NOEL CARVAJAL | BOXING COACH

Noel is a big believer that he owes all of his success and everything that is good in his life to combat sports. His journey began as a weight loss journey that turned into a lifestyle after getting punched in the ring for the first time. Noel’s 30 bout career pointed him in the direction of coaching and being able to help another person make it into the ring. Carvajal approaches boxing and training with an analytical mindset along with empathy and intense pride for the sport, his athletes, and himself. Noel is a heavy believer in conditioning and using evidence-based approaches to shape the skill set of any fighter. You will always find Noel searching for ways to improve his coaching to bring the very best to his athletes.

ALEX SCHWAB | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COACH

Alex Schwab is a Manassas, VA native and former University of Michigan football walk-on. Alex began training martial arts in 2013 at an MMA gym in Naperville, IL, and joined Scott and his team at District Martial Arts in 2016. Here, he fell in love with BJJ, and has been passionately training and studying it ever since. Alex’s favorite part of coaching is being able to demonstrate how BJJ involves both mental and physical skills – like solving a puzzle while working out!

CHARLES DIGISCO | MMA COACH

Charles DiGisco has been training in all disciplines of Mixed Martial Arts since he was a Senior in High School. By way of New Jersey, Charles moved to Washington D.C. and attended American University, after which he stayed and worked for the Department of Defense. Charles has competed in all disciplines of MMA and most recently was awarded his Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He can also be seen as a color commentator on UFC Fight Pass as well as the DMV promotions, Cagezilla and Cowboy Fight Series.

MARK CIRELLO | WRESTLING COACH

Another New Jersey native, Mark Cirello is a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler who trains in all areas of Mixed Martial Arts. Mark attended Blair Academy in NJ, one of the most elite prep schools for wrestling in the country, before moving to American University where he competed for four years in three different weight classes. A true renaissance man, Mark is also an accomplished artist, specializing in surrealist-realist paintings. When not on the mat teaching or training, Mark can be found in front of his easel painting his next piece! Cirelloart.com

DAVID BERGIDA | MMA COACH

A New Jersey native with around 20 years of wrestling experience. Between the years of 2012-2017, David successfully competed at Virginia Tech as a D1 wrestler in the 165lb weight class division – A school consistently ranked top 10 in the nation for its wrestling program.
More recently, David has expanded his mixed martial arts training since joining DMA in 2019. Primarily focusing on MMA and familiarizing himself with BJJ.
David has a passion for fighting and is eager to share his wealth of knowledge with the DMA family.

KHALDON ROUKIE
| GYM MANAGER & BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU KIDS COACH

Originally a boxer, Khaldon started his MMA journey with Team DMA in 2018. Since then, he’s sought to compete and train in all disciplines of martial arts. As DMA’s Gym Manager, you’ll find Khaldon taking care of the gym facilities, coaching adult and kids classes, and training to pursue his goal of becoming a professional mixed martial artist. His amateur MMA debut started in 2022.

CAMERON THOMSON | WRESLING COACH

Originally from Barrington, Illinois, Cameron began his wrestling career in the 7th grade and ended it competing for the D1 program at Iowa State University. While at Iowa State, Cameron compiled a record of 24-4 (2012-2015) attaining the highest ranking national of 26th at the 174lb weight class. He was coached by Coached by Kevin Jackson (USA Freestyle developmental coach at Colorado Springs (OTC) Olympic Training Center), Trent and Travis Paulson (Assistant coaches at University of Virginia), Troy Nickerson (Head coach at University of Northern Colorado), Angel Escobedo (Head coach at Indiana University). Transitioning from wrestling, Cameron now is focused on expanding his grappling knowledge, specifically Jujitsu.
Outside of coaching and training, Cameron is an avid reader, as well as a Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror author.

