Our Instructors
OUR HEAD COACH
Professor Omar Santiago
3 Stripe Black Belt and 27 Year Practitioner of BJJ, Muay Thai, MMA, Jeet Kun Do, and more
Omar Santiago started training martial arts in 1996 in Eugene, OR. After a year and a half of trying out various martial arts he was introduced to the beautiful life of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Training with Northwest Martial Arts he was shortly introduced to Wellington “Megaton” Diaz, a legend in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He was then invited to Brazil to train with Royler Gracie at the legendary Gracie Humaita Academy in Rio de Janeiro. Since then Omar has been obsessed with the sport of BJJ and continues to travel to Brazil to train and compete in the “Mudials” Worlds of Jiu Jitsu and The Masters of Jiu Jitsu. In 2001, Omar moved to Portland, OR where he has been training and teaching BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts at numerous gyms ever since. When Omar is not traveling and competing in his beloved sport, he spends a lot of his time being a father, training and trying to introduce people of all ages into the beautiful life martial arts has to offer.
Tristan Powell
Kids BJJ Coach and Program Consultant
Coach Tristan started with Mata Leao in 2023, as a program director, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai practitioner. Upon taking on our “tiny Ninjas” program, which is Jiu Jitsu for ages 4-6, we got to enjoy a surge in energy and watch the program take off. The success is due to his boundless energy and ability to engage with and direct younger kids, with excitement and care. The kids ALL love him and you will too, as hie will be the person who will handle your entire enrollment process from start to finish. Thank you Tristan.
Coach Emily Mojica
Kids Coach
Emily began her journey in the martial arts around 2020, and is coming up on her purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Her encouraging and understanding nature is the exact energy that we need in our kids program. The kids obviously need a lot of good support and attention to thrive in marital arts, and Emily is always there to lead and support the class room, and help kids to hone in their focus. Oh, and she kicks butt in training, too. We love you Coach Emily.
Coach Ryan Baker
Muay Thai Coach And Competitor
Life Long Martial Artist
Coach Ryan completed Mata Leao Combat Sport’s Coaches certification program in 2023 and has been Coaching and competing at Mata Leao since 2024. From his classes you can expect high energy, lots of key fundamental techniques disguised in effective combinations. His high energy is infectious and his students see themselves going harder in class than they ever knew possible! The beautiful thing is, you won’t even notice how hard you’re working, because the drills are so fun and engaging. Come to Coach Ryan’s Muay Thai classes once a week at Mata Leao, and partner up with his at the next!
Coach Brian
Muay Thai Coach and Competitor
Coach Brian has been competing on our team in Muay Thai, BJJ, and no-gi since 2019. His love for sparring, training, and competition is apparent, if you come to his classes. He teaches the advanced Muay Thai class on Tuesday nights, and really spices up your fundamentals with creative combinations, advanced sweeps combos and defenses. As well as high energy muay thai centric strength and conditioning incorporated into every class. His attitude and consistency is admired by all, and he will never ever EVER say “no” to a round of sparring. Drenched in sweat, Coach Brian will “slap hands” with anyone and show you what it means to give your all. He also runs our Muay Thai combat athlete program on Sunday mornings from 10am-12pm, two hoursinfused with strength and conditioning, agility training, Mind bending Muay Thai drills and then an hour of sparring to end the session. Come meet Coach Brian and get motivated!
Coach Kate Long
“Hi, I’m a NASM certified fitness enthusiast with a specialization in kettlebells who loves sharing my passion with others. I have been teaching group fitness for seven years and I have been personal training for three. Other than putting together strength and conditioning kettlebell workouts, I thoroughly enjoy HIIT training and powerlifting. I also love competitive relays, soccer, yoga and badminton, as well as any other physical activity that may challenge me and/or increase my knowledge of the fitness field and its current trends. I’m always seeking individuals who may want to lose weight, build muscle or simply maintain an injury free body so I can help them realize their goals both big and small. Together let’s build a happier, healthier, stronger version of you!”
Coach Erin
Another lifelong athlete, and currently at University seeking her PhD, Erin has been one of Mata Leao’s top students since she began training in 2020. She has an answer for everything in Muay Thai and is also quickly climbing the ranks in Jiu Jistu. Erin teaches every other tuesday night and leads the sparring sessions for the advanced Muay Thai students. Come get your butt kicked by a 135lb woman, who’s super sweet on and off the mats but a lethal weapon in her arena.
Coach Ben Click
Brown Belt
On his way to black belt, Coach Ben has been training consistently and vigorously since 2013. His passion for learning and sharing with his teammates is felt deeply in our school, as he never fails to delve deep into the intricacies of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so eloquently speaking and directing. Spar with him and you will feel like you’ve encountered a real life Jedi. This man knows just where to apply pressure and when to move. What makes Ben stand out from the common man, is that after he dismantles your guard and gracefully dominates a sparring session, he will explain step by step what he has done, and how to counter it and better approach the match next time. He truly wants everyone on the mat to get better, whether you are a teammate or a stranger. He knows that we lift each other up and it shows in his ability to help and connect. You may be shocked at first to step into his Wednesday 12pm no-gi class and see that the students are most ly high level beasts, but within moments of meeting him, and shaking his hand, Coach Ben will have you relaxed and open and ready to grow. Thanks Ben
Coach Brandon Moya
Purple Belt BJJ Coach
Also on the road to Black Belt, Coach Brandon has been grappling for what seems like his whole life. Started wrestling in middle school, this humble and happy go lucky BJJ practitioner will have you laughing hard in class, and enjoying high-energy and fun drills. Besides his open and welcoming BFF-type personality, he truly knows BJJ and is down to get into the details with you, breaking things down in a way that digestible to students of ALL backgrounds and all levels. Watch out though, his don’t let his humble demeanor fool you. High Level Sparring with him can feel like fighting a giant! We love you.