Meet our Coaches
Scott Howard – Ajarn + Muay Thai + Co-Owner
Scott Howard is co-owner of Disciple MMA Academy as well as the head coach of the Muay Thai and MMA competition teams. Known simply as “Ajarn” by the students, he has either been studying, training, instructing, or competing in martial arts for over thirty years. His background includes Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and various forms of Law Enforcement/ Military hand to hand combat courses.
As an instructor, his experience teaching has included classes designed for students of all levels, from women’s self defense courses to programs for the professional MMA fighters. He is a Level 6 instructor under world renowned Muay Thai/MMA practitioner, Kru Sean Douglas. He teaches “old school” techniques, disciplines, and rituals and blends in new techniques through constant learning and practical application in an ever changing martial arts community.
Paul Sitcharing – Muay Thai
Paul Sitcharing has been training
in Martial Arts for over 20 years. He has trained in a variety of disciplines such as Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo. Coach Paul helps out the Disciple Fight Team and other members with their striking techniques.Coach Paul is a fanatic when it comes to technique and performance, always looking for ways to tune the technique of the fighters and members to make the most out of their natural tools.
He has trained with Kru Scott Howard for almost a decade and is always trying to evolve as a coach. Dubbed by Ajarn Scott as the “best focus pad holder in the tri-state area”, he always brings good energy to any training session.
Neil Johnson – Wrestling
Neil Johnson is the head instructor for the Wrestling program at Disciple MMA Academy. Coach Neil has seventeen years of competitive wrestling experience. He wrestled at Stonewall Jackson High school where he was a two time Regional Champion and placed 1st and 3rd at the Virginia AAA State Championship. He finished his High school wrestling career with an overall record of 102 victories with only 18 defeats.
Coach Neil then got a full Athletic Scholarship to George Mason University where he started all four years and in 1999 was a Division One National Qualifier. Coach Neil finished out his college wrestling career with a record of 85-38. Along with being an instructor at Disciple MMA, Neil is also a high-level professional mixed martial artist, known for his relentless ground n’ pound and non-stop action.
Adam Levy – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Adam Levy is Disciple’s resident Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, training under Coach Dave Reeves. A knowledgeable instructor, Adam possesses over 9 years of BJJ coaching experience 12 years of active BJJ training. Adam is prolific in both BJJ and Submission Grappling and teaches both Gi and No-Gi. Having trained with high-level talents such as Relson Gracie, Roland Gracie, Andre Galvao, Pedro Saur, and Leo
Dalla, members can be certain they are receiving top quality instruction from a practiced and experienced instructor. As a Red Patch under Ajarn Scott Howard, Adam shares his technical knowledge with others as a Muay Thai coach. Echoing Ajarn’s class design, Adam instructs students at all levels, focusing on “old school” techniques, disciplines, and rituals blended with new, modern techniques learned from the constantly evolving martial arts community.
Adam brings 10 years of experience in Mixed Martial Arts at Disciple MMA Academy as an avid training partner, competitor, and instructor for the Disciple MMA Academy fight team. Whether in a fighter’s corner or training in the gym, Adam is a constant force of encouragement, driving fighters to betterment through continual assessment, evaluation, and instruction of technique and performance.
Pedro Rivera – Boxing
Coach Pedro Rivera is an American boxing trainer and former professional boxer with an 11-2-1 record with 22 amateur fights 22-0. Pedro has studied under Joe Frazier and Marvin Frazier. Pedro is widely regarded as one of the best and experienced boxing trainers in the East coast. He is one of the enduring boxing coaches of the former IBF welterweight title champion from 2006 to 2008 Kermit Cintron. Pedro has also trained professionals such as Kassim The Dream Ouma who held the IBF junior middleweight title from 2004 to 2005, Hammer Hank Lundy the WBO–NABO lightweight title in 2010, and the NABF lightweight title from 2011 to 2012 champion. Milton El Santo Santiago Light Welter weight. Terrance Cauthen the Lightweight Bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Pedro has also trained top Amatuer female fighters such as Sacred the Diamond Downing who was 6th time national champion.
Pedro has also trained with Mixed Martial Arts fighters such as Frankie Edgar Former UFC Champion, Eddie Alvarez former Lightweight Champion of the UFC and Bellator promotions. Marlon Moras WSOF Bantamweight Champion. Pedro has played a key role as an assistant trainer to Coach Mark Henry and Ricardo Alemida.
Pedro Rivera became the founder and owner of Tenth Round Boxing/MMA club in 2007. The gym’s roots began in Philadelphia, PA. For over 12 years, Coach Pedro has worked with all levels of skilled boxers and mixed martial artists from novice to professionals.