ANTONIO GUZMAN | MUAY THAI COACH

Tony Guzman is a San Diego, CA native and U.S. Marine Veteran who is a longtime Martial Arts practitioner and enthusiast. Tony grew up Wrestling and Boxing then transitioned to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA and Muay Thai as he traveled the World and Country. He has over a dozen years of experience and is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Tony’s approach to Muay Thai is keeping things practical and efficient. Developing his own comprehensive system and style he is excited to share with the DMA community. When off the mats Tony is a Government Contractor working as a Software Engineer and has the coolest Corgi.

CARTER BROWNRIGG | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COACH

Carter first began training Jiu Jitsu in 2009 in his hometown of Charlottesville Virginia, and trained regularly until 2011. In 2015 Carter resumed his training under Scott and Sam, and was the first contracted member of District Martial Arts at its founding. Carter received his purple belt in September of 2020, and began teaching in early 2021. By day Carter is a high school math teacher at James Madison High School, the job to which he attributes his intimate knowledge of triangles.

COLE REIFSNIDER | YOGA COACH

Our fearless yoga teacher, Cole, grew up with 3 siblings in Richmond, Virginia where she began practicing yoga in middle school. It was there she learned yoga to be not only a physically challenging practice but also, a mentally restorative one.
After graduating from UVA, she made her way to DC where she completed 280 hours of power yoga teacher training at CorePower Yoga. Since then she has been teaching at both CorePower and DMA. She hopes to encourage students to allow their bodies to stretch and heal every Saturday morning with her!!

NICK COX | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COACH

Nick started training in judo in 2009 at Hayashi Sports Clinic in New Orleans, LA. He soon decided that he needed more hugging combat sports in his life and added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2012. Since 2013 he has been training with head jiu jitsu coaches Scott Dance and Sam Shawa, first at NOVA MMA and since 2017 here at District Martial Arts.
He also trains Muay Thai and MMA, and hopes one day to be able to kick someone in the head.
Nick’s jiu jitsu philosophy focuses on establishing standing control and executing a takedown to enable submissions.

GRACE DIGISCO | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU KIDS COACH

Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Grace began her athletic career in swimming at just 3 years old. In 2005, she began swimming for the Jordan Olympic Team, traveling while competing, and in 2011 began her D1 swimming career at American University.
Her love of martial arts came after she retired her cap and goggles and switched them for a pair of boxing gloves and a Gi in 2017 at District Martial Arts. One blue belt later, she has no plans of stopping.
Off the mat, you’ll probably find Grace near a stage or with a camera in her hand!

MATT LUCE | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COACH

Matt has been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for ten years, with experience teaching beginner, all levels, and women’s classes. Matt’s martial arts background is rooted in traditional and modern Chinese martial arts (Xingyi boxing and Sanshou kickboxing) but was drawn to jiujitsu due to its intense but relatively low-impact sparring environment. His favorite aspects of jiujitsu are being able to train hard with opponents of all sizes and skill levels even as a little old guy; also that in jiujitsu, no one kicks you in the head. He is raising two junior grapplers and enjoys passing along his skills to train the next generation.

ANTONIO CRAWFORD | BOXING TRAINER

Antonio has been boxing for over 16 years now. His training technique is based on traditional, practical uses for combat and self-defense. Antonio approaches boxing as a science, breaking down the mechanics to give a firm understanding of proper form and technique, offensive and defensive tactics, and how to formulate an effective fighting strategy.
Some of the many reasons why Antonio likes to coach:
Wants to teach students how to defend themselves
Boxing is a full body workout using all your body’s muscles plus your brain.
Antonio has worked at numerous boxing gym and has trained all spectrums of ages, teaches classes and does individual personal training.

ERTLE NICOLE | BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU KIDS COACH

A purple belt, Nicole started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2015 at her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In Michigan, Nicole enjoyed coaching the kid’s class and growing the women’s jiu jitsu community through open mats and training camps. Nicole’s various experiences provided her with the opportunity to teach a multi-month self-defense course overseas in Tunisia. After moving to the DMV, Nicole coached the George Washington University’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club and organized the club’s first collegiate competitions with the US Naval Academy, U.S Coast Guard Academy, and GCC. Currently, Nicole coaches the kids’ class at DMA, where she enjoys watching the kids develop confidence and discipline through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.