OUR COACHING STAFF
The People Behind the Gym
Real lineage. Real fighters. Most of our coaches grew up on these mats — and now they’re teaching the next generation. Meet the team.
HEAD COACH
THIAGO AZEREDO
Coach Thiago has been practicing martial arts for over 30 years. He started in Olympic-style Tae Kwon Do, earning a 4th Dan black belt — but at 13, he found Muay Thai, training under Aziz Nabih in New York. In 2002 he moved to Arizona and began teaching in Chandler, traveling to Thailand periodically to train and compete in the country where the art was born.
That gym became Sitan. Twenty years later, it’s still here.
As a coach, Thiago has served as USA Head Coach for multiple international federations and has produced more than 100 Muay Thai world and national champions — a record very few coaches in the country can match.
- 100+ Muay Thai World & National Champions Produced
- 3 WBC National Champions
- 9 IFMA Medals
- 4 WKA Medals
- 50+ US Open Champions
- 4th Dan Black Belt, Olympic-Style Tae Kwon Do
- USA Head Coach, multiple international federations
- 30+ years training, 20+ years coaching at Sitan
Coach Thiago is currently fully booked for private sessions.
Muay Thai Coaches
Our coaches are active competitors and lifelong students of the art. Most have trained at Sitan since they were kids.
Omar Mateen
Coach Omar walked into Sitan fresh out of high school with no money and no transportation, and asked Thiago if he could clean the gym in exchange for training. Thiago said yes. Two years later, he was living at the gym. Today he’s a multi-division champion and full-time coach.
2x USOMT C-Class Champion · USOMT B-Class Champion · SAA Champion · Monster Promotions Champion
Ruben Navarette
Adult & Youth Muay Thai Coach Ruben has been training and competing in Muay Thai for 8 years at the national and international level, and has been part of Sitan since age 12. He works with both kids and adults, and runs the gym’s Special Needs Muay Thai program.
9-time National Champion · Special Needs Program Lead
Gabby Apolinar
Gabby’s martial arts journey started at age 5 with Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate. She earned her 2nd Dan black belt, traveled to Japan twice to test, and competed worldwide. After 13 years in karate, she found Muay Thai — and Sitan. She teaches the all-women’s Saturday class and works with beginners.
4x Regional, 4x State, 2x National & 1x World Karate Champion · 2nd Dan Black Belt
Fernando Valenzuela
Adult & Youth Muay Thai Coach Ruben has been training and competing in Muay Thai for 8 years at the national and international level, and has been part of Sitan since age 12. He works with both kids and adults, and runs the gym’s Special Needs Muay Thai program.
US Open Muay Thai Silver Medalist · Tae Kwon Do Black Belt
Yulia Lisova
Yulia has been teaching at Sitan for over 4 years and has competed in multiple national tournaments. She’s known for technical precision, and works with both adults and athletes in the Special Needs program — building strong foundations of technique, strength, and endurance.
Multi-time National Tournament Competitor
BJJ Coaches
Nathan Hagberg
Head BJJ Coach
Nathan is a black belt under Steve Rosenberg in the Gustavo Dantas lineage, with over 12 years of training and competition. He’s the head coach and founder of Sitan Gym Arizona BJJ — building the program from the mats up.
- 5x Arizona State Champion
- 7x IBJJF International Open Champion
- 2x IBJJF US National Medalist
- 2x IBJJF Pan Championship Medalist
- IBJJF European Medalist
- "Hit'em Up" Champion
- Fight 2 Win Veteran
- High Rollerz Veteran
Youth & Assistant Instructors
Many of our youngest coaches came up through Sitan’s own programs — and now they’re teaching the next generation.
Kody Van Pelt
Kody is 15 and has been training at Sitan since he was 6. He’s a National Champion with 4 fights on his record, and he was one of the first students to participate in the Special Needs curriculum Thiago created. Now he helps teach that same class — alongside the kids’ beginner program.
Ethan Raynish
Kody is 15 and has been training at Sitan since he was 6. He’s a National Champion with 4 fights on his record, and he was one of the first students to participate in the Special Needs curriculum Thiago created. Now he helps teach that same class — alongside the kids’ beginner program.
Train With Coaches Who've Done It
Whether you want to learn the basics, level up your technique, or prepare for a fight — there’s a coach here who can help. Your first class is free.