Sean Cooper: Head Instructor
Sean Cooper is the owner and head instructor at Cooper MMA. Sean has been doing martial arts including Tae-Kwon Do since he was a child. His love of the arts brought him to his true passion, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which he has been doing for over 23 years. He is a third degree Black Belt under Cleber Luciano. Master Cleber is an 5th degree Black Belt under Rickson and Royler Gracie, Judo Black Belt, and professional Mixed Martial Artist, based out of Huntington Beach, CA. Sean is ranked under Evangalista Santos Cyborg for Muay Thai and Vale Tudo. Evangalista is one of the founding members of the infamous Chute Boxe Academy located in Curitiba, Brazil.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor and champion himself, Sean is coach to champions from numerous organizations including NAGA (North American Grappling Federation), AGF (American Grappling Federation), Grapplers Quest, IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation), and Fight To Win/ World Grappling Circuit. Sean also has extensive training in the art of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, and has trained law enforcement and special forces. He also coaches numerous professional and amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champions. Sean regularly brings in the highest level of instruction such as Richard Perez, boxing coach to UFC fighters Nick and Nate Diaz, Invicta Champion Cris Cyborg, and the legendary Royce Gracie just to name a few. Sean is an active member of his community, winning a distinguished employer award from Leander Independent School District, and organizing charities for Safe Place through women's self-defense workshops. He has also conducted free anti-bully seminars for kids to raise the awareness of bullying. He gives kids the confidence they lack by empowering them through self-defense and martial arts. He teaches them how to handle situations that present themselves, and to only use martial art techniques only when necessary. His belief is to help one child at a time, and make his community a better place.
Mark Gilston
Mark is a 4th degree judo Black Belt that began training the art at the age of 5 and has studied with many of the luminaries of the discipline. In 1980, he began teaching a judo club at SUNY Binghamton. He was awarded his Black Belt in 1989 and taught judo for six years at Cornell University and for four years at the Corning School of Criminal Justice. In 1994 after winning gold medals in both kata and shiai in international competition, he taught several classes including the Tomodachi Judo Club and the Police Athletic League. He brings a traditional approach to judo, emphasizing technical skill and attention to detail to maximize usefulness and efficiency, while at the same time protecting your partners and ensuring safe practice.
Ren Penaflor
Ren began his training in 1998 under King Webb, and received his Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu in 2011. His style epitomizes Jiu-Jitsu’s original Japanese translation of “the gentle art.” His instruction focuses on flow, technique, and keeping it playful, while reinforcing the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a combat discipline. This is why Ren trains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSS7IYSs7WY#t=2m55s