West Side Coaches

Alex Cisne - Head MMA Coach

Cisne began Martial Arts training 17 years ago.  Like our other coaches he found that he could create a more effective fighter in a shorter amount of time by disregarding ineffective techniques and forms. This led Cisne to San Shou Kickboxing. After winning national titles twice, Cisne joined the ranks of professional fighting. A man who constantly strives to add to his Martial Arts arsenal he was no stranger to the grappling arts. Cisne had begun Judo at the age of 16, later Coach Cisne would delve into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In the month April at the “Lone Star Beat Down” Cisne entered the Octagon and won his first Mixed Martial Art bout. In September 2009 Cisne won the National Team Trials in Sanshou and is looking foward to the World Chamionship in 2008 in Beijing, China.

Coach Cisne continues to pursue his personal goals, but like the other coaches at the West Side facility he puts the student body before his personal training. Like all the Coaches of The Round Table Cisne strives to make winning fighters in the least amount of time.

Brandon Mullins - Head Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Mullins specializes in the grappling arts.  His 12 years of competition as well as coaching allows him to see the strength and weaknesses of grapplers at any level. Whether a beginner or an advanced competitor Mullins can refine there game, with almost instantaneous benefits.

He first began to study wrestling while living in Oklahoma under Coaches Ricky Stewart and Dewy Ivey. While in Oklahoma Mullins also met James Ticket, who first introduced him to the art of submission. At 18 Mullins moved to Houston and began training in Judo with Team Bushido. It was there where Mullins refined both his submissions and throwing techniques. In 1999 Mullins moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, earning a degree in biology as well as a teaching certificate. During his time there he began to delve into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Klay Pittman. It was at the Pittman Academy Mullins won several titles in both Judo and BJJ. Some of these achievements include the Judo State Championship and 2 Pan American medals in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was awarded the rank of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, under Klay Pittman and Carlos Machado.

In 2009 Mullins traveled to Brazil for 6 months. He studied at Gracie Barra learning from the worlds leading submission fighters.

Brandon Mullins is analytical, imaginative, and constantly refines BJJ techniques.

Mullins recently won the 2009 No-Gi-Pan Ams in the Adult Black Belt Division.

Chris Mango

Coach Mango brings a unique, analytical approach to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu instruction. Mango believes that the key ingredients for success in martial arts are strength, endurance, technique and a positive outlook.  As a champion athlete, Chris strives to motivate and instill these attributes in all the students at our academy.  

A two time Gold medalist in the Pan-Am Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Championships, (2006 & 2007), a Bronze medalist in men’s purple/brown belt division of the 2009 U.S. Nationals Grapplers Quest, and a Gold Medalist, in the 2009 Best of the West- Grapplers Quest.  He is also a 2009 North American Abu Dhabi Pro purple belt silver medalist.  Mango has been training in the Martial Arts for over 14 years.  After winning various regional and national titles in Tae Kwon Do, Mango began to study Judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Paul Thomas.  Mango holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do & Judo.

Kenny “The Hurt” Burke

Kenny Burke is the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Westside MMA. He has been involved in personal training and fitness for over fifteen years. His mission at Westside is to prepare our athletes for the most extreme conditions they may face, whether on the mat in BJJ or Judo, or when they step into the cage for MMA fights. He also has the benefit of working with average, everyday students who may not be interested in competition, but seek his advice and skill in order to live a stronger, healthier lifestyle.

For the everyday students and his own personal training clients, Kenny is a believer in a circuit style training that provides constant movement, repetition, and most importantly, proper form and technique to assure results over a given period of time. At Westside we offer two dynamic circuit training classes/week for any and every student who wishes to achieve their own personal fitness goals. Kenny also will be starting boot camps that are geared but not limited toward the advanced athlete -- beginners will find the camps an excellent means to accelerate their training..

As well as being a coach at Westside, Kenny is proud to also be a member of the renowned "Westside Fight Team". As a resident in upstate New York, he began to wrestle in high school which started him on the path to martial arts and strength training. Kenny moved to Houston in 2001 and began training the art of San Shou Kickboxing with his good friend, and fellow coach at Westside, Alex Cisne. "Alex really brought my game to another level, leading me to a perfect 8-0 record in full contact kickboxing." When Alex came to Westside, he had recommended that Kenny begin to train here, introducing him to his bada** BLACK BELT BJJ coach, Paul Thomas. Immediately, Kenny found an incredible interest in BJJ and the transition to MMA. As an MMA fighter, he has compiled an amateur record of 4-0, and is the current USACA 170lb champion, 2008 Texas Amateur Fighter of the Year. Kenny will be making his pro debut on Nov. 7TH, 2009 here in Houston.

*2007, 2008 ChinWoo Full Contact San Shou Champion

*2007, 2008 US Martial Arts San Shou Champion

*2008-2009 USACA Welterweight Champion (170 lbs)

*2008 Texas Amateur Fighter of the Year

*2009 Texas International Grappling Festival Gold/Bronze (Gi/No Gi) Medalist

*2009 Fight to Win White Belt/Blue Belt Challenge Gold Medalist

Personal Training is also available to non-members of Westside MMA , with discounts for members. Please contact Westside MMA for further questions.

 

Top students:

• Brandon Mullins - 2 time Grapplers Quest medalist, 2 time Pan American Jiu-Jitsu medalist, Texas State Judo Champion, 3rd place at Collegiate Judo Nationals, 2006 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu US Open Champion, 2nd place at Rio State Ranking Tournament. Black-belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Klay Pittman and Carlos Machado.
• Alex Cisne - Professional Mixed Martial Artist, 2 time National San Shou Champion, Professional Kickboxer, and winner of the “Texas Beat Down” 2009
• Paul Aluotto - Currently trains the West Side Mixed Martial Arts. A veteran of the Mixed Martial Arts, Aluotto holds a championship belt in the “Renegades.” A competitor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Aloutto was ranked 1st in his division for the state and 7th in the southwest.
• David Bonner - World Sombo Champion and Vice President of the National Sombo Federation
• Seth Bregman - 10 time National Junior Judo Champion, High school National Judo Champion, 2 time Grapplers Quest Gold Medalist, Pan American Silver Medalist and current Colorado State Grappling Champion.
• Daniel Gomez - National Judo Champion
• Jeremy Loflin - Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Gold & Bronze Medalist (2009)
• Chris Mango - 2 time Pan American Gold Medalist (Juvenile Division, 2006 & 2009), US Nationals of Submission Grappling presented by Grapplers Quest, Bronze Medalist (2009), Gold Medal Winner -- 2009 Grapplers Quest -- BEST OF WEST CHAMPIONSHIP.
• Mitchell Mendoza - 10th Grapplers Quest (2009), Gold Medalist, US Nationals of Submission Grappling presented by Grapplers Quest, Silver Medalist (2009)