Head Coach
Stephen Koepfer

Stephen's first introduction to martial arts was Shotokan at the age of eight (1976). Since that time, Stephen has also been awarded a black belt in Tae Kwon Do (1993) and spent five years training and competing in San Shou (1994 - 1998), culminating with a finish as a finalist in the 1997 United World Championships. Stephen has also gathered competition experience in Tae Kwon Do, Kung-Fu, amateur mixed martial arts, sambo, and grappling. In 1997 Stephen began coaching; serving as corner man and cut man for many amateur fighters. In 1999 he began training Combat Sambo training under Alexander Barakov, which he continues to teach today at his club, New York Combat Sambo. He is also a Level 1 USA Boxing Certified Coach. Stephen has had the pleasure of training with Igor Kurinnoy at Spartak, Borec and Sambo 70. Additionally, Stephen has taught at the FKE training facility and Suvorov Military Academy in St. Petersburg. Stephen regularly offers national and international seminars; has coached his team to wins Sport, Freestyle, and Combat Sambo; Submission Grappling; San Shou; and Mixed Martial Arts. In 2008, Stephen was a US Team Coach for the 2008 FIAS World Sambo Championships. He was awarded his Master of Sport of Russia (Combat Sambo) in February, 2009. Stephen has written for Bodyguard Magazine, Ultimate Grappling Magazine and the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. He has served as a technical advisor for the "Human Weapon" (History Channel) and "Dhani Tackles the Globe" (Travel Channel). Stephen is the producer of the documentary "New York Mixed Martial Arts". Aside from his martial arts background, Stephen is a NY State Licensed Massage Therapist, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts and a Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University.

Wrestling Coach
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 Combat Sambo under Stephen Koepfer. In addition, Tyga holds a blue belt in BJJ under Marcello Garcia. He is the 2008 - 2009 North American Freestyle Sambo Champion (74kg).

Muay Thai Coach
Miguel Rivera

Born and raised in The Bronx, Miguel Rivera began his Martial Arts journey at the age of 16 in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. He continued his journey training in various arts such as Karate, Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jitsu but was in 1998 that he would find the art that he became most passionate about and that was Muay Thai. Miguel has trained with greats such as Phil Nurse, Nestor Marte, William Rivera, and Master Bakary, but attributes his mental, spiritual and physical growth in Muay Thai to Brooklyn's Maisonet Brothers who forged him into the fighter he is today. Miguel became a certified instructor by the Maisonet Brothers and The United States Muay Thai Association in 2004. Subsequently, he became New York State Lightweight Muay Thai Champion (USMTA). In addition to being an active fighter and trainer, Miguel is a USMTA certified referee and judge. He is also an editor/columnist Muay Thaimes Magazine. We are very proud to have him on the coaching staff of NY Combat Sambo.

Muay Thai Coach
Evelyn Guzman

Evelyn has over 20 years experience in the Martial Arts including Tiger Schulman Karate and 9 years of Muay Thai under Phil Nurse. Undefeated as a fighter, Evelyn is a three time women's COC Light Weight Champion (similar to sport jujitsu rules). She has combined record of 18 - 0, including 6 wins in Muay Thai. She has fought for such shows as Lou Neglia's Combat At The Capitale, Friday Night Fights, and Tiger Schulman's COC. Evelyn currently trains under Stephen Koepfer in Combat Sambo and Grappling.

Assistant Coach
Bradley Desir

Brad has trained at NY Combat Sambo since August 2009, shortly after his discharge from the US Marine Corp. Since that time has diligently trained Combat Sambo and MMA. In addition to a very active training and competition schedule, Brad has been training to be a coach at NY Combat Sambo. Brad has a work ethic not matched by many and has sought out the best cross training to help build himself up as a fighter. He has trained with such noted fighters and gyms as Extreme Couture in Vegas, Abu Dhabi Champion Marcello Garcia, and Bellator Champion Lyman Good. Brad brings he love for the sport of MMA and his enthusiasm about training to all the students at NY Combat Sambo. Brad is featured in the documentary "New York Mixed Martial Arts" and is sponsored by Klutchwear.

Boxing Coach
Vinny Guzman, Jr.

Vinny has over 15 years of experience in Combat Arts. He has competed in the COC, run by TSK. He is also a two time NY Daily News Golden Gloves Finalist (2006/Silver & 2007/Gold). He trains boxing under his father, Vinny Guzman, Sr. Vinny is a USA Boxing Level One Certified Coach. He past martial arts and boxing experience includes 5 years at TSK and a rank of brown belt (1996-2001), 2 years of kung fu (2001-2003), Muay Thai at the WAT under Phil Nurse (2003 - present), Boxing at Gleason's Gym (2006 - present).

Boxing Coach
Vincent Guzman Sr.

Vincent has 28 years of martial art/combat sports experience. He was the 1976 Jr. Olympic Karate Champion. From 1968-1978 Vincent studied American Goju Karate, earning his black belt. He later trained at TSK from 1996 - 2001, earning a brown belt. Vincent briefly studied Kung Fu from 2001 - 2003 and from 2003 - 2009 he trained Muay Thai at the Wat under Phil Nurse. In 2006 Vincent began training boxing at Gleason's Gym, where he continues today. Vincent is a member of USA Boxing Metro and is a level one USA Boxing Coach. Vincent's overall martial arts/combat sports record is 53 - 10 with 25 KOs. His teachers have included Master Peter Urban, Sensei Gerald Orange, Shihan Ron Schulmann and Kru Phil Nurse.