AOA Staff

Josh is the kind of person who will spend his time studying and learning all about his passions. Since starting his martial arts journey, he has excelled at Judo and BJJ because of how committed he is to putting in the time and work necessary to learning the intricacies of the arts. An army veteran who retired as a SFC, Josh knows how to push everyone to be the best version of themselves possible.

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As the owner of AOA BJJ Academy, Josh takes his role very seriously and aims to foster a community full of understanding for one another and the drive for Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Everyone is welcome here, no matter what point you are at in your journey. We strive to make this the best possible environment in which to train and grow at your own pace. 

Erica is a mother of two and found her love of martial arts three years ago. When her sons wanted to try jiu jitsu, she decided to try kickboxing to stay occupied while they were in class. KB turned into Judo, which then led to BJJ. As a huge nerd, it makes her laugh to think of how far she has come in terms of athleticism over the past few years. Overcoming several injuries and surgery, nothing has been able to keep her from coming back and continuing her martial arts journey. She wears many hats and is busy working their farm and tending animals when she isn't on the mats. 

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She considers it a humongous privilege to be able to work with new students at the academy, specifically with children and women who may be intimidated stepping onto the mats for the first time. 

John Valentine is a 2nd-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Matt Larsen with more than two decades of experience in martial arts and combatives. His training background includes BJJ, submission wrestling, boxing, and military combatives, with a strong emphasis on fundamentals, pressure testing, and developing skills that hold up against live resistance. 

At AOA, John is committed to helping students improve their technical understanding, confidence, and ability to apply Jiu-Jitsu through consistent training.

Carlos is a life-long martial artist who is also well traveled and currently residing in El Paso. He has 20+ years of experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, receiving his black belt from Jeff Vijil of Gracie Barra BJJ. A self proclaimed hobbyist and nerd, he considers himself a Jack of All Trades/Master of None. We are excited to have him at AOA, where he has already shown the extent of his prowess in covering the finite details of technique. 

Husband, father, student, teacher, coach. Danny began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2019, completely bored with regular exercise and decided to give it a try.  That's all it took and he's been hooked ever since.  His favorite thing about jiu-jitsu is that it always exposes your weaknesses; there are always problems to solve and new solutions to learn.  The social and community aspect is something that he never expected, but the people met along the way are like family now.  He says he has been a member of AOA since day one and I couldn't be happier. 

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Coach Danny has been teaching Saturday morning 10am class and also hosting our open mat that follows. The weekend class is a great way to reset, as the warmup is his take on a yoga style stretch/flow to begin the hour. 

Coach Paul began his jiu-jitsu journey in 2019 at Gracie Barra, where he developed a passion for the art, its constant challenges, and the strong sense of community built on the mats. 

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Currently a brown belt, Coach Paul leads AOA’s 5:30 a.m. classes and has helped build a dedicated morning crew of practitioners who believe there’s no better way to start the day than with some time on the mats. His classes focus on developing strong fundamentals, understanding the concepts behind techniques, and creating opportunities to problem-solve and apply those skills through live training. The goal is to provide a welcoming environment where everyone can learn, experiment, and improve together.

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Outside of jiu-jitsu, Coach Paul is a science teacher who brings many of the same principles from his classroom onto the mats. Above all, he is a proud husband and father who values family, community, and helping others grow. Whether in the classroom or on the mats, Coach Paul’s philosophy is simple: keep learning, keep challenging yourself, and try to leave each day a little better than you started. 

Aaron is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt. He currently leads the Teen Program, in addition to coaching adult BJJ classes.  Aaron is a US Marine Veteran with years of MMA experience. 

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He instills confidence in his students and encourages them to push themselves so that they grow and learn new skills with each class. 

Asrael is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt with nearly 4 years of training experience. He is currently teaching fundamentals class at AOA. Professionally, he serves as a Kinesiology Professor at EPCC. In addition to  that, Asrael is an NASM-certified personal trainer with CPR certification as well. 

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His goal at AOA is to help students develop strong fundamentals, improve their physical fitness and enjoy the journey of learning jiu jitsu. 

Cori is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue belt and coach leading the Women's program, as well as instructing the Children's program. She is passionate about creating a positive, welcoming environment where students can build confidence, learn strong fundamentals and enjoy their jiu jitsu journey. 

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She is a testament to how it is possible to still focus on your own mental and physical health, even with a busy schedule. A mom of 4 who is also working a full time job, we are grateful to have her as part of our AOA family. At the helm of the women's program, she has helped many first timers gain the confidence it takes to be comfortable in co-ed classes.