We are super excited to announce a new partnership between Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks and the highly respected, veteran-owned Project Eight Wrestling program!
Tyler Ruiz, head coach of Project Eight Wrestling, began his wrestling journey at age 8 in Clovis, California, training in Freestyle and Greco. Tyler became a multi-sport varsity athlete in high school, excelling in baseball, football, and wrestling. He continued his athletic career as a four-year starter in college football at California Lutheran University.
The discipline and perseverance Tyler gained through wrestling have been invaluable in his military and professional life. A former US Marine, he serves as the lead training instructor for the Department of Homeland Security in Southern California. Tyler is passionate about coaching and is committed to passing on the lessons wrestling taught him. He believes these lessons have played a key role in shaping who he is today.
This collaboration marks an exciting step in expanding opportunities for our students and the local community. Project Eight’s competition team will now train at our facility, bringing their passion and competitive spirit into our gym.
This partnership will also bring a new Wrestling Program for students, specifically designed for kids wanting to learn wrestling. Whether your child is enhancing their jiu jitsu training with new skills or just beginning their martial arts journey, this program offers a powerful way to build discipline, agility, confidence, and grappling skills.
By combining our world-class jiu jitsu instruction with Project Eight’s wrestling techniques, we are setting the stage for even more growth. Having these two programs under one roof fosters a strong environment for all ages and skill levels, championing discipline, respect, and excellence.
Stay tuned for more information on schedules and registration for the Wrestling Program for Kids. We look forward to seeing the incredible progress our students make in both jiu jitsu and wrestling!
Gabriel Arges, Head Instructor and Owner of Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks, shared his excitement about the collaboration:
“It’s an honor to have such a talented team of athletes and coaches joining our facility. I believe that wrestling and jiu jitsu go hand in hand, complementing one another. It will be great to see kids from both programs evolve in their craft. Excited to have Tyler and Project Eight on the mats at GBTO!”
