and a nutritionist as well (ForgedFuel.com).

Coach Matt Simms

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Brown Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)
Muay Thai

Coach Simms began his training under Professor Zingano in 2004 and has since become one of the top BJJ and MMA fighters in Colorado holding 3 MMA titles at 155lbs and multiple Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Grappling State titles. He has been teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA since 2006.

Coach Mike Mendel

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Brown Belt

Coach Mendel began his training under Professor Zingano in 2004. He has been teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2006. He is also a nurse at the Children’s Hospital in Denver.

Coach Hans Thompson

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Brown Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)

Coach Thompson began his training in his native Arizona before moving to Japan where he continued to train and fight. He began training with Professor Zingano in 2006. Coach Hans is also a commentator for the Japanese MMA shows Senguko, K-1 and Dream.

Coach Cat Zingano

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)
Muay Thai

Coach Cat is a former wrestler with 4 National Freestyle Wrestling titles and a 4 time All American.
She is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, several times State Champion in both Grappling and BJJ and she is currently the Ranked #1 MMA female fighter in the World at 125lbs.

Coach Dan Bentz

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt
Mixed Martial arts (MMA)
Muay Thai

Coach Dan began his training in 2007. He had a successful MMA debut in 2010 and he is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu State Champion. Coach Dan is also works as a Civil Engineer.

Dave Bollinger

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt
Judo Black Belt

Coach Bollinger is a Judo Black Belt and has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Zingano since 2006.

Jason Burnworth

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt

Coach Jason has been training with Professor Zingano since 2006. He also owns his own Marketing Company (SparkPlug Marketing).

Tim Shirley

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt

Coach Tim is an accomplished wrestler who began training BJJ with Professor Zingano in 2007. He has won numerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Grappling State titles. He was formally one of the coaches at Fairview High School in Boulder and during that time he coached Cat Zingano while she attended High School there.

Adam Romero

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Purple Belt

Coach Adam began training under Professor Zingano in 2005. He is a Chef by trade and currently working to start his own “pre made meals” company with the goal of providing proper balanced precooked meals to fighters and athletes.

Kru Sakmongkol Zingano (Sakmongkol Sitchuchoke)

Muay thai

Kru “Mong” is one of the top ten Muay Thai fighters of all time. Kru Mong has over 250 professional Muay Thai fights under his belt suffering only 19 defeats and holding 5 World Titles, including the Lumpinee Stadium Champion, the most prestigious title in Muay Thai.

Mong has defeated many of the world’s best Muay Thai fighters such as Jongsanon Fairtex (Thailand), Ramon Dekkers (Holland), John Wayne Parr (Australia), Perry Ubeda (France) Matee Jedeepitak (Thailand) and many others.

Since going in to semi-retirement a few years ago he has devoted himself to coaching world class fighters from all over the world, including former opponent John Wayne Parr.

Sakmongkol’s most recent win took place at the Ring of Fire Muay Thai Mayhem show in Denver on June 25th 2011, against K-1 fighter and Reality TV’s star from the show “The Contender”, James Martinez. Kru Mong won via TKO after James Martinez sustained a broken arm and could not continue. The broken arm came as a result of Kru Sakmongkol powerful kicks.

Pat Burke

Strength and Conditioning

Patrick Burke is a strength and conditioning coach and owner of MBS CrossFit (www.MBSCrossFit.com) in Broomfield, Colorado. Patrick has been in the strength and conditioning field for over 7 years, with a specialty in group and team instruction. He first started in the strength and conditioning field as a Combat Physical Fitness Instructor for the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2005. After the Marine Corps, he co-led the defensive tactics training for a high-profile protective security firm in L.A.

Patrick is an avid competitor in the sport of CrossFit, weightlifting, and endurance races. In 2010 he placed 7th in the International CrossFit games. He is a CrossFit Level I coach, USAW Sports Performance and Club Coach.

Other Coaches:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Blue Belts

Jesse Cohen
Ruben Morgan
Keven Hernandez
Kim Larkin
Mike Foster
Aaron Schneider
Travis Cody
Jonny Fu
Jordan Blanco
Isaiah Trujillo