INSTRUCTORS AT THE LAB:

 

 

John Crouch- Head Instructor Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/ Lab Elite Fight Team Head Coach

John Crouch quickly found that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the true passion in his life thirteen years ago when he began training under Royce Gracie. Since earning his black belt, he has coached fighters in everything from the basic essentials to the skills to become UFC fighters. He is known for his dynamic teaching style and ability to magnify the smallest move into a comprehensible challenge. Even with his numerous accomplishments, John says his family is the most important thing in his life.

 

 

 

 

Rick Roufus- Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing Head Instructor

 

 

Rick Roufus is the most decorated full contact Kick Boxer in the history of the sport. Rick Roufus, nicknamed The Jet, has been a six time world kick-boxing world champion in six different weight classes titles. In the early 1990’s he made a change in profession and turned to boxing, winning the WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Title. Rick also added the K1’s US championship to his six world titles in 1998. He holds an incredible record of 63 wins and 9 losses, with 42 wins by knockout. Rick is now actively pursuing MMA and has his eyes set on a 205lb title belt.

Rick is the Head Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Boxing Instructor for The MMA LAB. He passes along his world class instruction and knowledge to students of all skill levels.

 

Rick's Tip of the Month

Since I have joined The LAB, one of the techniques that I have tried to emphasize is blocking. In Muay Thai, blocking is essential. Once you learn it, it will change your whole outlook on sparring. If you don’t learn and adapt to it, your legs will become bruised and beaten which is something that we don’t want. Remember, in blocking, you are redirecting the kick. Coach Kessler and I have taken pictures to show the different blocking techniques that can be used. I recommend coming to the Tuesday 6:00 PM Technique Muay Thai class, which is the class in which we focus on blocking. We want our classes here at The LAB to be fun, to continue to learn the proper techniques/forms and of course not to get hurt. Remember… check the kicks. See you in class!
-Rick

 

 

 

 

Kevin Kessler- Kids Striking Coach (Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing)

 

Coach “K” has over 30 years of experience in a variety of disciplines. As an early teen he began boxing in the Gold Gloves out of Kronks Gym and Cannon Recreation Center in Detroit. Wrestling his way through High School earned him a two sport offer from the University of Michigan for wrestling and baseball. After college he pursued a career in personal training where he has trained Junior Olympic athletes, professional baseball and hockey players.

After moving to Arizona to be close to his daughter, Coach “K” quickly got into the discipline of Shotokon Karate, the art of Bare Knuckle Fighting. He earned a Brown Belt under Sensi Koyama. After meeting Coach Gillespey, Coach “K” advanced his training in the art of Muay Thai and Kickboxing. He has trained fighters from all levels.

Coach “K” is best known for his strict style of teaching technique and his relentless demand for conditioning. He believes “it is all about your attitude, because we are all in charge of our own attitudes in everything we do.”

 

 

Chris Zubrycki - Kids Jiu-Jitsu Instructor

 

 

Chris Zubrycki was born and raised in East Rochester, NY. He graduated from L.C. Obourn High School in 1993 as his class valedictorian. Chris was also one of the captains of the football and wrestling team his senior year. The wrestling team finished #10 in the New York State Small School Poll that year. After high school, Chris graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Information Technology Magna Cum Laude.

Chris assists with the Children’s and Beginner BJJ classes under the watchful eye of John Crouch. He is also currently training for and competing in upcoming Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling tournaments throughout the SW region of the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Heckel and Thom Ortiz

 

 

Thom Ortiz

As the former ASU Head Wrestling Coach for nine years, Thom Ortiz guided the Sun Devils to three Pac-10 titles, 21 individual Pac-10 titles, 14 All-Americans and one NCAA champion.
He has been the Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times. Three of his ASU All-American standouts have a made a name for themselves in the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA). Cain Velasquez, C.B. Dolloway and Ryan Bader, all three under Ortiz’ tutelage, have gained notoriety in the UFC.
Ortiz has also competed at the national and international level as a member of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, for whom he now coaches.
He was also a four-time USA wrestling All-American and placed fourth in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials. As a competitor, most recently, Ortiz has won all of his MMA fights thus far.
As an ASU athlete, Ortiz helped the Sun Devils win four straight Pac-10 titles, three in which he was Pac-10 champion and its only NCAA Championship crown in 1988 and earning his first of three career All-American honors.
A native to Arizona, Ortiz’ goal is to continue to help the Arizona youth wrestling community, continue to compete as an MMA fighter and train MMA competitors.

 

 

Andrew Heckel

Andrew began his wrestling career in 1982 in Edmond, Oklahoma at age 12. Andrew was named captain of the Edmond Memorial High School wrestling team that went on to become state champions in 1988, his Senior year, and boasted several wrestlers that went on to become NCAA Division I wrestlers, All Americans and National Champions. Andrew was also named captain of the Oklahoma Junior National Greco-Roman Team in 1987 and 1988. Following high school Andrew was awarded a scholarship to attend and wrestle for Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina under head coach Eddie Griffin. Andrew is one of four brothers that wrestled NCAA Division I.

As a wrestling coach, Andrew believes that a good wrestling foundation starts with the mental tenacity required to excel in the physically demanding sport. Wrestling is an individual sport and this tenacity will be a lasting bridge that carries over into all aspects life and allow the individual to accomplish whatever he or she sets out to accomplish. Andrew’s class structure focuses on the basics of becoming a tough wrestler: stance, foot motion, set up and hand control. Andrew’s wrestling philosophy is that it’s not how many wrestling moves you can perform, but how many wrestling moves you can perform well