West Side Coaches

Alex Cisne - Head MMA Coach

Cisne began Martial Arts training 17 years ago.  Like our other coaches he found that he could create a more effective fighter in a shorter amount of time by disregarding ineffective techniques and forms. This led Cisne to San Shou Kickboxing. After winning national titles twice, Cisne joined the ranks of professional fighting. A man who constantly strives to add to his Martial Arts arsenal he was no stranger to the grappling arts. Cisne had begun Judo at the age of 16, later Coach Cisne would delve into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In the month April at the “Lone Star Beat Down” Cisne entered the Octagon and won his first Mixed Martial Art bout. In September 2009 Cisne won the National Team Trials in Sanshou and is looking foward to the World Championship in 2008 in Beijing, China.

Coach Cisne continues to pursue his personal goals, but like the other coaches at the West Side facility he puts the student body before his personal training. Like all the Coaches of The Round Table Cisne strives to make winning fighters in the least amount of time.

Ted Stickel - Head Jiu-Jitsu Coach

WSMMA's new Head BJJ Coach -- Professor Ted Stickel --- has been intimately involved in Martial Arts for over 35 years.  He has studied Gracie Jiu Jitsu with legends of the sport-- Rickson, Royler, Rorion, Royce, and Carlos Gracie Jr.  He rolled and drilled at their original academy in Torrance, California during the early and mid-1990s.  Prof. Stickel was awarded his first and second degree Black Belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Carlos Gracie Jr.- Head of the Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu family.  Prof. Stickel's technical BJJ skills are renowned -- He and Professor Nelson Montiero, who gave Prof. Stickel his first black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, started the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in San Diego, California and Prof. Stickel introduced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Alaska. He actually opened the largest Gracie Barra Academy in Alaska. Prof. Stickel also has a Black Belt in Kung Foo San Soo from Grand Master Ted Sias. In both 1996 and again in 2000 he was invited to the Abu Dhabi Combat Club in the United Arab Emirates - some of the best Jiu-Jitsu and world-class grapplers have studied at this prestigious club.

Professor Stickel has also attended the Gracie Barra Academy in Brazil which is home to many of Jiu -Jitsu's World Champions. In 2001, Professor Stickel won Masters Class Gold and Silver Pan American Championships.  He has also successfully trained various MMA UFC fighters -- with one of his students, Sam Hogar, actually fighting some of the UFC's best known Champions. He is currently training several other MMA / UFC fighters --one of whom will be fighting in the UFC in September of 2010. Commencing this August, Westside MMA will become an occasional training facility for some of his students preparing for MMA matches throughout the country. Also of great importance is Prof. Stickel's approach to people --he is courteous, articulate, a respectful & successful motivator & instructor of children. In short, Professor Stickel manifests the highest professional standards in his teaching of Martial Arts. Along with Westside's  MMA Coach, Alex Cisne, BJJ instructor, Chris Mango, Trainer, Kenny Burke, and Boxing instructor, Aaron Pena -- It is Westside's goal to be one of the finest producers of MMA & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the World.   

Chris Mango

Coach Mango brings a unique, analytical approach to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu instruction. Mango believes that the key ingredients for success in martial arts are strength, endurance, technique and a positive outlook.  As a champion athlete, Chris strives to motivate and instill these attributes in all the students at our academy.  

A two time Gold medalist in the Pan-Am Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Championships, (2006 & 2007), a Bronze medalist in men’s purple/brown belt division of the 2009 U.S. Nationals Grapplers Quest, and a Gold Medalist, in the 2009 Best of the West- Grapplers Quest.  He is also a 2009 North American Abu Dhabi Pro purple belt silver medalist.  Mango has been training in the Martial Arts for over 14 years.  After winning various regional and national titles in Tae Kwon Do, Mango began to study Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since the age of 12.  Mango holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do & Judo.

Kenny “The Hurt” Burke

Kenny Burke is the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Westside MMA. He has been involved in personal training and fitness for over fifteen years. His mission at Westside is to prepare our athletes for the most extreme conditions they may face, whether on the mat in BJJ or Judo, or when they step into the cage for MMA fights. He also has the benefit of working with average, everyday students who may not be interested in competition, but seek his advice and skill in order to live a stronger, healthier lifestyle.

For the everyday students and his own personal training clients, Kenny is a believer in a circuit style training that provides constant movement, repetition, and most importantly, proper form and technique to assure results over a given period of time. At Westside we offer two dynamic circuit training classes/week for any and every student who wishes to achieve their own personal fitness goals. Kenny also will be starting boot camps that are geared but not limited toward the advanced athlete -- beginners will find the camps an excellent means to accelerate their training..

As well as being a coach at Westside, Kenny is proud to also be a member of the renowned "Westside Fight Team". As a resident in upstate New York, he began to wrestle in high school which started him on the path to martial arts and strength training. Kenny moved to Houston in 2001 and began training the art of San Shou Kickboxing with his good friend, and fellow coach at Westside, Alex Cisne. "Alex really brought my game to another level, leading me to a perfect 8-0 record in full contact kickboxing." When Alex came to Westside, he had recommended that Kenny begin to train here. Immediately, Kenny found an incredible interest in BJJ and the transition to MMA. As an MMA fighter, he has compiled an amateur record of 4-0, and is the current USACA 170lb champion, 2008 Texas Amateur Fighter of the Year. Kenny will be making his pro debut on Nov. 7TH, 2009 here in Houston.

*2007, 2008 ChinWoo Full Contact San Shou Champion

*2007, 2008 US Martial Arts San Shou Champion

*2008-2009 USACA Welterweight Champion (170 lbs)

*2008 Texas Amateur Fighter of the Year

*2009 Texas International Grappling Festival Gold/Bronze (Gi/No Gi) Medalist

*2009 Fight to Win White Belt/Blue Belt Challenge Gold Medalist

Personal Training is also available to non-members of Westside MMA , with discounts for members. Please contact Westside MMA for further questions.

 

Top students:

• Brandon Mullins - 2 time Grapplers Quest medalist, 2 time Pan American Jiu-Jitsu medalist, Texas State Judo Champion, 3rd place at Collegiate Judo Nationals, 2006 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu US Open Champion, 2nd place at Rio State Ranking Tournament. Black-belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Klay Pittman and Carlos Machado.
• Alex Cisne - Professional Mixed Martial Artist, 2 time National San Shou Champion, Professional Kickboxer, and winner of the “Texas Beat Down” 2009
• Paul Aluotto - Currently trains the West Side Mixed Martial Arts. A veteran of the Mixed Martial Arts, Aluotto holds a championship belt in the “Renegades.” A competitor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Aloutto was ranked 1st in his division for the state and 7th in the southwest.
• David Bonner - World Sombo Champion and Vice President of the National Sombo Federation
• Seth Bregman - 10 time National Junior Judo Champion, High school National Judo Champion, 2 time Grapplers Quest Gold Medalist, Pan American Silver Medalist and current Colorado State Grappling Champion.
• Daniel Gomez - National Judo Champion
• Jeremy Loflin - Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Gold & Bronze Medalist (2009)
• Chris Mango - 2 time Pan American Gold Medalist (Juvenile Division, 2006 & 2009), US Nationals of Submission Grappling presented by Grapplers Quest, Bronze Medalist (2009), Gold Medal Winner -- 2009 Grapplers Quest -- BEST OF WEST CHAMPIONSHIP.
• Mitchell Mendoza - 10th Grapplers Quest (2009), Gold Medalist, US Nationals of Submission Grappling presented by Grapplers Quest, Silver Medalist (2009)