Intaek Sim – Taekwondo
Tae Kwon Do is not only a combat sport, but is also a way of life for enthusiasts around the globe. Tae Kwon Do itself is made up of three Korean words: Tae, meaning to kick or jump; Kwon, meaning fist or hand; and Do, which means “the way.”
At Disciple MMA, we offer one of the most complete martial arts programs for Tae Kwon Do in Sterling, VA. Whether you’re a beginner, experienced adult, or you are simply interested in enrolling your child in a Tae Kwon Do program, we offer Tae Kwon Do classes for all ages and skill levels.
Grand Master Sim is one of the leading Martial Artists within the Northern Virginia area. With over 50 years of martial arts experience in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Muay Tai Kick Boxing he is recognized as a true Master dedicated to his students and the martial art.
Grand Master Sim is a world-class instructor with over 50 years of Tae Kwon Do and Martial Arts experience. His dedication to his students and Tae Kwon Do work is unparalleled. He has a tireless work ethic, instilling confidence and ability in his students and tries to be available to teach for every class. Featured below are the most recent certifications, and team picture. Come join Master Sim for a trial class today! Call 703-217-6823 for more details, or use the contact form on the right of this page.
Jessie Campbell – Womens Muay Thai
Jessie Campbell is the head coach for the Women’s Only Muay Thai class. She has been a Muay Thai practitioner for the last 4 years or so at several different gyms but has called Disciple home for the last 3 years. Not only has she received excellent training by all of the other coaches here at Disciple, she has also trained in the motherland of Muay Thai, Thailand. With 4 fights under her belt, she hopes to continue to train and learn in the wonderful martial art, MUAY THAI!
Matt Ferguson – MMA
Matt has been a student of the Martial Arts for over 20 years, starting with Tae Kwon Do, Japanese Jujitsu, and Judo back when he was 8 years old, when a love for the arts was sparked. He began cross training many different disciplines, including Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Judo, BJJ and wrestling as well. He used his grappling knowledge to propel a successful wrestling career, where he was able to wrestle in college. There, his roommate got him onto the boxing team, and Matt began to mold all of his disciplines together to start fighting MMA. Matt joined the Army, and that is where he took his first fight. He quickly worked his way through the Modern Army Combatives Program, and passed their highest certification process to become a level 4 MACP instructor. While overseas in Iraq, he was able to start a fight gym on his forward operating base, and helped hold monthly fights to keep morale up, while fighting several times as well. Shortly after his 2nd deployment, Matt fought locally against a fighter from Freedom MMA. After his win, he began training with them, and was introduced to Scott Howard and the team at Disciple. Matt came over to the Disciple family in 2014, and has been fighting with the team ever since. Matt has taken several fights under Ajarn Scott, and while his start leaned more towards the grappling world, his true heart is in Muay Thai. He is well rounded in the arts, and is always available to answer any questions you may have, whether it concerns grappling, striking, or any combination!
Matt Johnson – Judo
Biography coming soon!
Jordan Thomas – Traditional Wrestling
Jordan Thomas comes from a lineage of Wrestlers. Born and raised in San Diego, he began his life on the mat with his older brother and cousins, with his father’s voice in his ear. His seasoned career began in Elementary school with the Chula Vista Badgers. From early on his father had him focus on Freestyle and Greco techniques. Upon entering high school, his hard worked propelled him onto the Varsity team as a Freshman. By Sophomore year he was a Captain. Years of intense training and dieting allowed Jordan to lead the Chula Vista Spartans to an undefeated season as a Senior, something that had not been accomplished in over a decade. A week later, they were League Champs. During his high school campaign, he attended multiple, highly intense wrestling camps under coaches like Zeke Jones (US Olympic Gold Medalist). After high school he continued to work on his Freestyle and Greco with different club teams. For the past 9 years, Jordan has been dedicating his time as a Coach, taking his past experiences as a Wrestler, and utilizing it to teach the future. Jordan helped coach several California based clubs, such as Unleash the Beast (UTB), So Cal Grappling (Phil Davis), Sammie Henson’s (U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist) Training Camps, and Poway Elite Camps. With the ability to connect to Wrestlers ranging from elementary to high school, Jordan has been an integral part of their success. Several of his Wrestlers have been ranked in the top 50 in the state of CA, and as of recently, received Scholarships to various Universities and Colleges throughout the U.S. His program is based on high scoring, high pin ratio. At the start of 2020, Jordan wrapped up his career as the Chula Vista Spartans’ Head Coach as League Champs with an undefeated season, something that had not been done since he did it himself. It was a bittersweet moment, since Jordan knew that he’d be heading to the East Coast. In September 2020, Jordan relocated with his wife and two small children to the DMV area. Jordan is now focusing on using his knowledge and experience in the world of MMA at Disciple MMA, bringing his skillset of grappling to help fighters take the next step in their careers and stay a step ahead.
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