About
SBG NorCal Martial Arts Programs offers training in mixed martial arts (MMA), kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, functional fitness, Boxing BootCamp, conditioning, and self defense. Classes include work in Stand Up, Clinch, and Ground, and also include wellness-focused activities.
SBG NorCal Martial Arts Programs is led by co-founders and Head Coaches Lily Pagle and Alan Pagle. All SBG NorCal coaches graduate from a year long coach’s course, and all coaches are volunteers. SBG NorCal has been part of the East Bay martial arts community and a member of Straight Blast Gym International since 2003, and was formed by Lily and Alan Pagle in 2002.
The coaching staff includes Lily Pagle, who has over 25 years of experience in martial arts and holds a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a second degree black belt in Judo, and Alan Pagle, who has been training and teaching martial arts since 1973 and whose background includes black belts in traditional martial arts, collegiate boxing, and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo. Other coaches include Kirk Fong, a dedicated martial artist and coach since 1985 who held black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo before joining SBG NorCal in 2005 and was awarded his BJJ black belt by Coach Lily in 2022; Fred Yu, who has practiced martial arts his whole life, specializes in SanShou Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu (Black Belt), and has taught and competed in Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, and MMA; and Jose Salinas, who began training MMA at SBG NorCal at age 16, later worked the front desk, and now teaches Jiu-Jitsu classes. The staff also includes Denny Cheriyan, a dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner since 2017 and now a purple belt coach; Matthew “Oki” O’Connor, who began traditional martial arts training at age 6, joined SBG NorCal in 2010, and has a PhD in Biochemistry; and Kyle Fong-Cristin, who was raised in a martial arts family, grew up training in Hapkido and Wrestling, joined SBG NorCal at age 13, and as an adult trains with a focus in grappling/Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and teaches classes. Additional coaches include Cameron Avery, who has been with SBG since 2021 and has been coaching Kickboxing since early 2023; Bill Suh, who taught kindergarten for three years, holds a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a brown belt in Judo, and taught Krav Maga as a Level 5 practitioner; and Patrick Schork, who has been training in martial arts since 2015 and earned his Aikido black belt in 2022.
SBG NorCal states that its philosophy is based on the conviction that learning and growth, both physical and mental, can take place at any age or from any starting point, and that all that is required is good coaching and a supportive environment where participants can learn skills and enjoy training. The program describes itself as ready to help participants reach their training goals and uses the phrase “Function Not Fantasy since 2003.” SBG NorCal is organized as a non-profit under Martial Arts Training and Scholarship, a 501.c.3, and is a member of Straight Blast Gym International.
SBG NorCal offers scholarship programs for youth and families through Berkeley Unified School District and for young adults through the Berkeley Adult School. Along with its martial arts and fitness programs, it offers free community workshops covering fitness, self defense, and wellness. The organization states that it takes pride in being a place where people of different backgrounds and experiences can get together and help each other become the best versions of themselves on the mat and in their communities.
Last updated May 11, 2026.
SBG NorCal Martial Arts Programs is led by co-founders and Head Coaches Lily Pagle and Alan Pagle. All SBG NorCal coaches graduate from a year long coach’s course, and all coaches are volunteers. SBG NorCal has been part of the East Bay martial arts community and a member of Straight Blast Gym International since 2003, and was formed by Lily and Alan Pagle in 2002.
The coaching staff includes Lily Pagle, who has over 25 years of experience in martial arts and holds a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a second degree black belt in Judo, and Alan Pagle, who has been training and teaching martial arts since 1973 and whose background includes black belts in traditional martial arts, collegiate boxing, and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo. Other coaches include Kirk Fong, a dedicated martial artist and coach since 1985 who held black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo before joining SBG NorCal in 2005 and was awarded his BJJ black belt by Coach Lily in 2022; Fred Yu, who has practiced martial arts his whole life, specializes in SanShou Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu (Black Belt), and has taught and competed in Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, and MMA; and Jose Salinas, who began training MMA at SBG NorCal at age 16, later worked the front desk, and now teaches Jiu-Jitsu classes. The staff also includes Denny Cheriyan, a dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner since 2017 and now a purple belt coach; Matthew “Oki” O’Connor, who began traditional martial arts training at age 6, joined SBG NorCal in 2010, and has a PhD in Biochemistry; and Kyle Fong-Cristin, who was raised in a martial arts family, grew up training in Hapkido and Wrestling, joined SBG NorCal at age 13, and as an adult trains with a focus in grappling/Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and teaches classes. Additional coaches include Cameron Avery, who has been with SBG since 2021 and has been coaching Kickboxing since early 2023; Bill Suh, who taught kindergarten for three years, holds a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a brown belt in Judo, and taught Krav Maga as a Level 5 practitioner; and Patrick Schork, who has been training in martial arts since 2015 and earned his Aikido black belt in 2022.
SBG NorCal states that its philosophy is based on the conviction that learning and growth, both physical and mental, can take place at any age or from any starting point, and that all that is required is good coaching and a supportive environment where participants can learn skills and enjoy training. The program describes itself as ready to help participants reach their training goals and uses the phrase “Function Not Fantasy since 2003.” SBG NorCal is organized as a non-profit under Martial Arts Training and Scholarship, a 501.c.3, and is a member of Straight Blast Gym International.
SBG NorCal offers scholarship programs for youth and families through Berkeley Unified School District and for young adults through the Berkeley Adult School. Along with its martial arts and fitness programs, it offers free community workshops covering fitness, self defense, and wellness. The organization states that it takes pride in being a place where people of different backgrounds and experiences can get together and help each other become the best versions of themselves on the mat and in their communities.
Last updated May 11, 2026.
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