Our Instructors

Master Bob Karmel
Master Bob Karmel is a living legend with nearly three decades of experience as a dedicated martial artist, athlete and instructor. He has a reputation as the most elite Muay Thai trainer in the world. Master Bob has put more pro athletes to their test in Thai Boxing, Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts than anyone. It has been said that if you want to win, the road to being a champion must lead through the camp of Bob Karmel.

Master Bob spent several years in Thailand as a professional fighter and was the first American allowed to become a Muay Thai trainer in Thailand. In addition, Master Bob founded the world renowned Fairtex Muay Thai Camp USA. The Muay Thai Program at Lion's Den is respected as one of the top Muay Thai Camps in the nation.

Carlos Eduardo Farias
Carlos Eduardo Farias is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over 15 years of experience in training and competing. Farias came to the U.S. from Fortaleza, Brazil and is the Head Instructor of the Lion's Den Scottsdale kids and adult Gi BJJ programs. Farias, with a professional MMA record of 2-0, received his black from MMA veteran Roberto Spider Traven. Traven, a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the 1999 Abu Dhabi Absolute Champion and has taken first place twice in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Under Traven's instruction, Farias placed 2nd in the Pan Am Games and 3rd in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. The Lion's Den Youth and Adult BJJ programs under Professor Farias have become recognized and respected on a National level.

Mario Francis "Coach O"

Following a successful amateur boxing career, Mario O’Francis came to the United Sates to pursue what has become a legendary career as a professional boxing trainer.

Coach O began boxing at the age of 13 in the Bahamas, where he grew up and his family still resides today. His impressive record as an amateur boxer was a great accomplishment within itself, but today Coach O is better known for helping numerous World Champions attain Belts, including Roy Jones Jr.s’ 10 World Boxing Titles which have been credited largely to Coach O’s instruction. In addition to training professional boxers, Coach O has recently begun training many top fighters in the highly popular and growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

Other highly successful fighters who have been to the top of their respective sports under Coach O’s tutelage include, former Heavyweight Champ Ray Mercer and Hasim Rahman.

As Head Boxing Coach at Lion’s Den Coach O’s classes are offered to men and women of all skill levels. Students looking to get a great cardio workout while learning the fundamentals of boxing will not be disappointed. In addition, Coach O is also in charge of Lion’s Den Professional and Armature Boxing programs.

Lion’s Den Scottsdale has always prided itself on offering its students the most knowledgeable, most professional and credible coaching staff available. Coach O is one of the most decorated boxing coaches in the sport and he is a great addition to our first class group of Instructors.

Heath Wigginton

Heath Wigginton has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 11 years under the guidance of Relzen Gracie, and has been instructing Jiu Jitsu for 9 years. Currently Heath is a Gracie Brown Belt with 3 stripes, and assists with the Lion’s Cubs Beginner and Advanced BJJ classes.

Daniel Brandt
Daniel Brandt has been training Muay Thai under Master Bob Karmel for over a decade. During that time he has become one of the most decorated American Muay Thai fighters in history. His Belts include the International Muay Thai Council Warriors Cup USA Champion 2001, IKKC Junior Middleweight Muay Thai Champion 2000, IKBA Warriors of the Ring International Welterweight Muay Thai Champion 1997, and the IKKC Junior Middleweight Western Muay Thai Champion 1999. Daniel helps instruct Lion's Den Advanced Muay Thai classes, and also works with our professional athletes.

Nick Jeswald
Nick Jeswald has over 14 years of Muay Thai training and coaching experience, beginning in 1994 with Fairtex USA in Chandler, AZ. In addition to Muay Thai, Nick has also studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Freestyle Wrestling, and Judo. Working with Bob Karmel and other instructors over the past decade, Nick has trained many professional Muay Thai and MMA fighters for competition, with a focus on applied striking in an MMA environment. Nick works with our Beginning and Advanced level Muay Thai classes.

