Sifu Victor Young – Head Instructor of Shaolin Mixed Martial Arts.
Victor Young is the founder and head instructor of Shaolin Mixed Martial Arts (SMMA), with locations in Bremerton and Port Orchard. He began his martial arts training in 1998, studying Kung Fu and Tai Chi under Daifu Jack Jones at American Shaolin. After more than 15 years of dedicated training, he earned his 5th Degree Black Sash.
In 2004, Victor expanded into Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, Muay Thai, and Submission Wrestling under Sifu Mark Olsen. During this period, he began competing, coaching fighters, and further developing the cross-training philosophy that would later shape SMMA. In 2010, he earned his Black Belt through Martial Arts Training Academy.
Over the last two decades, Victor has continued to train extensively with internationally respected martial artists including Ron Balicki, Erik Paulson, and Nicolas Saignac. His certifications and instructorships include Jeet Kune Do, Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW), STX Kickboxing, and Savate.
Victor is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Erik Paulson and was recently promoted to Professor within the CSW Association.
Shaolin Mixed Martial Arts was founded in June 2018 with the mission of providing practical martial arts training for self-defense, fitness, competition, and personal development for students of all ages.
Joel Castellon – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach.
Coach Joel has been a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2005. His journey began in Escondido, California, where he and his father, Joel Castellon Sr., started training under the guidance of Magid Hage Sr. and his son, Magid “Gorilla Hands” Hage. What started as a pursuit of discipline and self-control quickly grew into a lifelong passion for the art.
Throughout his training, Joel was deeply influenced by legendary figures such as Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, and Royler Gracie, as well as by his professors and father.. His style reflects a unique blend of traditional “old school” Jiu-Jitsu—focused on control, pressure, and efficiency—and modern, competition-oriented techniques and strategic grappling approaches. For Joel, Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a sport; it’s a path to building character, resilience, and respect.
In 2014, he began his coaching journey by assisting his father in growing Gracie Barra Tijuana and later Gracie Barra San Ysidro, sharing his knowledge and passion with students of all ages and levels. After leaving the military in 2025, Joel continued his coaching journey here at Shaolin Mixed Martial Arts, where he now leads with the same dedication and enthusiasm. Today, he is committed to passing on the core values and techniques of traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, inspiring students of all ages and backgrounds to grow both on and off the mats.
