A place for everyone

Whether you’re here to compete, get in shape, learn to defend yourself, or simply try something new, you belong on the mats!

Who We are

Empire was built around a simple idea: great martial arts should be accessible to everyone.

Whether you're stepping onto the mats for the first time, looking for something your whole family can be part of, or pursuing competition at the highest level, you'll find a place to grow here.

We take training seriously—but we don't take ourselves too seriously. No egos. No pressure to prove yourself. Just good people, high-quality coaching, and a shared commitment to improving ourselves every day.

Meet the coaches

  • A young man with short brown hair and tattoos on his arms, smiling with his arms crossed, wearing a black T-shirt with white text that reads "Empire Mixed Martial Arts," standing against a plain white background.

    Josiah Simpson

    HEAD COACH / MMA FIGHTER

    Josiah Simpson is a Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and professional MMA fighter with over a decade of competitive experience across multiple combat sports. His coaching philosophy emphasizes strong fundamentals, disciplined training, and developing athletes who are confident, capable, and well-prepared both on and off the mat.

  • Nick Shultz

    JIU-JITSU COACH

  • Leilani Simpson

    WOMEN’S JIU-JITSU COACH

  • Asia Negron

    Asia Negron

    STRIKING COACH / MMA FIGHTER

    Asia Negron is a high-level striker with extensive competition experience in MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing. She finds joy in sharing her knowledge with others. You’ll often find her smiling on the mats. She takes particular pride in helping the kids in her class gain confidence and technical skill.

  • Tiago Arrieta

    KIDS JIU-JITSU COACH

  • Alex Leyva

    KIDS STRIKING COACH

Ready to Get Started?

Start your free week. No appointment necessary.

Not sure where to start?

Explore our programs to find the classes that best fit your interests and goals.

Thank you to our sponsors!