OUR TEAM
Two brothers who started wrestling in high school. The woman who keeps the whole place running. A mom who came back to the mats after a spinal injury. A dad who trains alongside his sons. They built this gym and they are all still students in it.
Professor Roger
Ruiz
White Belt : JJWL 2019 Top Ranked Fighter
Blue Belt : Houston International Open (Gi) IBJJF Championship 2020 Bronze Medalist
Purple Belt : JJWL 2023 San Diego Open (Gi) Gold Medalist
JJWL 2023 California Open (Gi) Silver Medalist
Brown Belt : JJWL 2023 The Worlds (Gi) Silver Medalist
Black Belt: NAGA 2025 San Diego Expert Division Championship Belt
Major accomplishment : Opening a family gym with his wife and 2 daughters.
Roger ruiz
Founder and Head Coach
Roger grew up in Moreno Valley and started wrestling in 2011. He made varsity as a freshman.
In 2019 he walked into Gracie Humaita Hemet and began training Jiu Jitsu under Omar Salum, a four time world champion and sixth degree black belt. He medaled at every belt he earned on the way to black: gold at the 2023 JJWL San Diego Open, silver at the 2023 JJWL World Championship, bronze at the 2020 IBJJF Houston International Open, and the expert division championship belt at NAGA San Diego in 2025. He is still competing.
He started coaching in 2022, building the wrestling program at San Jacinto Valley Academy from nothing and staying on as head coach and program director.
He opened Ruiz Grappling Academy with his wife and two daughters. Roger has ADHD and has spent years coaching kids across the spectrum, which is why no two students here get coached the same way. He is strict because he has standards, and he is genuinely fun to train with. Kids can tell the difference.
His own answer, when asked what he is proudest of, is not on the medal list. It is opening a family gym with his wife and daughters.
ashley ruiz
Founder and Director of Operations
Ashley Ruiz she is a dedicated wife of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Roger Ruiz and an essential part of their family-run academy. She manages all of the school's office administration, keeping daily operations organized so students and instructors can focus on training. Outside the academy, Ashley and her husband are proud parents to two daughters, including one with autism. They are both students of the academy. She balances the demands of running a business while creating a loving, supportive home, demonstrating resilience, compassion, and a deep commitment to both her family and the jiu-jitsu community.
Joel Ruiz
Instructor
oel Ruiz was born in Moreno Valley, CA and grew up loving the art of wrestling and Jiu Jitsu with his brother Roger Ruiz. He began his martial arts journey in high school as a wrestler on the varsity wrestling team. From there, he fell in love with the art. In 2019 he started his Jiu jitsu journey at Gracie Humaita Hemet under Omar Salum. Joel is currently a purple belt. Joel has competed through each of the different belts and won silver twice, which landed him on the podium, as a purple belt. Joel continues to compete and practice under Omar Salum Jiu Jitsu. Alongside Roger Ruiz, Joel has stepped into the Ruiz Grappling Academy as a partner and instructor. Joel will continue his journey until he has earned his black belt and the title of a professor. Joel is a coach who takes the time to evaluate each student and meet them where they are at. He knows them as an individual and shows perseverance as he helps them grow. He is always ready and willing to do what he can as a coach his students to ensure they are growing their knowledge and love for wrestling and Jiu Jitsu. Accomplishments: Purple belt: JJWL 2023 San Diego Open (Nogi) Silver MedalistJJWL 2023 NorCal Finals III Silver Medalist Major accomplishment : Opening up a family gym alongside his brother Roger Ruiz. .
Nalani Keopuhiwa
Assistant Coach
Nalani began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in August 2024 and quickly developed a passion for the sport, the journey, and the strong sense of community it provides. In April 2025, he earned a gold medal in his first competition and was promoted to blue belt in November 2025.
As a husband and father of two boys who also train in Jiu-Jitsu, he enjoys sharing the experience with his family. He loves the team atmosphere, building friendships, staying healthy, and helping others grow both on and off the mats.
Stacey Magallon
Head Women’s Instructor | Brown Belt
Stacey began training in mixed martial arts in 2005 and quickly developed a passion for the challenge, growth, and empowerment that comes from stepping onto the mat. After a spinal injury and taking time away from training to raise her children, Stacey returned to jiu-jitsu and wrestling in 2020. Starting over wasn’t easy. She came back older, injured, out of shape, and balancing life as a busy homeschooling mom. She committed to rebuilding herself through consistency, grit, and relentless effort. That journey transformed not only her health and athleticism, but also her belief in what is possible through hard work. One of Stacey’s greatest blessings is sharing the journey with her own children. She trains alongside her kids and coaches them in both wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Watching them develop character, work ethic, and perseverance through training has been one of the greatest rewards of her life. When Stacey returned to jiu-jitsu in 2020, she trained alongside Professor Roger Ruiz and Coach Joey as a teammate. Years later, she is proud to serve as one of Professor Roger’s instructors at Ruiz Grappling Academy, helping others discover the same life-changing benefits that jiu-jitsu brought to her own life. While Stacey enjoys competing and has competed across multiple weight divisions, her true passion is coaching youth and women. She believes jiu-jitsu is about far more than learning techniques—it’s about building resilience, self-reliance, mental toughness, and the confidence to face challenges both on and off the mat. Known as the “sunshine” of the gym, Coach Stacey brings energy, encouragement, and positivity to every class—but don’t mistake kindness for softness. She believes people are capable of far more than they think and refuses to let her students quit on themselves. When you say you can’t, she’ll help you discover that you can. When you think you’re done, she’ll challenge you to find one more round, one more rep, and one more reason to keep going. Stacey teaches both Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and welcomes students of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. Whether your goal is self-defense, competition, fitness, or personal growth, she is committed to helping you become stronger, more capable, and more resilient. Private lessons are available for students seeking individualized instruction and accelerated development.
