Coach Charlie Pearson (Head Coach)

Coach Charlie started training in the martial arts at age 13. His first fighting style was a Korean martial art called Taekwondo. At the age of 26 he earned the rank of 4th degree black belt. Coach Charlie competed quite heavily in sport-style Taekowndo tournaments around the United States and was ranked in the top 5 in the nation. 

Looking for a system that would offer more real life fighting applications he started training in Philippine stick fighting and Muay Thai kickboxing. But it wasn't until the very first "No Holds Barred" event called the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" or "UFC" that Coach Charlie saw a format that would prove what the most effective fighting techniques were. Back then, the term "Mixed Martial Arts" or MMA hadn't even been created yet and there were no gyms or schools to teach him, so he started training with his students with this new rule-set. 

Coach Charlie entered a few underground tournaments, and with some success he intensified his training. The sport grew in popularity and Coach Charlie entered a few local tournaments and eventually won the Washington State MIddle Weight Title in 1997. Coach Charlie's professional debut was at the Superbrawl event in Hawaii where he won by decision. Coach Charlie then began training with Matt Hume out of AMC. 

Coach Charlie's fighting highlights:
17 wins 5 losses 3 draws
Washington State Amateur Pankration Title
Hawaiian Superbrawl winner
World Extreme Cagefighting Winner
United States Professional Pankration Title
Hook-N-Shoot Inter-Continental Champion
Japan Shooto Veteran
Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) veteran

Coach Charlie has also helped many of his students reach success in the fighting arena. Here are some of his professional fighters achievements: 

Chris Munsen - Win over ADCC standout Alexandre "Cacareco" Ferreira, win over future UFC champion Dave Menne, London Cage Wars winner. 2nd place in the Rings Heavyweight Tournament. 

Angela Restad - Competed in the first ever all women's professional MMA event where she won the "Tapout fighter of the night" award. Angela was also victorious in Japan at the AX Fighting women's event where she defeated the #1 ranked girl in Japan by armbar. 

Boyd Ballard - Became the Washington State Champion and earned second place in the Hawaiian Heavyweight Superbrawl Tournament losing to future UFC heavyweight champion Tim Silvia despite entering the tournament at 200 pounds

Buck Bisbey - Over 20 wins in his career, Lords of the Cage Champion, Hawaiian Kauai "Garden Island Cage Fight" Champion. 

Landon Showalter - Over 30 fights in his career including wins over UFC fighters Steve Bruno and Drew Fickett. 

Emma Bush - Competed at the first ever all pro women's event in Korea, Japan Smack-Girl veteran. 

Mario Miranda - Kauai "Garden Island Cage Fight" Champion. 

Otto Olson - 2nd place 2003 ADCC losing to Marcelo Garcia in the finals. 

Sally Krumdiack - Hawaiian X-1 Winner, 2 Time Free Style Fighting Champion, 2 Time UMMA Champion, Japan Jewels Veteran, Ireland Cage Wars Veteran, Scotland Cage Wars Veteran, 2 time Fatal Femmes Winner, Professional San Shou Winner. 

Jonny Gilbertson - Round 1 China Real MMA Lightweight tournament winner. 

Chris Garcia - 3-1 pro all wins in the first round by submission. 2 time China Real MMA winner. 

Brandon Todd - 5-2 Pro. Winner of COGA tournament, 3 fights in 1 night.

Tycen Lynn - 6-3 Pro, 10-1 Amateur

Joey Elzea - 6-1 Pro, 10-3 Amateur

Miranda Granger - 7-3 Pro, 10-0 Amatuer

Chris Vasil- 6-3 Pro, 10-0 Amateur

Coach Charlie has helped over 20 amateur fighters earn local titles as well. 

Coach Jake Furney (Assistant Head Coach)

Coach Jake is the assistant head coach at Charlie's Combat Club and is also responsible for student services. A lifelong martial artist, Jake started his martial arts training in Taekwondo at age 5 eventually earning his 3rd degree black belt. In 2010 he started training at Charlie's Combat Club and soon began fighting. Jake is a Brazilian JiuJitsu brown belt, and with over 15 MMA & Kickboxing fights and grappling tournaments under his belt is a wealth of knowledge and experience. Coach Jake brings high-level positive energy to all of his classes, and is a prized jewel of the C3 family. 

