Founder/Instructor

Ron Mukai is 55 years old and still alive, by the grace of God.  He’s also married to his awesome wife Wendy  and has 4 awesome kids and 1 awesome daughter-in-law, also by the grace of God.  Ron is a recovering lawyer, broker, real estate developer and entrepreneur, but his real passion is building character through jiu jitsu!

Ron started jiu jitsu at the ripe age of 39, got his black belt in 2017 and is a founder/partner in several schools including Ethos jiu jitsu in Fullerton (2016),  East LA Jiu Jitsu, a non profit school (2022), 2002 Jiu Jitsu in Boston MA (2024), and Boyle Heights Jiu Jitsu (2025).  Ron continues to train daily, as well as teach classes, mentor youth, run his real estate businesses and lead the non-profit (and occasionally sleep).

For Ron, the process of jiu jitsu completely changed every aspect of his life, his health, and how he faced personal hardship. This perspective allows him to teach smaller, weaker, slower individuals to overcome their physical (and mental) shortcomings and use the techniques of jiu jitsu to control much bigger, stronger and faster opponents.  

Ron has deep roots in East LA. His grandparents moved to East LA in the 1920s.  Ron’s parents were both born in East LA and met at Garfield High. Ron was born at White Memorial hospital and has been intimately involved  in East LA community and business affairs since 1995. He is  a practicing attorney, broker and commercial real estate Developer in East LA. In 2003 he developed and still owns and manages East LA Civic Center Plaza on the corner of 3rd street and Mednik Ave.  

Ron sees many parallels between his Christian faith and the principles of jiu jitsu including, faith, humility, perseverance, courage, loyalty and self control. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Wendy (also a black belt) for the last 25 years and shares the mat with his 4 awesome kids: Diego (20 brown belt), Xanti (17 blue belt), Mila (12 grey belt) and Eze (8 grey belt) and daughter-in-law, Emily (white belt with 1 stripe!)

Ron occasionally competes and won a gold medal as a black belt at the 2023 IBJJF Orange County Open, as well as a silver medal in the IBJJF Pans as a brown belt.  

Ron also serves on the Board of Directors for Movements of Grace, a non-profit serving impoverished communities in Colombia and Venezuela, and on the Board of his church, Calvary La Habra.  

Ron’s motto is “today is the best day of my life”, so today is going to be the best day of his life!

Lineage: Helio Gracie - Royler Gracie (Gracie Humaita) - Cleber Luciano (Cleber Jiu Jitsu) - William Tetsch (Leon Jiu Jitsu

Founder/Instructor

Scott Torres began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2010, upon his discharge from active service in the United States Navy. Scott, a life long wrestler wanted something more than what traditional gyms had to offer. Scott began Jiu Jitsu training at Newbreed Mixed Martial Arts /Jiu Jitsu under the guidance of Professor Johnny Ramirez.

In 2012, Scott showed interest in teaching and began as an assistant instructor in various kids classes at Newbreed Mixed Martial Arts. Over the years Scott was given additional opportunities to instruct adult classes at the beginner level. By 2018, Scott became one of many instructors responsible for teaching adult Jiu Jitsu at all levels. Alongside Professor Johny Ramirez, Scott instructed and coached the Newbreed competition team.

Over the course of 9 years, wins, and many losses Professor Johnny Ramirez awarded Scott the rank of Black Belt in July of 2019.

Scott is a Christian, and has found commonality between the road to Black Belt and his walk with the Lord.

Scott is a professional Historian. Over the 9 years Scott trained full time, he completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees from CSU Fullerton. He currently works as an Architectural Historian in the city of Pasadena.

Scott’s love for Jiu Jitsu and History has led him to various states and countries. Scott studied history and trained Jiu Jitsu while living in Berlin, Germany for a summer. His stay Led to many great friendships and invitations to train all over the city.

Scott has been married to his beautiful Wife Jessica for three years. While not training, Scott and Jessica enjoy spending time at the beach, and taking long walks with their German Shepherd dog Sunny.

