Charles was born and raised in Lafayette, Colorado where he spent his childhood until joining the Army at 18 years old. He returned in 2018 as a combat veteran to transition into civilian life with his family.

Charles served in the Army in Iraq with 82nd Airborne and later as a private contractor in Afghanistan from 1997-2018. Serving in the military was a transformative experience in his lifetime. It taught him the value of discipline, perseverance and adaptability, which are all important as a jiu jitsu instructor. He strives to prepare the kids to face challenges and to see them succeed. Discipline is not just a skill, as it is a way of life. He prides himself in being a part of a team at Way of Jiu Jitsu that is building the next generation to be strong and capable individuals who know their own potentials and become the best versions of themselves. 

Charles loves to train martial arts overseas to learn the diverse styles, cultures, history and philosophies to gain a deeper understanding of each art. Studying and training across the world has allowed him to connect with a global community of practitioners in order to enrich not only his skills but also his mind and spirit. 

Charles has been competing in both Judo and Jiu Jitsu. He is currently an orange belt in Judo and purple belt in Jiu Jitsu. He also is a kids coach at Jiu Jitsu tournaments.