“My goal is to give our students the tools and techniques to be the best martial artists that they possibly can be; whether your goals are to be a fighter or just to learn something new, let’s get to work and see what we can accomplish! ” -Coach Jake

Coach Miranda Granger (MMA & Kickboxing)

Coach Miranda actually started training with coach Charlie when she was 4 years old in the martial arts, eventually earning her black belt in Taekwondo at age 12! After taking a break from training for school, she resumed her training with a goal of getting into the cage to compete. Miranda finished her amateur career at a perfect 10-0 while capturing the CageQuest 125lb MMA title, AXFC 125 MMA title, AXFC 130lb title, COGA 115 MMA title, and the AXFC World Kickboxing title!

Miranda has amassed a professional record of 7-3, capturing the DominateFC 115lb title, the CFFC strawweight world title, and has had 4 fights in the UFC!

Coach Miranda helps with all the classes at Charlie's Combat Club and is a great role model for many students at the gym. Coach Miranda really shines when she works with her fellow female teammates, empowering them through her example of hard word and accomplishments. Be aware though ... Coach Miranda can be a bit sassy at times.

Coach Scott Stilwell (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)

Coach Scott is a 1st Degree Brazilian JiuJitsu black belt and oversees the BJJ program at Charlie's Combat Club. Coach Scott constantly challenges himself in competitions, having competed in many local tournaments and BJJ shows, including Fight2Win!

Coach Scott started his martial arts career with Coach Charlie as a youngster in the Korean art of Taekwondo, and eventually started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Coach Charlie asked Scott to help develop a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for the students at C3, and Coach Scott was happy to join the team. 

Coach Scott's calm, relaxed demeanor and his constant quest for improvement in himself and his students makes him a favorite at Charlie's Combat Club.

On a side note, Coach Scott loves to jam out on the guitars!

Coach Chris Vasil (MMA & Kickboxing)

Coach Chris has been fighting since before he could even drive. As an amateur fighter he racked up a 10-0 record as well as earning the CageWarsMMA 130 lb and  COGA 145 lb Kickboxing titles.

As a professional fighter, he is currently 6-3 with several wins outside of his weight class.

Coach Chris likes to translate his experience to his students by covering the basics as well as some of the many "tricks" he has used to win many of his fights.

Little known fact, Coach Chris is actually a Chemist! 

Coach Derek Garcia (Wrestling)

Derek Garcia is the head wrestling coach of Charlie’s Combat Club.

Coach Derek’s many accolades include:

-Fila Cadet national champion -ASICS cadet national champion

-ASICS junior national champion

-4-time state champion

-Dave Shultz High School Excellence award winner

-ASICS First team All-American

-ESPN RISE Cover Athlete

-Ranked in the world (juniors)

-Ranked in the nation (seniors)

-Ohio State varsity wrestler, starting as a true freshman

-Part of the Ohio State national championship team

-Coached Ohio State wrestlers

-Coached Ohio high school wrestlers

-Formerly Head coach at Greg Jackson’s MMA Gym

-Traveled/trained/competed overseas in Germany and Bulgaria.

Coach Derek’s coaching tree is unique and unmatched:

- His youth wrestling coach for 6 years was Andy Cook, who is currently an Olympic Coach for India.

- His middle school and high school coach Jay Breckenridge was a nominee for National Coach of the Year, and currently in the Coaching Hall-of-Fame

- As a middle schooler, He spent time training with Oklahoma state under Eric Guerrero and Coleman Scott

- He Spent time as a freshman and sophomore training at the training center under then Olympic Coach Kevin Jackson.

- He Became the youngest resident athlete wrestler at the Olympic training center as a junior in high school where He would be coached by Zeke Jones who was the Olympic Coach, Brandon Slay who was also Olympic Coach, and Bill Zadick who was his developmental coach and is currently an Olympic Coach. Resident athlete from 2008-2011

- Coach Derek Excelled greatly, convincing the OTC to start an Olympic Developmental Program for athletes coming out of high school. We are so happy to have Derek as an official coach and part of the C3 family.