Coaches
Mike Rogers
Head instructor Mike Rogers has been traning under Rodrigo Vaghi since 1997,
and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Mike was also an All American
wrestler at SIUE graduating with a teaching degree, 2 time Golden Gloves
Boxing Champion under the guidance of Jim Howell, and former #1
ranked light heavyweight contender in King of the Cage. Mike has a record of
14-3 in MMA with wins over such top-notch fighters as Travis Fulton and Greg
Wikan. He is the former head wrestling coach at McCluer high school,
coaching 5 state place finishers including Tyron Woodley to a undefeated
senior season at 48-0, placing 1st in the state and 3rd in the country.
Mike was also the assistant wrestling coach at Meramec junior college for 2 seasons.
Dustin Severs
Dustin started training MMA in 1999 and has been training for 12 years.
He holds an MMA record of 9-3. He was the owner and coach of Domain MMA
for 2 years until they merged with St. Charels MMA in late 2010. Dustin is a
former director of the Combat Sports Commission sanctioning body. He teaches
no-gi BJJ every tuesday from 6pm-7pm. He came to St. Charles MMA to
be part of and contribute to building a world class fight team. His goal is for SCMMA
to have a stable of fighters in the UFC and to make SCMMA a brand name recognized
around the entire MMA community.
Hal Goodman
Hal Goodman started training in 1998 at Rodrigo Vaghis original school on Manchester
Road in St. Louis. In May of 1999 he became one of Rodrigos first blue belts along
with Bryan Guidry and Ed Shobe from Omaha, Nebraska. In 2000 he won the blue belt
division at Rafeal Lovatos Tournament in Oklahoma. Shortly after, Hal took a hiatus
from Jiu Jitsu to travel to Europe and South America. When St. Charles Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
opened in March of 2007 he resumed his training and now helps teach. Hal is known
for his extreme toughness and exceptional guillotine chokes. In 2009 he was promoted
to purple belt. He is also a local MMA judge for Kick International
Alp Ozkilic
Alp is greco roman national champ, a greco roman nationals 3rd place winner. He
was a Turkish national team member. He wrestled at Lindenwood University where
he was a 2 time all American, regional champion and outstanding regional wrestler
award. Alp is a professional MMA fighter holding a record of 3-0. He also received
his blue belt in BJJ under Mike Rogers in 2010.
Tony Lucas
Anthony Lucas is Owner / Coach at BattleReady Strength & Conditioning, CrossFit
Ares,in St. Peters, MO. He has been a Trainer for almost 10 years. He is the
Strength & Conditioning Contributor for SportFightingNews.com. Previously a
Director of Personal Training, and Quality Control Manager for a Major Training Company.
He has been involved in competitive sports such as Baseball, Wrestling, Rock Climbing,
and Volleyball,as an athlete and a coach, as well as a Judge for the 2010 CrossFit Games
North Central Division Sectionals. He is PNF Stretch Certified, ISSA Certified Trainer,
and a Level-1 CrossFit trainer. He is PNF Stretch Certified, ISSA Certified Trainer, and a
Level-1 CrossFit trainer.
Quinton O'Brien
Head Muay Thai coach Quinton O'Brien has been training in the sport for 6 years. Trained originally at Vaghi Martial Arts, Quinton started competing in 2008. He won the Missouri Light Heavyweight Muay Thai title in his first year as a fighter, and has since gone on to become the first fighter to win the Thai Boxing Association Tournament in back to back to back years (185 lb 3-9 fight B class division in 2009, 10+ fight 185 lb A class division in 2010 and 2011). Noted for his technically precise fighting style, Quinton teaches a dutch style of Muay Thai. Choosing to emphasize a strong mix of hands, feet and knees combined with spacing and movement, his goal is to minimize output and maximize damage. He's helped train professionals and amateurs alike, and believes that regardless of personal style, certain tenants are paramount to becoming an effective fighter.
Patrick Christie
Muay Thai Trainer/Cornerman Patrick is an avid practitioner of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) and has been around the sport for 5 years. He began his training under Tomer Litvin, coach and owner of Siam Star MMA in Dallas, TX and has most recently been under the tutelage of Fuad Keranovic, formerly with Vaghi Martial Arts; he also trained with the renowned Fairtex camp in Pattaya, Thailand in 2007. Patrick teaches a traditional Thai style – hand combos to set up body kicks, knees, and elbow strikes. He competed in theSuper Heavyweight division of the 2009 TBA-SA Muay Thai Classic and has since dedicated his time to Vaghi Martial Arts and St. Charles MMA to train professional and amateur fighters through pad work and strength and conditioning drills. Patrick believes that knowledge of the sport’s history along with the practical (and damaging) application of technique makes for a well-balance fighter, physically and mentally.