Coach

First and foremost, Charlene is a mother. Everything she brings to the mats is grounded in that role — patience, empathy, encouragement, and a deep desire to see young people grow into confident, capable individuals. She understands that every child develops at their own pace and works to create an environment where they feel supported, challenged, and excited to learn.

While she doesn’t come from a traditional martial arts background, Charlene brings strength and discipline from years of weight training and a strong commitment to living a healthy, active lifestyle. That foundation carries through into both her training and her coaching.

On the mats, she enjoys attacking arm bars and triangles from every angle and gravitates toward De La Riva guard — a reflection of her creativity and appreciation for technical detail.

As a coach, her focus is simple: kids should have fun while building strong fundamentals. Her classes are energetic and positive, blending laughter and games with structure and clean technique. For Charlene, enjoyment and discipline go hand in hand.

She describes her coaching style as fun, helpful, and patient. Charlene understands that stepping onto the mats for the first time can feel intimidating, and her message to anyone nervous about starting is simple:

“You don’t have to be good to start. You just have to be willing to learn. Nobody expects you to know anything — it’s our job as coaches to teach you.”

For Charlene, what makes Union JJ special is the people. The coaches are not only exceptional instructors but outstanding human beings who genuinely care and will push you to become the best version of yourself. The atmosphere is welcoming, the camaraderie is real, and the gym itself — filled with natural light and thriving plants — brings warmth and life to the space.

Outside the gym, Charlene can be found training, playing guitar, or tending to her houseplants — small rituals that reflect the balance of strength and creativity she brings to both motherhood and coaching.

At Union JJ, Charlene represents what makes the academy different: the atmosphere, the people, and the camaraderie that lifts everyone higher.