VIPMMA Joins Forces with Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Anthony Morales, the founder of Hacienda's Victory in Performance Mixed Martial Arts Academy (VIPMMA), knows how to roll with the punches - in the office as well as the dojo. Feeling the pinch of today's economy, Morales has found a new way to fight back and expand the reach of his business. Joining forces with the esteemed Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu master David Camarillo, Morales nearly doubled the size of his studio by moving into new space next door, at 5627 Stoneridge Drive, Suites 317 and 318. Both martial arts experts now hold classes and practice their specialties from the larger location.

The new facility also houses Mana Storm Productions, which makes commercials, movie trailers, and mixed martial arts training videos and is run by Mario Morales, Anthony's brother. "The co-location is a new twist for us," comments Franchesca Vargas, Mana Storm's Development Vice President. "Tony and Dave are both highly respected in their disciplines. Students who want to learn Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu go to the dojo on the right, and those studying mixed martial arts go to the one on the left. In between, I do the videos for both gyms."

Vargas observes that the cooperative arrangement is a benefit for all concerned. "We're all working together as a team while providing more options," she says. Both Camarillo and Morales share a similar approach to their role as instructors, emphasizing courtesy, respect, and professionalism. They also insist their students learn their new skills "the right way."

Camarillo is known for having blended Judo and Jiu-Jitsu into "some of the most innovative techniques the sport has ever seen." Currently training several promising Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contenders, he has also been described as "one of the most, if not the most, experienced Jiu-Jitsu instructors on the planet."

Morales, who started his martial arts odyssey more than 30 years ago, has been steadily expanding his repertoire, mastering disciplines from Kajukenbo to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand. He and his Muay Thai instructor Steve Del Fierro are assistant coaches under the Javier Mendez professional fight team at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.

In addition to commercials for the Academy of Art and Hiller Aviation Museum, Mana Storm has produced a set of mixed martial arts training videos, available on Amazon, featuring noted fighter Lyoto Machida. The company is also close to completing a long-term project, "Shield of Honor: The Joe Bannon Story," a documentary about a San Francisco policeman's relentless investigation in the 1990s. "This is an excellent story," says Vargas. "Joe Bannon never gave up, and it's really an inspiration to watch this kind of commitment to the truth."

The caliber of the three operations is evident in the high-profile talent on hand to support the companies' recent grand opening. Although one of the special guests, champion MMA fighter Chuck Liddell, could not attend because of his participation in "Dancing With the Stars," his mentor and coach John Hacklman was there to demonstrate his skills. Several other UFC fighters and strike force champions were also in attendance.

For more information about MMA training, visit www.vipmma.net or www.davecamarillo.com. To view a trailer of the "Shield of Honor" video, go to www.manastorm.com.

Photo: Personnel from all three affiliated companies were on hand for the ribbon cutting. (Photo credit: by Beau Bailey)

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