About Us

🥋 Meet the Martial Arts of Waco Team

At Martial Arts of Waco, we believe your progress is only as strong as the people guiding you. Our instructors represent over 150 combined years of martial arts experience—with 10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts, each with a minimum of 10 years on the mats. Every rank here is earned, never given. In addition to our BJJ staff, we proudly feature seasoned experts in Muay Thai, wrestling, MMA, and self-defense, forming one of the most complete coaching teams in Texas.

🥋 Professor Jerry Boroff – Lead Instructor

Rank: Degree Black Belt under Carlos Machado
Experience: 30+ years
Bio: Professor Boroff is the heart of our lineage and a foundational figure in Texas BJJ. His influence and high standards have shaped countless instructors, including Professor Turner and Professor Tucker. As our Lead Instructor, he sets the tone for quality instruction, traditional values, and student progression. His legacy of consistency and control can be felt throughout every program.

🥋 Professor Turner – Owner & Program Director

Rank:  Black Belt under Carlos Machado
Experience: 20+ years
Bio: A martial artist since 2003, Professor Turner is the founder of Martial Arts of Waco and the only Coro belt in Texas. With deep roots in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA, he created this academy to serve as a center for excellence, discipline, and personal growth. He personally oversees curriculum design, private coaching, instructor development, and business leadership. His motto, “Get 1% better each day and be hard to kill,” drives the culture of the academy.

🛡 Professor Jose – Head MMA Instructor

Rank: BJJ Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor Jose leads our MMA program with an emphasis on technical integration between striking, clinch, and ground. His classes focus on real-world fighting scenarios, cage control, and high-level grappling. Known for his intensity and attention to detail, he coaches both hobbyists and active fighters.

🧠 Professor Craig – Jiu-Jitsu Instructor

Rank: Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor Craig is known for his clarity, patience, and deep technical understanding of Jiu-Jitsu. His instruction is systematic and concise, making him a favorite among analytical thinkers. Whether you’re a white belt learning your first guard pass or a competitor refining strategy, his instruction is laser-focused and accessible.

🥋 Professor Soto – BJJ Fundamentals Coach

Rank: Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor Soto is a calm and centered instructor who helps students develop a rock-solid foundation. He specializes in fundamental techniques, pressure passing, and humility in practice. His classes are ideal for new students and those seeking to reinforce clean mechanics and positional awareness.

🔥 Professor Little – Competition Coach & Rolling Leader

Rank: Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor Little brings grit, intensity, and physicality to our rolling culture. He’s a competition veteran who pushes students to test their limits while emphasizing control, accountability, and submission pressure. Known for his aggressive top game and drive, he’s a key figure in preparing students for tournaments and adversity.

⚙️ Professor Tucker – Movement & Catch-Wrestling Style Instructor

Rank: Black Belt under Professor Jerry Boroff
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor Tucker is known for his dynamic and unorthodox movement style. Drawing from his wrestling base and catch-wrestling influences, he offers a unique blend of pressure, agility, and flow. His classes emphasize movement chains, scrambles, and creative attacks—ideal for students looking to break out of rigid patterns and embrace fluidity.

🧱 Professor John – Strategy & Structure Coach

Rank: Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Professor John is a structural strategist—he helps students refine escapes, guard retention, and control positions. His methodical approach is ideal for students focused on technical efficiency, longevity, and intelligent grappling. Especially helpful for older students, returning athletes, and those seeking depth over flash.

🔷 Professor Jake – Law Enforcement & Tactical Instructor

Rank: Black Belt
Experience: 10+ years
Bio: With military and law enforcement experience, Professor Jake brings real-world perspective to his coaching. His Jiu-Jitsu is practical, direct, and focused on survival and control. He also assists with youth leadership and combatives seminars.

🥊 Coach Jordan Adun – Lead Muay Thai Instructor

Experience: 10+ years | Active Fighter | Owner of Storm MMA – Temple, TX
Bio: Coach Jordan leads our striking program with expertise forged in real fights. His Muay Thai classes balance traditional technique with modern application for MMA and competition. From pad work and clinch drills to fight strategy and cardio, his sessions build serious skill and confidence.

💥 Coach Tracy – Muay Thai Coach & Active Fighter

Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Coach Tracy brings sharp striking fundamentals and active fight experience. Known for his fight IQ and precision, he teaches timing, power, and balance with a tough-but-encouraging tone. His leadership helps students push limits and sharpen technique for competition or self-defense.

🛡 Coach Slaughter – Advanced MMA & Self-Defense Specialist

Experience: 10+ years
Bio: Coach Slaughter focuses on real-world combat readiness. His background includes knife defense, pressure testing, and street-oriented grappling. He runs our advanced MMA prep and self-defense seminars with a focus on high-pressure scenarios, close-quarters survival, and defensive mindset training.

🧒 Coach Jake – Lead Kids Instructor

Rank: Brown Belt
Experience: Youth-focused development and coaching
Bio: Coach Jake leads the kids’ program (ages 3–12) with structure, consistency, and enthusiasm. He teaches focus, respect, and discipline while making classes engaging and skill-based. Many of our most dedicated adult students started their journey under his mentorship.

👊 Coach Jet – Assistant Coach & Youth Mentor

Experience: Youth & beginner instruction
Bio: Coach Jet supports our kids and beginner programs with energy and focus. He models leadership, responsibility, and encouragement for younger students, assisting both on and off the mats with technical guidance and positive reinforcement.

🥊 Coach Katherine (Kat) – Women’s Muay Thai & Self-Defense Coach

Experience: 10+ years in striking and martial arts
Bio: Coach Kat leads our women’s Muay Thai and self-defense programs with unmatched precision and passion. She teaches clean, effective striking for all levels and creates a motivating space for women to build skill, strength, and confidence.