Renzo Gracie East Los Angeles
Every instructor at Renzo Gracie East LA is a practitioner first. They've put in the hours on the mat, earned their ranks through real training, and now dedicate themselves to passing that knowledge — and those values — to the next generation of students.
World-class lineage. East LA community. Uncompromising standards.
Head Instructor
BJJ Black Belt · Head Coach
Professor Edgar Tinoco has been a cornerstone of jiu jitsu in East Los Angeles for over a decade. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the Renzo Gracie lineage, Prof. Edgar built this program from the ground up with a singular goal: to bring world-class martial arts instruction to the East LA community — without compromise.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision over raw athleticism, making the art accessible to every student regardless of age, size, or prior experience. Under his leadership, the East LA program has produced blue belts, purple belts, and competition medalists at regional and national events.
When he's not on the mat coaching, Prof. Edgar trains actively — because he believes the best teachers never stop being students.
Teaches
The Coaching Staff
BJJ Brown Belt · Associate Instructor
A lifelong grappler with a deep passion for the technical side of the game. Prof. Marco brings a detail-oriented approach to every class, breaking down complex concepts into clear, repeatable steps. His fundamentals classes are consistently ranked among the highest by new students.
Wrestling & MMA Coach
Coach Rene is the wrestling specialist that separates East LA from most BJJ gyms in the region. A decorated high school and collegiate wrestler, he brings a systematic approach to takedowns that transforms the grappling game of every student he touches. His MMA integration classes are uniquely complete.
Muay Thai & Kids Program Coach
Coach David is the heart of the kids program and the driving force behind Muay Thai at East LA. With a background in competitive Muay Thai and a natural gift for working with children, he brings equal parts energy, structure, and patience to every class. Parents frequently credit him with transforming their kids' focus and confidence.
Our Coaching Philosophy
We believe technique beats athleticism — always. Every class is built on that principle.
"The goal isn't to create fighters. The goal is to create people who are harder to kill, harder to break, and harder to push around — in every sense."
Our instructors don't just teach moves — they teach the principles behind them. When a student understands why a technique works, they can adapt it under pressure, modify it for their body type, and eventually innovate on top of it. That's the difference between a memorized sequence and a genuine skill.
Every coach on staff is an active practitioner. We don't believe in coaches who stopped training. You learn best from people who are still learning themselves.
Standards & Credentials
All instructors operate under the Renzo Gracie system — one of the most respected and technically rigorous BJJ networks in the world.
Every instructor working with minors holds youth coaching certification and has passed comprehensive background checks — no exceptions.
All full-time coaches are current on CPR and first aid certification. Safety protocols are embedded in every class structure we run.
Our coaches travel regularly to train with the Renzo Gracie network — bringing back updated curriculum, competition strategy, and new perspectives to the mat.
Train with the best in East LA
Come meet the coaches, try a class in any program, and experience the Renzo Gracie East LA difference in person. No commitment required.