Head Coach
Stephen Koepfer

Prior to receiving his Combat Sambo training under Alexander Barakov, Stephen spent much of his life practicing martial arts. Shotokan was his first introduction to martial arts at the age of eight. Since that time, Stephen has also been awarded a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and spent five years training and competing in San Shou, culminating with a finish as a finalist in the 1997 United World Championships. In addition to San Shou, Stephen has gathered experience and wins in other martial arts forums including Tae Kwon Do, Kung-Fu, mixed martial arts, and grappling. After 1997, Stephen took a turn towards coaching; serving as corner man and cut man for many amateur fighters. In 1999 Stephen met Alexander Barakov and began training in Combat Sambo, which he continues to teach today at his club, New York Combat Sambo. In addition, Stephen regularly offers national and international seminars, and has coached his team to wins in national and international Sambo, Grappling, Combat Sambo, and MMA competitions. Stephen is a regular contributor to Ultimate Grappling Magazine. Aside from his martial arts training, Stephen is a NY State Licensed Massage Therapist and holds a Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University.

Assistant Coach/Team Captain
Vincent Beurrier

Vincent has been training at NYCS since August 2005. He came to NYCS with a long history in Judo and Sambo. Since training under Stephen Koepfer, he has gathered competitive experience in Sport, Freestyle, and Combat Sambo, as well as MMA and submission wrestling. Vincent regularly teaches classes at NYCS and as Team Captain is a very active member of the NYCS Fight Team.

Assistant Coach
Reilly Bodycomb

Reilly has been training at NYCS since January, 2006, and became a member of the NYCS fight team in June of that same year. He came to NYCS with a long history in traditional martial arts. Since joining NYCS, Reilly has blossomed as a very active competitor gaining experience in Freestyle and Combat Sambo, submission wrestling, as well as Amateur MMA. Reilly runs his own Club called Remix Dojo and regularly teaches classes at NYCS.

Boxing Coach
Peter "Zaz" Zaslow

Peter “Zaz” Zaslow has a long history in the sport of boxing – as both a competitor and coach. In the amateur ranks, Zaz has been a member of the 1988 and 1992 US Olympic Boxing Coaching Team, co-coach of the Empire State Boxing Team, and a youth boxing coach for New York City’s Police Athletic League. Likewise, Peter has also had the honor of working with such pro fighters as Kevin Kelly, Oscar De La Hoya, and Riddick Bowe. Zaz holds the dubious honor of having been boxing coach at Sing Sing State Prison in New York. He was a 2000 boxing coach of the year nominee. In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, in addition to NY Combat Sambo, Zaz had worked as a boxing trainer for Debi Purcell as well as the IFL Condors. Like many experienced fighters, Zaz has not limited his training to simply boxing. Throughout his career he has supplemented his boxing with martial art training including Shotokan Karate.

Health Coach
Noran Malouf

Noran is a long time martial artist with experience in Kung Fu, Grappling, and Combat Sambo. He has trained at NYCS since it’s founding as well as under American Sambo Association founder Alexander Barakov. Noran is a gifted accupuncturist and herbalist who also specializes in kinesiology and tui na Massage. He works with all our active athletes.

Assistant Coach for Wrestling
Tyga Maclin

Tyga started wrestling in 10th grade at Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, NY in 1993. His first year wrestling, he quickly realized that there was more to wrestling than what he saw on T.V. as he finished with a 14-10 record. His second year he quickly turned that around with a 29-3 record, 3 consecutive tournament championships, became divisional champion and became co-captain of the team. He accredits this to the training he received at NY Athletic Club under coach Sonny Greenhalgh (World Freestyle Champion from Iran), Hamid Kermanshah, Florian Ghinea (2x Romanian National Freestyle champion and 2x Division 3 national champion at Montclair State). In his senior year, he posted a 33-2 record, became divisional champion again and finished 2nd in the Section 1 championships. After graduating high school, in the summer of 1996, he competed for the first time in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. He won 3 freestyle tournaments, went 7-0 on the East Coast Wrestling Tour camp where he had one of his most memorable moments defeating a high school Freestyle national champion in Florida. He also qualified for the high school Greco-Roman National championships. He went on to wrestle at Hunter College under coach Bob Guadenzi in 1996. He achieved All-State at the NY State championships in his sophomore year in college. Due to financial and family commitments, he had to stop wrestling for his last two years of college but continued to train at NY Athletic club with many great wrestlers. He wishes to pass his love for wrestling onto others. Tyga currently is expanding his love for grappling and training in Sambo under Stephen Koepfer.