About our team

competing at IBJJF nationals

professor arthur ruff

with Carlson Gracie Sr.

Arthur Ruff, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been training in the martial arts since he was four years old, starting with the art of Judo. He trained in Judo for more than ten years, winning numerous competitions and receiving a black belt.

At the age of 13, he was introduced to the art of Jiu Jitsu and started training under Jiu Jitsu legend Luiz Carlos “Manimal” Mateus Dias. Manimal, a black belt under another legend of the sport, Carlson Gracie Sr., acquired his nickname because of his aggressive style, which helped him beat competitors much larger than himself. Arthur’s competitive nature and similar aggressive style helped him win numerous competitions while on the Carlson Gracie team.

Professor Arthur founded Ruffhouse in 1999 in San Diego, California. Three years later, he took Ruffhouse Jiu Jitsu to Tempe, Arizona to spread the seeds of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and strengthen the power of the BJJ Revolution Team at Ruffhouse Training Center. Arthur became a member of the American National Team, and won multiple championships including the American National Championship, European Championship, and Pan American Championship, and placed at the World Championships.

Ruffhouse Jiu Jitsu has expanded across the United States, with affiliates in Columbus, Ohio, San Francisco, California, and Seattle area.

brazilian jiu jitsu

courtney in first place on the podium at IBJJF pan am championships as a blue belt
courtney and her dad at her first Taekwondo tournament in 1996

2020 IBJJF Pan Am Championship

Courtney and her dad at her first Taekwondo tournament

courtney

Courtney started Taekwondo in 1996 at St. Anthony’s School in Renton. Renton PD officer Norman Ryan ran an after-school program there from 1996-1999. She earned a 2nd degree black belt, competed in 50+ tournaments and placed 3rd at the Junior Olympics in forms.

Courtney has dabbled in various other arts, such as Capoeira, Wushu, and Kendo. She started Muaythai in 2008 in Las Vegas, NV under Kru Mark Beecher. When she moved to LA in 2010, she continued under Kru Santi Sakkomkai and David Huey. She fought 8 times in amateur Muay Thai in California. Courtney started judging and refereeing Muay Thai in 2023, and has officiated fights in the U.S., Mexico, and Thailand.

In 2014, she set her sights on MMA, and began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Gustavo Gasperin and Pete Panos. When she moved back home to Seattle in 2016, she continued under Professor Arthur, and has competed 75+ times in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Courtney has also worked in the fight industry since 2009, for companies such as the UFC, Revgear, and other fight promotions and gyms.

muay thai, brazilian jiu jitsu

with GM Bobby Taboada

with Guro John Soriano of Balintawak Seattle

Raul's martial arts journey started with the Universal Kempo Karate Association. The Kempo/Kajukenbo System introduced him to the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), commonly referred to as Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali. He trained in different FMA styles until he met Guro John Soriano, chief instructor for Balintawak Seattle. His love for Taboada Balintawak Cuentada began!

Raul is a Completion of Arts (Level 6) practitioner in Grandmaster Bobby Taboada's Balintawak Arnis/Eskrima Cuentada System under Full Qualified Instructor (Level 7), Guro John Soriano. He is passionate about spreading the Filipino culture through FMA.

raul

balintawak (filipino martial arts)

more team members

  • brandon

    Brandon manages the entire gym and we would be lost without him! He will pop in and teach any class (besides Balintawak) as a substitute teacher! He is a purple belt in jiu jitsu, has competed in Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Taekwondo, and has trained Muay Thai. He has known Courtney’s family since he was 5 years old. He also owns a coffee shop in Kent.

  • kaniya

    Kaniya works in the office at Ruffhouse. She started training jiu jitsu for self defense in 2019. She has competed in two tournaments and wants to start learning Muay Thai. She is currently applying to college!

  • Matt

    Matt teaches Muay Thai. He started at Ruffhouse in 2019, having already trained under CSW in California, learning Muay Thai off and on since 2007. He also takes jiu jitsu class and has competed, and currently trains in boxing outside of Ruffhouse.

  • Charlie

    Charlie helps teach beginner Muay Thai. He joined Ruffhouse in 2021 and has already fought seven times in Muay Thai. His goal is to become a professional fighter, and he will most likely move to Thailand in 2024. He has extensive wrestling experience and wants to try MMA one day.

  • Luis

    Luis teaches and assists with Muay Thai class. He began his training in 2008 in New Jersey, and joined Ruffhouse when he moved to Renton in 2019. He has fought 3 times in Muay Thai and also trains and has competed in jiu jitsu.

  • Will

    Will teaches beginner jiu jitsu and teens jiu jitsu at Ruffhouse. He has been training since 2016, off and on between moving around to different parts of the country. He has competed in jiu jitsu, also has trained in Muay Thai and wants to open his own gym one day.

  • Nate

    Nate teaches jiu jitsu, and leads our 6:30am morning classes! He has been training since 2009, and been with Ruffhouse since 2018. He has a wrestling/no-gi background, and loves to keep on top of new techniques in the industry.

  • Francisco

    Francisco teaches jiu jitsu 1-2x/week at Ruffhouse. He earned his black belt in 2023. He has trained since 2006, competed, taught, and coached in jiu jitsu and also in Taekwondo, where he holds a 4th degree black belt. He actively trains in Muay Thai, and runs his own jiu jitsu program in Shelton, WA at the Shelton Athletic Club.

  • John

    John has been with Ruffhouse just under a year, and is our kids wrestling coach!

  • Phi

    Phi teaches beginners, teens, and adults jiu jitsu once a week at Ruffhouse. He has trained jiu jitsu since 2013. He came to Ruffhouse in 2016 and has been teaching and competing ever since. In 2023 he opened his very own school, Identity Jiu Jitsu, in the International District in Seattle. He does not train Muay Thai because he hates getting hit in the face.

  • little arthur

    Professor Arthur’s son, Arthur IV, Arturzinho, or you can call him Arthur Jr. He has been training with his dad since he was 4 years old. Arthur teaches kids jiu jitsu and beginners when he is not in wrestling season in high school.

  • brian

    Brian works in the office on Saturdays! He is Courtney’s cousin, this is him as a baby. We are still trying to convince him to try martial arts.

About Our Academy

fight | personal growth | community

 

old school fight spirit

At Ruffhouse, we pride ourselves on being old school; simple and straightforward: Show up, do the work. We are here to teach you how to fight and defend yourself. If you keep showing up, you will succeed. Respect is earned, belts are earned - nothing is given. If you are looking for a dojo with a quick and easy path to black belt, we are not the school for you.

personal growth

We want each and every student to succeed here. We want you to get everything out of martial arts that you want; whether it is fitness, self defense, sport or competition, a community, confidence, etc. We encourage tournaments (although not required) because it tests our skills, makes us stronger, forces us to face fear and builds discipline. If you don’t have the confidence yet, Courtney is very good at convincing you to go for it :)

community

Martial arts has changed all of our lives. It has given us strength, friendships, courage, health and now the opportunity to give those gifts to others. Each student that walks through our doors becomes our priority; no matter what age, race, or religion. We want them to become a part of our community and to succeed. We want them to learn from martial arts and better their lives. You will find every type of person on the mats together, working toward similar goals at Ruffhouse. Come see for yourself!