Meet Our Leadership Team

The team dedicated to helping you grow on and off the mat.

ACES Training Center proudly serves families from Round Lake, Hainesville, Grayslake, Lindenhurst, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, and Volo — helping students grow in confidence on and off the mats through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Owner & Head Instructor - Lou C.

Coach Lou is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Carlos Archila of CheckMat Lake County.

His martial arts journey began in Shorie Ryu Karate before expanding into Boxing and Muay Thai in San Diego. He was first introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Martin Sanchez, a Joe Moreira Black Belt.

After leaving his previous academy, Coach Lou continued his training under Leticia Ribeiro at Gracie Humaita South Bay. He later returned to Illinois, where he developed and refined his technical foundation under Carlos Archila, earning his Black Belt through CheckMat Lake County.

A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Computer Science graduate, Coach Lou brings discipline, structure, and analytical precision to his coaching style. His approach emphasizes technical excellence, confidence-building, and personal growth for both kids and adults.

Coach Lou believes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more than a sport — it is a tool for resilience, discipline, and lifelong development.

Owner & Dir. of Operations - Sharla C.

Sharla’s passion for martial arts began in childhood, inspired by her father’s dedication to Kenpo Karate and her family’s involvement in Judo and Aikido. Growing up immersed in martial arts culture shaped her belief that training builds more than physical skill — it builds character.

With family members who have earned advanced ranks in Judo, and as a parent who introduced her own children to martial arts, Sharla deeply understands the impact training can have on families.

She brings valuable experience from her time at Lake County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where she developed a student-centered approach focused on structure, communication, and support. Sharla believes every student deserves guidance tailored to their individual journey.

For her, martial arts are a way of life — rooted in discipline, respect, and community.

Youth Leadership Team

Kiana, Anthony and Matthew have been immersed in martial arts from a young age, training and competing in Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling tournaments and learning Muay-Thai. During wrestling season, they sharpen their skills on the mats, adding depth, strategy, and conditioning to their all-around game.

Their multi-discipline background gives them a strong technical foundation and a well-rounded understanding of grappling and striking.

Beyond their experience, what sets them apart is their energy and leadership. They actively support younger students, demonstrate techniques, and help reinforce the discipline and focus that define our academy culture.

Whether assisting with drills or helping refine a new movement, they lead by example and are always willing to help others grow.

Coach - Bobby B.

Bobby began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey over 15 years ago in Texas at the renowned GB academy under the lineage of Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães.

A dedicated Brown Belt, he brings a fundamentals-first, pressure-based style to the mats with a strong focus on positional control and smart transitions.

At ACES Training Center, Coach Bobby leads the No-Gi classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights, helping students sharpen their wrestling, control, and submission awareness in a fast-paced training environment.

Jiu-Jitsu is a family lifestyle for him — his sons, Logan and Clay, are also actively involved in training — reinforcing his commitment to building strong, disciplined athletes on and off the mats.

Coach - Adam C.

Adam began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2009 at New Breed Training Center and was hooked after his very first class. He quickly became an avid competitor, earning his Blue Belt in 2010 and teaching beginner fundamentals early in his journey.

Fun fact: Coach Lou has shared that watching Adam compete so consistently was one of the reasons he decided to start training Jiu-Jitsu himself.

After stepping away from the mats in 2014, Adam returned when ACES Training Center opened in 2022. In 2025, he was awarded his Purple Belt by Coach Lou and now proudly coaches for the ACES team.

Coach Adam leads the Monday and Wednesday Gi classes, focusing on strong fundamentals, clean technique, and confident competition-ready grapplers.

Coach - Jay B.

After wrestling in high school, Jay transitioned into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2009 at New Breed Training Center, where he built a strong foundation rooted in discipline and fundamentals.

He proudly spent many years at blue belt, developing a deep respect for the basics and refining the details of his game. During that time, he competed alongside — and sometimes against — Coach Adam, sharpening his skills through experience.

In 2023, after moving to the area, Jay continued his journey at ACES Training Center. His approach emphasizes clean technique, strong positional control, and practical application for students of all levels.

Coach Jay leads Friday Open Mat at 7:00 PM, setting the tone for focused training and a strong team atmosphere to close out the week.

Try a free class and discover the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Check out these amazing reviews below from our satisfied members.

Ruel Apostol⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Great coach, friendly and conducive training environment in a very nice facility!!"

Emelio Rivera ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"For anyone curious about Jiu-Jitsu, this is a great place to start training. Great sessions for beginners and great group of people to train with. I’d encourage anyone to give it a try."

Annie Brand ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This is your place to go if you want to improve your self-defense. Friendly and welcoming environment that makes you excited to come back. Simply awesome. Totally recommend it!!!"

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