Bear Essential Combat
Coaches


Head Coach. I want you to know why you can deem my instruction and methodology extremely effective in reality combat situations as well as for achieving incredible levels of athleticism and physical fitness.
As a child and Adult I have earned various belts and Competed in: Shaolin Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Traditional Kung Fu, Aikido Sumo, Judo, Greco Roman & Freestyle Wrestling, Sambo - Combat Grappling,Western & Thai Boxing, NHB- MMA - All 6 Years intensively, Jiu Jitsu - 7 Years, Collegiate Wrestling - 12 years.

I have also attended and continue to attend multiple training camps and clinics. During these previous 6 years as a professional fighter and coach I have had contact and instruction with some of the very best and well known coaches and  athletes in the game.

I also lived in Thailand where I studied and trained authentic Muay Thai Kick Boxing.  In addition to this I have trained grappling in Italy and Kick Boxing very briefly in Spain, Hungary and Cuba.  My training and technique have brought me to No Rules fights in Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Arizona and of course California.

I have also trained and sparred with the best there is, a vast array of talented amateur, semi pro, and professional fighters from every remotely effective fighting form there is… including Sumo.  I have also watched and continued to watch literally thousands upon thousands upon thousands of hours of instructional videos and fights.  I have studied and scrutinized no rules fighting and have my own submission bible.  My quest to improve is unending and I plan to train in one manner or the other until the day I die.  I have formally instructed Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for 6 years.  Among the moreWhen serious semi pro and professional fighters I am known for being able to understand and break down techniques into a very logical, easy to understand format.  More importantly for these advanced fighters, I am quickly becoming well known as someone that brings their mental game into focus.  When you get to a certain level, it is all about who is having a better day, not necessarily who is flat out better.  I make sure that come show time my athletes are on their “A” game each and every time.  Every day my athletes compete, THEY are the ones who are having a better day.

 

Omar Macias, our Western Boxing Coach is a hard hitting, hardcore Mexican Boxer from the heart of Santa Ana with a big smile and a bigger heart.  Omar began boxing when he was 9 and began to train seriously at the age of 12.  In his 19 years of boxing experience Omar has weathered and won 53 of his 58 fights in competitions all over California, Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. Besides his electric energy and tongue dropping classes Omar also brings additional technical style and knowledge to BEC.  Omar teaches several classical and unorthodox boxing styles and understands that each person will need a slightly different and blended style of boxing that is unique to them.

Although Omar is a Western Boxer he is no stranger to MMA.  He has coached and sparred with pro cage fighters such as Tito Ortiz and John Lober the Machine to prepare them for some of their toughest MMA matches.  Omar understands the game of MMA and is able to adjust and adapt his striking skills to MMA, which is very difficult for most pure western boxing coaches to do.  Omar is a life long martial artist and coach dedicated full time to the “sweet science” that is boxing.  He can be found at Bear Essential Combat teaching classes and private lessons 5 days a week.

 

Miyagi “Mack” Kurihara
Pro Boxing Trainer/Manager/Cutman “Mack the Maker of World Champions"

  • Paul Banke (1989) 2 yrs WBC Super Bantamweight Champ
  • Yasuei Yakushigi (1992) 6yrs WBC Bantamweight Champ
  • Hideki Todaka (1998) 5 yrs WBA Super Flyweight Champ
  • Masanori Sugita (2002) 6 yrs WBC (Y.C) Super Bantamweight Champ
  • Hideki Todaka Bantamweight Chape (2003) 3 Yrs
  • WBA Bantamweight Champ
  • Masanori Sugita (2002) 6 yrs WBC (Y.C) Super Bantamweight Champ
  • Julio Gonzalez 10 yrs WBO Light Heavyweight Champ

“Macks” career started while serving in the United States Air Force (1951-1955). As a flyweight boxer he started training the base boxing team. Mack had great success when two of his boxers advanced in the Far East Finals and competed in the World Wide Air Force Boxing Tournament.

“Mack” continued in boxing upon leaving the Air Force and became a Professional Trainer while living in Los Angeles (1962). Mack trained amateur as well as professional boxers and was well recognized as a corner in the field of boxing. Some of his stable of boxers during that period were…… Bert Lee, El Torito Espino, Rudolfo Gonzales, Walter Swan, Tyrell Biggs, Rudy Zavala and a stable of boxers in Japan.

Being one of the top trainers wasn’t the only talent Mack acquired… he is also recognized as a top CUT MAN and is constantly called on to work as a cutman for other boxing groups around the world. He gained that respect by learning the trade while taking Medical Training at the University of Connecticut. Mack has worked with Jackie McCoy, Bill Slayton, Dave Wolf, Lonnie Bradley, Juan Laponte and Baby Joe Ruelas to name a few.

“Mack is constantly called up to fly to Japan at least four months a year to train some of the O.P.B.F and World Champions. He is rated at the #1 trainer in Japan.

Special Awards

  • Trained Six World Boxing Champions
  • Inducted in the California Boxing Hall of Fame 2005
  • Awarded the Joe Luis Humanitarian Award by the Golden State Boxing association 2008
  • Voted Twice The Most Valuable trainer in JAPAN 1994 & 1999
  • Trained (5) Boxers to Become (OPBF) Oriental & Pacific Boxing Champions
  • Trained for (2) All Japan Boxing Champions

Mike Noriega, a Wrestling Coach and a two year High School Wrestler and Four Year College Wrestler, Coach Noriega has a varied wrestling background that includes an in depth background in all three major styles of wrestling Folkstyle, Freesyle and Greco Roman.  Besides his varied background Noriega is a mellow, fun loving Coach.  His technical knowledge, steady patience, and open mind make Coach Sims the ideal addition to the Bear Essential Combat Team.  Currently learning Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Coach Noiega is an avid mixed martial artist and tough sparring partner.  Coach Noriega can be found at Bear Essential Combat four days a week.