We at Genesis Jiu-Jitsu are very fortunate to be able to provide an incredibly skilled and diverse coaching team that all possess a wide variety of backgrounds yet share a genuine passion for helping others to grow in their own martial arts journey.
Today Genesis Azle is home to three IBJJF World champions.
Mason Woodward – Teen World Champ
Kari Summers- 3x Master World Champ, 3x Pan Champ
Karen Banes- 6x Master World Champ
Get to know who you will be learning from and training with here:
Professor Karen Banes
Head Coach and Owner of Genesis Jiu-Jitsu Azle
Coach Karen is an amazing mentor, role model, and martial arts coach to the Genesis family that are fortunate enough to be a part of the supportive and positive community she has been building over the years.
She is the Head Coach and Owner at Genesis Jiu-Jitsu and takes great pride in being able to provide a safe and positive environment for kids and adults to be able to grow as martial artists and as people.
“I’ve been an athlete my entire life. I started competing in road races at the age of nine after my dad said there was no way I could run that far. I loved a physical challenge. I did six different sports in high school, two sports every season. In 1997, I graduated from Springtown HS and went on to Tarleton State University where I earned a scholarship in track and field as a heptathlete. I finished with a Bachelor’s degree and specialize in early childhood development.
I originally thought I would become a police officer. I was even the Lieutenant on the Police Explorers program in high school. However, my heart and passion for children led me into teaching instead. I am now the wife of a police officer and have over 20 years of experience working with children.
I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012.
In 2013 I took three amateur cage fights, under the leadership of UFC veteran and undefeated bare-knuckle fighting champion, Johnny Bedford. I finished all my opponents within the first two rounds. Two by rear-naked choke RNC and a TKO, earning the title of TXMMA Amateur Fighter of the year, Rookie Amateur Fighter of the year and a nomination for a national poll for WMMA.
In 2014 I shifted my focus solely on Jiu-Jitsu.
Earning my first IBJJF Master World Title and opening Genesis Jiu-Jitsu Azle under the leadership of Professor Albert Hughes. We are a Fight Sports affiliate Academy.
I had many opportunities to travel all over the US and Brazil. I’ve learned to accept new opportunities and take a risk. I have gone against some of the best to earn multiple titles in the adult divisions, undefeated 10:0 at brown belt, 6x IBJJF Master World Champion, and I have had 6 professional F2WinPRO matches.
2017 I earned my blackbelt and became one of the first of only 500 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Female Blackbelts.”
-6x Master World champ
-2021 Submission Hunter Pro title belt holder for female master blackbelt featherweight
-2022 Azle Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year
Professor Kari Hoffman
Head Coach
-3x Master World Champion
Coach Kari is a pillar of the Genesis community who coaches both kids and adult classes and also provides high-quality private lessons in order to help our team further evolve their Jiu-Jitsu skills.
Kari brings a unique skill set to our gym as she is a Certified Level 1 CrossFit instructor and also has her certificate for CrossFit Kids.
We are very proud of Kari’s recent achievement as a 2020 Master World Champion and she continues to inspire and contribute to the growth of our Genesis family!
Mason Woodward
Lead Coach
Coach Mason is a genuine grappling prodigy as he is a highly skilled grappler as a Purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu and has won Gold in Gi and NoGi at Kids Worlds (2016), has a Fight2Win record of 5-1, and is 2X National All-American, 3X Weatherford Wrestler of the Year, Over 100 highschool Wins, 3X state qualifier, Highschool Record of 110 Wins and 16 Loses. 2019 State Runner Up
Mason is currently a collegiate wrestler and teaches a no-gi combination of wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu and works very hard to elevate the grappling game of our team here at Genesis.
Professor John Hoffman
Lead Coach
John is a steadfast member of our local Jiu-Jitsu community who teaches classes and private lessons as a Black Belt.
You can often find John either training at the Genesis location in River Oaks, Here in Azle, or hitting different open mats in the area.
