Progressive Martial Arts was founded by Sensei Bryon Schnell, who was born and raised in San Clemente. He has experience in a wide variety of martial arts and has been teaching in San Clemente for over 16 years. Read about Bryon.
Our Instructors
Steve Torres – Multi-Time National Weapons and Karate Champion. Got me started on the right track in 1994 and introduced me to various martial arts, Eskrima and tournaments. We watched UFC’s 2-3 together and realized we needed to adapt, I took control of the Club in 1996 and started cross training and Teaching full contact and Grappling.
Steve Mc Bride – Met in 1996 he trained BJJ at Reylson Gracie’s in Corona Del Mar around 1990- His Teacher Was Kickboxing Champ Bruce Lemer ,me and Steve Started Sparring Full Contact in 1996, he taught me a lot of my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Greg Borchard – Met in 1998 he was already a Judo Brown Belt and a Kung Fu Black Belt We started cross training striking to grappling, he taught me a lot of my first Judo Skills .
Randy Bloom – Met in 1999 Started teaching at my Academy as a Brown Belt under Joe Moreira. After Rolling with me and training me he tested me for Blue Belt in 2000 -Purple Belt In 2001- Brown in 2004 and Black Belt In 2008 . Has taught out of my academy for years on and off.
Chris Brennan - UFC 3-15( or something i forget ?) Pride Bushido 1&2 Veteran 2x King Of The Cage Champ-. Met in 2003 he started teaching at my Academy and I was fighting Muay Thai at the time he asked me and Coach Vince to spar and train with his fight team Adam Lind and Russ Miura, I would ask Chris Bjj Q’s and he would ask me Striking Q’s.Super cool guy ,he new what would work in MMA. Taught out of my Academy for 1.5 years
Ace Comegy’s – Met in 2003 is my Instructor in Aiki-Jitsu holds multiple Black Belts and is one Bad dude
Ronald Assumpcao – Met in 2005 Brazilian,European,American Gi and No-GI BJJ champion with numerous wins and titles,Taught at my Club for 2.5 years
Joe Moreira - I went to meet him in 1999 He sent Randy Bloom to teach at my Club and has done seminars thruout the years and we compete at his club continously. His student Kimo Leopoldo as a blue belt in 1994 1ST to-stopped Royce Gracie in UFC 3 ( even though Kimo Tapped, Royce had to be dragged out by his family). Read his history
Bob Anderson – Met in 1985 went to school with Drew his son, He is The “Coach of Champions” Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Rulon Gardner, Rigan Machado etc. One of the most famous Jiu-Jitsu moves the “Americana” is named after him, he Wrestled with Rolls Gracie in the ’70′s , see the book the Gracie way for full story.
Vince Soberano – Met in 2003- 8 time Muay Thai World Champion, only fighter to win the “kings Cup” and “Queens” cup in thailand in the same year.Was Doing ShootFighting in TiaJuana and Japan in the late 80′s and early 90′s years prior to UFC arrival in the USA.
Joe Tarango – Met in 1998 over 40 years of Boxing and Full-Contact Kickboxing and Karate, A great boxing instructor I still train under him he understands Striking and Grappling. He has coached me and my fighters in Muay Thai and MMA for years.
Ramon Rubia – Met in 2005 Eskrima Guru Taught at my Club for a year and a half And I currently train in his Garage,thru his fighting method I have won numerous Eskrima Competitions. And is a true Stickfighting Instructor, he has numerous champion students.
Eric Lee – Met in 1998 And did about 10 -7 hour seminars at my Club as well other training with him. He taught me first hand 5 Kung Fu forms and Spear, Broadsword, Double Broadswords, and Kwan-Do.