What made you get into martial arts?

I tried just about every sport I could growing up but never really “clicked” with any of them, but I always loved wrestling and watching MMA fights. At some point I remember thinking that when competition in other sports escalates beyond a certain level, the athletes always resorted to fighting; basketball, baseball, football, hockey. Fighting is the most direct form of competition you can have, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Tell us about your journey/background/accomplishments?

I moved to Denver in 2018 and had no idea what my future in martial arts would be, but knew I had to give it a shot. I was going to shop around for a gym near where I lived, and the first place I visited was High Altitude Martial Arts. My first day I took Noufel’s striking class and loved HAMA immediately, I never made it to another gym. I’ve been training for nearly 4 years and competed in 4 smokers and 3 BJJ tournaments. I feel inspired and fortunate to be surrounded by greatness every day, and I want to pursue excellence and mastery in this sport.

What is your goal as a coach?

I want to pass on all of the knowledge and lessons that HAMA has given me. I’m so grateful for how transformative martial arts has been for my life, both physically and mentally, and I want to pay it forward tenfold. It’s an honor to be a part of such a storied tradition.

What makes High Altitude Martial Arts special?

HAMA is both a local and global community all at once. I’ve crossed paths with people from around the world with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, and we’re all brought together through practicing martial arts. All of the drama and conflict of the world is left outside, and we can be free to challenge one another in order to reach our individual goals.