Coach John brings a wide variety of techniques in both gi and no-gi to his instructions and has proven himself to be a valuable addition to the Genesis family.
Eli Guardiola
Lead Coach
Eli is a talented grappler who teaches both kids and adult classes each week. His achievements as a martial artist include being a Collegiate Wrestler, 2x Wrestling State Qualifier, Genesis River Oaks Competition Team Athlete, High-Ground Wrestling Coach, and serving as a reliable and skilled Head Coach here at Genesis Jiu-Jitsu in Azle
Eli is always diligently working to further hone his Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling and he makes for a fantastic addition to Team Genesis as he is always pushing his teammates to get better and better.
You can keep up with Eli’s Jiu-Jitsu journey by following his Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gvwAMYPs9Ai6Ps6yz0pRg
Youtube: Eli Guardiola
Katherine Capps Bucy
Assistant Coach
Coach Katherine has touched the lives of so many young people as she coaches kids’ classes with passion and enthusiasm while making sure to help the kids sharpen their Jiu-Jitsu technique.
She also leads a class dedicated for homeschool kids during the day and serves as a wonderful example of personal growth for our community and the kids that train under her always seem to have a blast as they continue to grow as martial artists.
“I never thought I’d be in a sport like this, but Karen gave me the opportunity to train, and now I’m a coach. I’m a high-functioning autistic (Asperger’s). I’ve competed on a world level
“Just keep showing up”
Joe Bryant
Morning Class Coach
Joe is a local small business owner and Jiu-Jitsu parent who trains with his family. He teaches the morning Jiu-Jitsu class on Mon-Wed-Fri at 6:30am
Joe is a published author, an entrepreneur, and he is passionate about self-development through martial arts and empowering as many people as possible to be able to protect themselves and each other. He and his other half also own a local cleaning business, Rise and Clean (Facebook.com/riseandclean)
You can check out Joe’s latest book and other content here:
https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Training-Martial-Family-Strengthening/
https://linktr.ee/sharpening_the_sword
Jessa Russell
Assistant Coach
Jessa serves as an assistant Jiu-Jitsu instructor and brings with her a wide array of unique skills as a LEO with a background as a Defensive Tactics Instructor and Rape Aggression Defense Instructor (RAD) for her department
She started training under Coach Karen in 2016 and helps coach kids’ classes when her work schedule allows.
You can also find her next door at High Ground Fitness training kickboxing or doing something with her family outdoors when she’s not working or training Jiu-Jitsu.
Jacob Andre
Assistant Coach
Jacob is a fellow Jiu-Jitsu parent who has grown with the Genesis family over time and helps with coaching kids’ classes.
He served as a k9 handler during his decade serving in the military, has a BAS in Justice Administration, and is now working hard towards his A&P as an Aviation Maintenance Technician
Jennifer Schrage
Assistant Coach
Jennifer is such a kind and caring member of our team that works hard to help the kids of Genesis hone their Jiu-Jitsu details while also making sure they are having fun and working hard.
Jennifer and her family are dedicated members of Genesis who all have been developing their skills and becoming key members of our martial arts community as they serve as great examples for other families who are considering training together as a family.
Get to know Team Genesis a little better by following us on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/trainatgenesis
https://www.instagram.com/genesisjiujitsuazle/
Tom Schrage
Coach
Tom is multi-champion who trains hard on and off the mats and has taken first place in a variety of Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. He is passionate about competition and seeing that his team succeeds. Tom dedicates his time to the adult competition training classes on Sundays at 3:00 and heads up the open mats on Friday evenings. You can also attend his class on Saturdays at 11:00.
His family all train Jiu-Jitsu at Genesis and you will always see them at all of our Genesis group events
Tom manages a local Toyota shop and loves to run when he’s not teaching a class, hosting open mat, or spending time with his family
Tom lives on the back
Genesis Jiu Jitsu Azle 