OUR INSTRUCTORS
Our instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with years of training in various martial arts styles. They are committed to guiding each student on their journey, ensuring that every lesson is engaging, educational, and empowering. With a focus on both technique and personal development, you can trust that you're in capable hands as you cultivate your skills with us.
Hugo Sida
OWNER, FOUNDER &
HEAD MMA INSTRUCTOR
2nd Degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt
Hugo Sida brings over 30 years of experience in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (MMA). At the age of 14, he was introduced to Ninjutsu by his brother, Sensei Jose Sida, alongside Shihan Jorge Nieto, laying the foundation for a lifelong martial arts journey.
By blending the disciplines of Ninjutsu, Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and kickboxing, Jose and Jorge developed a unique and highly effective fighting system. Hugo quickly excelled in the sport, winning the first-ever 3-Man MMA Tournament at the age of 17. In 1999, he competed for and captured the Free Form Combat Championship title at 189 lbs. during Go For Broke 3. It was during this period that Hugo discovered his passion for Mixed Martial Arts and committed himself to advancing his career in combat sports.
At 18, Hugo made the difficult decision to leave behind his home, family, and friends to pursue elite training in San Diego, California. There, he trained and competed under the renowned Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den Submission Academy for three years. During this time, he worked alongside and learned from respected professional fighters and coaches, including Ken Shamrock, Pete Williams, Vernon White, Tony Galindo, Muay Thai World Champion Miguel Reyes, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Manolo “El Huracán” Hernandez.
The rigorous training environment challenged Hugo both mentally and physically, shaping him into a disciplined and highly skilled martial artist. Through unwavering dedication and perseverance, he elevated his abilities to a professional level and officially turned professional in 2002.
MANOLO "HURRICANE" HERNANDEZ
Bushido MMA is an affiliate school to TeamHurricaneAwesome under Manolo Hernandez
Manolo “Hurricane” Hernandez is head of MMA at 10 th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Diego. He is a forth degree Blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under coral belt “Cao” Carlos Valente. He studied Kick Boxing under the tutelage of Miguel Reyes. He also studied and taught at Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den.
Mr. Hernandez has guided athletes to the highest levels of the sport of MMA. His students are a virtual who’s who of professional fighting. His list of students have included:
UFC and Bellator Veterans: Ken Shamrock (UFC Hall of Fame)
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Pete Williams (UFC Hall of Fame)
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Liz Carmouche (First ever UFC female title contender. Ranked #7 in the world)
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Ilima Macfarlane (Ranked #1 in Bellator. Ranked #3 in the world)
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Alex “Extemo” Soto
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Walel “The Gazelle” Watson
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Mike De La Torre
Master Carlos Machado
Master Carlos Machado is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United States of America. Currently an 8th degree Coral Belt, Master Carlos Machado came to the USA in the early 1990’s with his brothers. After many years of leadership and growth, Master Carlos Machado has formed the Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu Association: one of the strongest and fastest growing BJJ organizations in the world today.
Today, Master Carlos Machado is a Hall of Fame instructor of Jiu-Jitsu and known in Texas and the Southwest region of The United States as the “Godfather of Jiu-Jitsu”. Before Master Carlos Machado relocated to the Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas area, nobody there was teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Today most of the BJJ lineage in the Southwest can be traced back to Master Carlos Machado.
Coach Sunny Perez
Head Instructor
Coach Sonny Perez is the lead instructor for the Children's MMA & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program. A dedicated martial artist and active competitor under Professor Hugo Sida, Sonny holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has competed extensively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA & kickboxing.
Throughout his career, he has represented the USA Youth MMA Team and gained international competition experience, including traveling to Abu Dhabi, UAE to compete for a world title. He also competed in Monterrey, Mexico at the Pan American Championship, where he proudly brought a championship title back home to El Paso.
With both high-level competitive experience and a passion for coaching, Sonny is committed to helping young athletes build confidence, discipline, and strong fundamentals in mind.
Coach Luis Solis
Assistant BJJ Instructor
With 8 years of training and a brown belt in Jiujitsu, Luis combines a strong foundation in Jiujitsu with a diverse athletic background. Before transitioning to Jiujitsu, Luigi was a state swimmer in high school and competed as a Division 2 college athlete, developing discipline, endurance, and a deep understanding of physical conditioning.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, Luis blends their academic expertise in human movement with practical experience to teach students the importance of form, injury prevention, and efficient training techniques. Luis has also competed in events like NAGA and AGF and continues to pursue the highest levels of competition, including IBJJF and ADCC.
As an instructor, Luis is dedicated to creating a supportive, positive environment where students can progress at their own pace. Whether you're new to Jiujitsu or looking to refine your skills, Luis classes are designed to help you build both strength and confidence on and off the mats.
In Luis classes, students can expect:
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Personalized instruction that focuses on individual goals and needs.
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A strong emphasis on fundamental techniques, making Jiujitsu accessible to everyone.
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A welcoming, motivating atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to grow.
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A focus on both physical and mental development to create a well-rounded Jiujitsu practice.
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Insights from Luis kinesiology background and experience as a competitive athlete, ensuring safe and effective training methods.
Coach Luis invites you to join his class and discover how Jiujitsu can positively impact your life, whether you're aiming for competition or simply looking to improve your fitness and mental toughness.
Coach Rick
Head Instructor
Started my training journey back in Oct er 2015. First part of my journey started with MMA for about a year and a half before moving gyms to Bushido MMA. In November of 2018 I revived my blue belt under Professor Hugo-Sida. Competed during my white and blue belts days until a major injury put a halt to competing. Received my purple belt in February of 2022, within a month of promotion an opportunity to join the coaching staff presented itself. During this time is when I focused on coaching and helping to build our school and student’s program. Received my brown belt In February of 2024, within a year of my brown belt journey the opportunity presented itself to step into the role of head BJJ instructor. I am Focused on the growth and development of our teen and adult BJJ practitioners and school program .
Gerardo Torres
Martial arts has been a cornerstone of my life since the age of eight. My father introduced me to Taekwondo in Ciudad Juárez, where I competed in my first exhibition bouts. My fighting career took off with Cuellar Kickboxing, where I built a record of 7–1 with 5 knockouts, followed by a 6–2 run under Muay Thai rules with 3 knockouts. By the time I was 13, I had accumulated over 15 fights, earned a Youth State Championship, and had my dad cheering me on every step of the way — my biggest supporter and the driving force behind my dedication.
In 2008, I relocated to El Paso, Texas, and set out to find a home for my training. Bushido MMA immediately stood out, and I’ve been there for over 13 years. I began with wrestling and No-Gi grappling, eventually transitioning into MMA, and later adding Gi Jiu-Jitsu to my game. In 2025, I earned my purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu under the guidance of Hugo Sida — a mentor who has shaped not just my technique, but my approach to the art as a whole. The following year, I was honored to join the coaching staff.
I plan to keep competing for as long as I’m able, proudly representing Bushido MMA. Martial arts isn’t just something I do — it’s who I am. I love helping people reach their goals, find their confidence, stand up for themselves, and discover a new perspective on life.