Erik Larkin
Lion’s Den Coach Eric Larkin is arguably the most decorated wrestler to come out of Arizona State University. As 4 X All-American, Larkin capped off his career with a National Championship in 2003 at the 149lbs weight class. In that same year he also received the Dan Hodge Award (the Heisman Trophy of Wrestling) and lost to Carmello Anthony for the ESPY for Best Male Athlete. Larkin was also a 4 X Pac 10 champion and a 3 X National USA Wrestling Team Member. In addition to his accolades as a World Class Competitor, Eric was also an assistant Wrestling Coach at Arizona State for 4 years working with some of the top athletes in the nation.

Eric is the Head Amateur and Professional Mixed Martial Arts Coach for Lion’s Den and also works with the Den Wrestling and Grappling programs.

Frankie Saenz
Frankie was a two time High School State Champion and an All-American in Freestyle, Greco Roman, and Folkstyle Wrestling.

He then pursued a collegiate wrestling career at the University of Northern Colorado. For the past 5 years Frankie has been a coach for the Maryvale High School Wrestling team. Frankie is the Head Lion’s Cubs Wrestling Coach at Lion’s Den Scottsdale.

Mr. Chino
Mr. Chino has over 14 years of Muay Thai training and instructing experience. As a Muay Thai fighter he retired undefeated with a perfect record of 18 - 0. Some of his titles include Former Arizona State Muay Thai Champion, and Former U.A.K.E Welter Weight US champion. Mr. Chino has trained multiple World Champions in both Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts. The Lion's Den is honored to have Mr. Chino on our staff Instructing Muay Thai to our students.

Marcos da Silva ("Moreno")

Marcos is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has been training and competing for over 17 years. Growing up in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, along with Lion’s Den Resident Black Belt Carlos Farias, Marcos and Farias have been long time friends and training partners. For the past several years Marcos has been dominating Jiu Jitsu Competitions at the highest levels, and putting on BJJ clinics all over the World. He is currently respected as one of the top BJJ players and instructors in the sport. In addition Marcos is also a Professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

Lion’s Den proud to have Marcos working with our kids and Adult BJJ and Grappling programs.

Marcos da Silva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Titles

1994 Korpus Competition, Brazil
1994 Helio Gracie Competition, Brazil
1994 The Best Fight, Brazil
1995 Bestfighter, Brazil
1995 Amizade, Brazil
1997 Fightman, Brazil
1998 Be on Go de Jiu Jitsu, Brazil
2001 Rickson Competition, Los Angeles, USA
2007 Super Fight NAGA, Atlanta, USA
2008 Taca Jean Mesquita, Brazil
2008 Cearense Championship, Brazil
Marcos da Silva Mixed Martial Arts Titles
1999 Shooto Japan - Vale Tudo Championship, Japan
1999 San Pedro Championship, San Pedro, USA
2000 Tropicana IFC Battleground Championship, Atlantic City, USA
2000 Future Brawl Championship, Hawaii, USA
2001 IFC Freezo, California, USA
2002 Future Brawl Championship, Hawaii, USA
2002 Cage War Championship, London, England

Patty Farrow
In 2003, and 2005 Patty Farrow was crowned the Orange County Figure Champion, in 2006 she was awarded the Orange County Class B Title as well as being chosen as the overall competition Champion. In addition, Farrow has been featured multiple times in "Flex" and "Iron Man" Magazines. Patty instructs Lion's Den Female Boot Camp classes.

Brandon Schad
Brandon Schad: Former Division 1 Wrestler at Arizona State University where he was a member of the 2006 Pac-10 Championship Sun Devil wrestling team. Was a 3x Wisconsin Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Champion and a Fila Jr. All-American. Wrestled high school for Sheboygan North High, where he holds career takedown and season win records in two weight classes. Was a member of the Wisconsin Junior National Freestyle Team and Ringers Wrestling Club in Milwaukee. Previous coaching experience includes 3 summers as the head clinician for the Lakeshore Wrestling Club and assistant clinician at various WI youth wrestling camps.

Tina Goodson
Tina Goodson has been training Boxing and Muay Thai for the past six years. In addition to her training, she was also a cast member of Oxygen Network's 2006 Fight Girls reality show. At the Lion's Den, Tina instructs Lion's Cubs Kick Boxing classes, and enjoys helping her students gain confidence while progressing through the martial arts.