OUR COACHES

Jon Cho

Black Belt
Jon Cho is a 10th Planet Orange County Black Belt. He is a lifelong student of the martial arts and began his formal study of jiu-jitsu in 2008. He trained primarily in the gi at his first academy but would gradually develop a preference for no-gi. Eventually, he found a new home at 10th Planet, where he could devote a singular focus to training without the gi. Due to his roots, Jon retains a stylistic affinity for traditional pressure passing and positional control, but he has also fully immersed himself in the practice of the various techniques pioneered within the 10th planet system. He was chosen to head the fundamentals program at 10th Planet Orange where he instructs five nights a week. In addition to instructing jiu-jitsu, Jon holds a master’s degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University and works as a special ed teacher.

Mike John

Black Belt
Started training wrestling in the 7th grade because he had way too much energy (according to his mother). During high school, his football coach made the entire team do Jiu-Jitsu in the Gi and he was hooked. He was the only one who kept going back day after day. Eventually he found MMA and amassed an amateur record of 9-4. He considers himself a Hybrid in Jiu-Jitsu. He enjoys upper body as well as lower body submissions. He’s an active competitor and looks to inspire others around to jump in on competition.

Michael Meneses

Brown Belt
Michael started his martial arts journey as a teen, kickboxing, and in high school wrestling. Once introduced to jiu-jitsu as an adult, he was immediately hooked. He began training in the Gi in 2015. After a couple of years, he joined the 10th Planet Orange County team. Mike currently holds a purple belt rank and leads the kids' program at 10th Planet Orange.

Andy Balmore Prudencio

Andy Balmore Prudencio started his Mixed Martial Arts path at the age of 16 in 2002. Being a fan of the early UFC, he persuade an MMA career for himself as soon as he turned 18. He spent all his days focusing on Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai which paid him dividends ending his professional Mixed Martial Arts career with a record of 8-1 and an undefeated amateur record as well. He stepped away from MMA to focus on supporting and being there for his wife and first born. Although he stepped away from MMA, he continued to train Jiu-Jitsu and really fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu when his training partner and mentor Casey Halstead introduced him to Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet System. It was the freedom of expression and creativity that made him fall in love with Jiu-Jitsu again. From there he trained under Casey Halstead and helped coach the up and coming fighters. He then helped open up the first 10th Planet in Orange County , 10th Planet Costa Mesa which he later became a partner in. Andy has now been coaching Jiu-Jitsu and MMA for over 12 years and became Casey Halstead’s first Black Belt.

Andy is also the Event Coordinator and Stage Manager for the Eddie Bravo Invitational, in this role Andy gets to work closely with Eddie Bravo and Victor Davila as well as some of the greatest talent in Jiu Jitsu. As a coach, Andy is fully dedicated to his students by not only developing their Jiu Jitsu but mentoring them personally. He loves to watch people develop on the mats and watch it pour over off the mats. To Andy, coaching is not just about teaching a move, it’s about inspiring and being of service to others. He believes If he can help you live a more mindful, health conscious life then you will do the same for others..