About
Misfit Combat Youth Martial Arts offers youth martial arts training that includes activities such as Kickboxing, Judo, Kids BJJ, Wrestling, and MMA. The broader schedule at Misfit Combat also includes classes like BJJ (Gi and No-Gi, including fundamentals), Boxing, Bayanihan Boxing, Fitness & Strength, Open Mat, Inayan Eskrima Study Group, FdB Capoeira, Queer Combat, self-defense workshops, and a JKD class.
• Schedule: Classes are offered on Sunday mornings and evenings, with Youth Martial Arts meeting from 10:30–11:30 AM, and other activities such as Kickboxing and Judo starting as early as 8:00–9:00 AM, plus Open Mat from 12:00–2:00 PM; weekday options include Kids BJJ from 5:00–5:50 PM, Fitness & Strength from 5:15–6:00 PM, and various BJJ, Boxing, MMA, Wrestling, and Queer Combat classes in the evening, with details last updated November 6, 2025.
• Price: Participation in the Inayan Eskrima Study Group costs $7 per month.
Misfit Combat is described as a safe and inclusive space for folks to learn practical self-defense and combat sports, and it operates as a nonprofit with a nonprofit mission. The organization includes free-to-participant classes coordinated by Coach Hayley, and it hosts specialized offerings such as a Queer Combat program and an Inayan Eskrima Study Group. Bayanihan Boxing and Filhos de Bimba Capoeira run separately from the regular schedule and require sign-up through their own websites.
Executive Director and Head Instructor Professor Cha Apostol (she/her) started her martial arts practice in 2007, earned a black belt in 2010 in a freestyle martial art with emphasis on self defense, and later earned a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt from Professor Eric Acha in the Jean Jacques Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association in 2023. She has practiced Brazilian jiu jitsu in the Bay Area for twelve years, competed regularly, captured an IBJJF World No Gi Championship at brown belt, and began competing at black belt in IBJJF events in 2024. Professor Cha is Safe Sport certified and has a decade of professional management experience at the Emeryville gymnastics gym Head Over Heels, and she orchestrated the creation of Misfit Combat in June 2023.
The leadership team also includes Kickboxing Instructor Coach Raii (he/him), who has black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Dong Soo Do and a background as a professional dancer and gymnastics instructor. Assistant Instructor Professor Sarah (she/her) is an avid competitor with gold medals in the 2023 and 2025 IBJJF Master World Championship and the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship at brown belt, Master 3 light feather weight, and she received her black belt from Professor Eric Acha in October 2025. Assistant Coach Coach Jenn (she/her) has trained with Professor Cha since 2011 and is a black belt training with Professor Joe in the Sabre affiliation, while Assistant Coach Coach Lee (they/them) is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Cha and is described as having an engineer’s mind for details.
Managers include Coach Meredith (she/her), a white belt under Professor Cha with competition experience and a match win at her first tournament, and Coach Hayley (they/them), a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Mollii at FEF who coordinates free-to-participant classes. Judo Instructor Coach Melisa (she/her) holds an ikkyu in Judo under Sensei Cody Costello, a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, a second degree black belt in Toyama Ryu Battodo under Professor Mike Esmailzadeh, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Cha, and she serves as a Sergeant at Arms (study group leader) in Inayan Eskrima under Suro Jason Inay. Wrestling Coach Coach Xica (they/them) learned wrestling at Vallejo High School, competed at the collegiate level on scholarship, and is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Mollii at FEF. MMA Instructor Coach Andy (he/they) is a school teacher, triathlete, and BJJ brown belt in the Carlson Gracie Jr. association, has trained with Professor Cha since white belt, and has fought in regional MMA and kickboxing promotions and grappled extensively in local tournaments.
Misfit Combat is described as a 501(c)3 corporation, and its mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space for folks to learn practical self-defense and combat sports.
Last updated May 29, 2026.
• Schedule: Classes are offered on Sunday mornings and evenings, with Youth Martial Arts meeting from 10:30–11:30 AM, and other activities such as Kickboxing and Judo starting as early as 8:00–9:00 AM, plus Open Mat from 12:00–2:00 PM; weekday options include Kids BJJ from 5:00–5:50 PM, Fitness & Strength from 5:15–6:00 PM, and various BJJ, Boxing, MMA, Wrestling, and Queer Combat classes in the evening, with details last updated November 6, 2025.
• Price: Participation in the Inayan Eskrima Study Group costs $7 per month.
Misfit Combat is described as a safe and inclusive space for folks to learn practical self-defense and combat sports, and it operates as a nonprofit with a nonprofit mission. The organization includes free-to-participant classes coordinated by Coach Hayley, and it hosts specialized offerings such as a Queer Combat program and an Inayan Eskrima Study Group. Bayanihan Boxing and Filhos de Bimba Capoeira run separately from the regular schedule and require sign-up through their own websites.
Executive Director and Head Instructor Professor Cha Apostol (she/her) started her martial arts practice in 2007, earned a black belt in 2010 in a freestyle martial art with emphasis on self defense, and later earned a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt from Professor Eric Acha in the Jean Jacques Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association in 2023. She has practiced Brazilian jiu jitsu in the Bay Area for twelve years, competed regularly, captured an IBJJF World No Gi Championship at brown belt, and began competing at black belt in IBJJF events in 2024. Professor Cha is Safe Sport certified and has a decade of professional management experience at the Emeryville gymnastics gym Head Over Heels, and she orchestrated the creation of Misfit Combat in June 2023.
The leadership team also includes Kickboxing Instructor Coach Raii (he/him), who has black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Dong Soo Do and a background as a professional dancer and gymnastics instructor. Assistant Instructor Professor Sarah (she/her) is an avid competitor with gold medals in the 2023 and 2025 IBJJF Master World Championship and the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship at brown belt, Master 3 light feather weight, and she received her black belt from Professor Eric Acha in October 2025. Assistant Coach Coach Jenn (she/her) has trained with Professor Cha since 2011 and is a black belt training with Professor Joe in the Sabre affiliation, while Assistant Coach Coach Lee (they/them) is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Cha and is described as having an engineer’s mind for details.
Managers include Coach Meredith (she/her), a white belt under Professor Cha with competition experience and a match win at her first tournament, and Coach Hayley (they/them), a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Mollii at FEF who coordinates free-to-participant classes. Judo Instructor Coach Melisa (she/her) holds an ikkyu in Judo under Sensei Cody Costello, a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, a second degree black belt in Toyama Ryu Battodo under Professor Mike Esmailzadeh, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Cha, and she serves as a Sergeant at Arms (study group leader) in Inayan Eskrima under Suro Jason Inay. Wrestling Coach Coach Xica (they/them) learned wrestling at Vallejo High School, competed at the collegiate level on scholarship, and is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Professor Mollii at FEF. MMA Instructor Coach Andy (he/they) is a school teacher, triathlete, and BJJ brown belt in the Carlson Gracie Jr. association, has trained with Professor Cha since white belt, and has fought in regional MMA and kickboxing promotions and grappled extensively in local tournaments.
Misfit Combat is described as a 501(c)3 corporation, and its mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space for folks to learn practical self-defense and combat sports.
Last updated May 29, 2026.
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