Lineage: Carlson Gracie Sr. - Rodrigo Medieros (BJJ Revolution Team) - Johnny Ramirez

Instructor

Filipe Pimentel is a second degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has been training since 2009, starting at the age 14 in a Social Project in a poor community in Brazil. He started his competitive career at 2011, winning at the State, National and International level. In 2013 he started his referee career and has been refereeing internationally in all of the biggest tournaments in the world such as the Worlds, Pans, European, South-American, Brazilian and American Nationals from IBJJF/CBJJ/USBJJ federation and World Pro, Grand Slams and Nationals from AJP/ADWPJJC federation, as well as many others federations. He has also been teaching since 2015 at regular academies and social projects. Besides jiu jitsu, Filipe has trained and has competed in other sports like American Football, Basketball, Judo, CrossFit, Tennis and Capoeira. He is also a Civil Engineer,  graduating from the University in 2018 and actively licensed in Brazil since 2020. He is current teaching at Ethos Jiu Jitsu Fullerton and East LA Jiu Jitsu, a non-profit jiu jitsu school.

Instructor

Wendy Mukai, Ron Mukai’s wife, received her black belt on the podium of the IBJJF Master World’s tournament in the summer of 2023 after she decisively won her division as a brown belt. In addition to her coaching roll at East LA Jiu Jitsu, she and her husband, Ron, are part owners of Ethos jiu jitsu in Fullerton, CA. Wendy continues to train daily, as well as help teach the kids and the adult classes at both gyms. Wendy also competes and has won Gold, as a blue belt and a brown belt, in the most prestigious tournament in the world for competitors over 30 years old, the IBJJF Master Worlds.

     Wendy’s path to jiu jitsu happened later in life along with her husband when they signed up their then 5 year old son in 2009, and the process of jiu jitsu completely changed every aspect of her life as she went along with her family. She spent 7 years off the mat, raising a family of fighters. One by one, all her children trained and began to give her a greater desire to one day practice the art herself. After her 4th and final child was born, she then was able to train along with her family. Jiu Jitsu has changed her perspective about being smaller, weaker, and a slower individual with health problems. She had to overcome her physical shortcomings and use the techniques of jiu jitsu to control much bigger, stronger and faster opponents. She sees jiu jitsu as a passion to express herself artistically, spiritually and relationally to other people. Jiu jitsu has allowed her to spend quality time with her husband and children and loves how the principles of jiu jitsu applies to their Christian faith and every day life.

Wendy has deep roots in the latin culture being a first generation Mexican. She was born in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico and came to the United States at the age of 3. She was raised in Orange County, and was the first grandchild in her family to graduate from college. Wendy graduated from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and had a 10 year career as a Fashion Designer.

     She has been married to her husband, Ron, for the last 23 years and they have 4 kids: Diego (19 purple belt), Xanti (16 Blue belt), Mila (11 grey belt) and Eze (7 grey belt). Her entire family trains Jiu Jitsu together.

Lineage: Helio Gracie - Royler Gracie (Gracie Humaita) - Cleber Luciano (Cleber Jiu Jitsu) - William Tetsch (Leon Jiu Jitsu) - Ron Mukai and Jerardo Linares (Ethos Jiu Jitsu)

Instructor

Jerardo Linares is a second degree Black Belt, one of the Founders of Ethos Jiu-Jitsu, and has been training Jiu-Jitsu for over 20 years. He first got introduced to jiu-jitsu while attending San Diego State University, and joined the local college jiu-jitsu club while studying Business Finance. Before starting jiu-jitsu, he played soccer for many years, and still enjoys kicking the ball around.

Jerardo is passionate about coaching his students to be better human beings through jiu-jitsu, and is an active competitor. He shares his time at East LA Jiu Jitsu teaching a morning class and visits night classes to train with the students. When not teaching he works as a Real Estate Broker for Millenia Real Estate, a local Real Estate Company he founded. When not working he enjoys spending time with his Wife Kimberly and two dogs Dexter and Rio. They enjoy riding bikes along the LA River, camping and hiking.

Instructor

Leonardo de Barros Vilela (Léo) is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning his black belt in June 2023. He began training at age 6 in a social project in Poço Fundo, Brazil, and has been passionate about giving back to his community ever since. Léo moved to a larger city to train with Professor Paulo Cezar Rezende, where he competed successfully in the Brazilian Nationals and South American Championships.

Léo’s international achievements include standout performances at the European IBJJF (2020, 2022), AJP Grand Slam London (2022), and World Pro (2021). Some of his major titles include:

• 1st place London Open IBJJF (2024)

• 2nd place Orange County Open (2024)

• 3rd place World Pro Abu Dhabi AJP

• 3x 2nd place Brazilian Nationals IBJJF

• 3rd place South American IBJJF (Black Belt)

• 1st place South American AJP

• 1st place Brazilian National CBJJE

• 1st place Balneário Camboriú Open IBJJF (2023)

• 3rd place European Championship IBJJF (2023)

Léo is recognized for his skill and dedication, both on and off the mat.

Mukai Family