About The Coaches
Coaches
- Chris Herzog
Head Grappling Coach - Wally MacDonald
Head Striking Coach - Scott Yockel
Junior Jiu Jitsu Coach
Head Grappling Coach - Chris Herzog
Chris Herzog is the Director and Head Coach of Empire Academy and has been training in the martial arts for over 24 years. He is a Nationally ranked competitor who has competed internationally and medalled in Submission Grappling, Judo, Sambo and Combat Sambo.
Along with Blackbelts in several traditional martial arts he has Blackbelts in Judo (4th Degree), Kickboxing, and is a Certified Russian Sambo Instructor. Chris has a brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu under Eddie Bravo, and also coaches Boxing and Muay Thai. Along with being a certified coach and instructor in Judo(USJA), Sambo(UFRS) and 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. Chris has amassed quite a impressive competition record.
Accomplishments
- 1993 Northern Regional Full Contact Jujitsu Championships Gold Medallist
- 1997 Tri-County Kohaku Judo Shiai Champion
- 1997 Eastern Collegiate Judo Championships Gold Medallist
- 1998 Sunshine Submission Grappling Championship Advanced division Gold Medallist
- 2000 Sombo World Open Silver Medallist
- 2000 AAU Sombo National Championship Silver Medallist
- 2000 Number 1 ranked Sombo heavy weight in the US
- 2000 Member of US Sombo Team
- 2000 Selected for Sombo World Cup in Nice France
- 2001 Empire State Games Trials Open Champion
- 2001 Empire State Games Judo Gold Medallist
- 2003 AmCan International Judo Challenge Silver Medallist
- 2004 USJA National Judo Championship Gold Medallist
- 2006 Swiss Sambo Open (Oleg Taktarov Trophy)
- Combat Sambo- Gold
- Sport Sambo- Bronze
- Submission Grappling - Bronze
- 2006 Empire State Games Western Region Judo Trials Heavyweight Champion
- 2006 Empire State Games Heavyweight Gold Medallist
- 2007 Coach of the 2nd place team for the Freestyle Sambo League Team Championships
Head Striking Coach - Wally MacDonald
Our Head Striking Coach is Wally "The Weapon" MacDonald, who has over 16 years experience in over a dozen martial arts. Wally has Blackbelts in Kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do, a Brown Belt in Judo, and a Purple Belt in Jiu Jitsu. Coach MacDonald is a certified Boxing Coach under USA Boxing and a Certified Kickboxing coach under the legendary Ray Casal. Coach MacDonald is also a student of UFC, K1 and Pride veteran Duane "Bang" Ludwig.
Wally is currently undefeated in MMA and continues to compete in Boxing, Kickboxing, San Shou, Sanda, Judo, Sambo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling.
Accomplishments
- 1999 Best Match trophy-Kung Fu USA Tournament
- 2001 Brockport Judo Tournament-1st Place
- 2002 Kintora Judo Tournament- 1st Place
- 2002 Fight of the Night-Combat Zone
- 2003 NYS Golden Gloves- Silver
- 2003 Sanshou Nationals- Silver
- 2004 Arnold Classic San Shou Tournament- Silver
- 2004 NY State Golden Gloves- Silver
- 2004 Sanda World Championships- Silver
- 2004 USKBA US San Shou Nationals- 2nd Place
- 2005 Wu Tang Hall of Fame Open San Da Tournament- Silver
- 2008 NYS Grappling Championship No-Gi Advanced Division- 1st Place
- 2008 NYS Grappling Championship Absolute- 2nd Place
- 2008 Rochester Grappling Invitational Advanced No-Gi- 1st Place
- 2009 Fists of Fury Muay Thai Super Middle Weight Champion
Junior Jiu Jitsu Coach - Scott Yockel
Scott wrestled for Greece Olympia High School from 1998 to 2001 and was a 3 time varsity letter winner, with a record of 50 and 25. He was an open national qualifier and was second for most pins and technical falls in 2001. Scott coached the 01-02 season at Apollo Middle School and Greece Olympia High School, and also spent a year as a coach for baker boys youth wrestling. Scott has trained in Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and Sambo at Empire since 2006, and is a Brown Belt in Judo, and a Purple Belt in 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Accomplishments
- 2006 Ultimate Sambo Open Advanced 3rd Place
- 2006 Empire State Games Trials 2nd Place
- 2006 Kintora Tournament 1st Place
- 2007 Battle at the Sun Winner
- 2007 Freestyle Sambo Ranked 2nd
- 2007 North American Sambo Nationals 2nd Place
- 2007 Empire State Games Trials 1st Place
- 2007 Empire State Games 1st Place
- 2007 Rochester Grappling Challenge Gi Advanced 3rd
- 2007 Rochester Grappling Challenge No-Gi Advanced 1st Place
- 2007 AmCan International Judo Challenge 3rd Place
- 2007 Kintora Tournament 2nd Place
- Team American Sambo Member
- 2008 Empire State Games Trials 1st Place
- 2008 NY Grappling Championship Gi Intermediate 3rd Place
- 2008 CNY Grappling Tournament No-Gi Intermediate 4th Place
- 2008 NY Grappling Championship No-Gi Advanced 3rd Place
- 2008 Hayastan Grappling Championshup No-Gi Advanced Division 3rd Place
- 2008 Empire State Games Bronze Medalist
- 2008 Tri Combat Grappling Challenge Advanced No-Gi 1st Place
- 2008 Tri Combat Grappling Challenge Absolute No-Gi 1st Place
- 2009 NYS Grappling Championship Advanced No-Gi 1st Place