Coaching Team

Fernando Moya

Head Coach

Fernando Moya is a seminal figure in Latin American martial arts with over 22 years of elite-level experience. As the first native Costa Rican to be awarded a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he holds one of the world’s most prestigious technical lineages, having been promoted to both Brown and Black Belt by the renowned John Danaher. Fernando professional experience includes serving as the Grappling Coordinator at the UFC Performance Institute in Mexico City, where he engineered the technical training protocols used by the world’s top professional mixed martial artists.

  • Athletic Engineering: At Vector, Fernando applies the elite framework used in professional combat sports to the Vector Method (VM), a proprietary system for optimizing human performance built on four key pillars: Strength, Mobility, Skill, and Recovery.

    Teacher of Teachers: Having established a network of 20 affiliates across Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama, Fernando is dedicated to professionalizing the sport and developing high-level instructors. Vector serves as the official Headquarters for this international network, making it the only facility where members can train under his daily leadership and instruction.

    Program Leadership: As Head Coach, he oversees the design and refinement of Vector’s comprehensive martial arts curriculum, ensuring age-appropriate instruction and a high-performance environment for everyone from absolute beginners to professional competitors.

    UFC Performance Institute Certifications:

    • Specialist MMA

    • Intermediate & Fundamentals in Sports Science

    • Intermediate & Fundamentals in Performance Nutrition

    • Intermediate & Fundamentals in Strength and Conditioning

    • Fundamentals in MMA

    Global Strategy & Engagement: Fernando manages Vector’s strategic international partnerships and oversees the execution of coach intensives, tournaments, and collaborative training camps that position Vector at the forefront of the global Jiu Jitsu community.

    Technical Mastery: His instruction focuses on providing personalized, data-driven feedback, fostering an inclusive and challenging atmosphere that bridges the gap between general physical capacity and sport-specific mastery.

Daniela Villalobos

Youth BJJ Lead Coach & Wellness advisor

Paki is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Head Coach Fernando Moya, bringing a unique, analytical perspective to the Vector team. With a 20-year career as an online fraud investigator and compliance advisor, Paki applies a forensic-level precision to the mats, specializing in situational analysis and the systematic documentation of technical progress. As Vector’s Operations Coordinator and Jiu Jitsu Coach, he integrates a lifetime of multidisciplinary athletic experience to help students optimize their skills through a lens of safety, intelligence, and long-term consistency.

  • Technical Lineage: Paki holds a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the direct tutelage of Head Coach Fernando Moya.

    Multidisciplinary Background: His martial arts foundation began in childhood and spans Shotokan, Kyokushin, boxing, judo, and luta livre, offering a broad lens on combat mechanics and human movement.

    Operations & Logistics: As Operations Coordinator, Paki supports day-to-day facility execution and oversees the logistics for specialty workshops and visiting international coaches.

    Community Outreach Lead: He spearheads Vector’s local initiatives in the Playa Flamingo and Guanacaste areas, coordinating programs within the community to create a lasting positive impact.

    Human Movement Lens: An active athlete in surfing, motocross, and mountain biking, Paki integrates a wide-ranging understanding of physical performance and recovery into his instruction.

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Cesar Rivera

César Rivera is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and high-performance specialist. He holds a Master’s degree in Sports Coaching and High Performance Psychology and leads Vector’s functional fitness, strength foundations, and youth conditioning programs. César specializes in designing scalable, scientifically-backed training protocols that optimize performance and movement quality for athletes at every level.

  • Master in Sports Coaching and High Performance Psychology: Unisport Management School.

    Licenciatura in Physical Education (Teaching): Universidad Autónoma de Centro América (UACA).

    Technical Degree in Sport & Fitness Management: Tecnológico de Costa Rica.

    Elite Athletic Pedigree: Former professional high-performance athlete and national champion with Belén FC and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.

    International Educational Instruction: Provided specialized training for physical education professionals at the 7th Central American Camp for Professors of Physical Education.

    High-Performance Background: Over a decade of experience in competitive sports, coaching, and strength and conditioning.

    Management and Operations: Holds specialized technical training in sport and fitness management, focusing on facility operations and professional leadership in training environments.

    Performance Science Foundation: Extensive knowledge in high-performance coaching and sports psychology, supporting athlete mindset and long-term physical development.

  • Youth Program Leadership: Daniela leads and oversees the curriculum design, student progression, and safety standards for Vector’s Kids BJJ and striking programs.

    Wellness Advising: As our on-site Wellness Advisor, she provides medical-grade body composition scans and comprehensive wellness counseling to help members set actionable health and performance goals.

    Clinical Authority: Daniela holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and has a professional background in exercise physiology, metabolic health, and human performance diagnostics.

    Technical Pedigree: A purple belt trained under Head Coach Fernando Moya, she is a certified instructor in BJJ Kids Methodology with over seven years of martial arts experience.

    Injury Prevention Specialty: Leveraging her medical background, she focuses on "smart movement" strategies and self-defense instruction designed to build confidence while minimizing physical risk.

    Performance Diagnostics: Her expertise includes conducting metabolic assessments and VO2 max testing to provide a scientific baseline for athletic improvement.

    Personalized Training: Beyond her group leadership roles, Daniela offers professional medical consultations and personal training services tailored to individual lifestyle and performance needs.

Pilates & Mobility Lead

Isabella Karczynska

Isabella is Vector’s Lead Pilates and Mobility Instructor, bringing over 25 years of international coaching experience and a degree in Physical Education with a specialization in Corrective Gymnastics. Her approach to movement is rooted in a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology, focusing on building sustainable strength required for long-term health. At Vector, she bridges the gap between mindfulness and high-performance mobility to ensure every athlete moves with precision and longevity.

  • Academic & Scientific Foundation: Isabella holds a degree in Physical Education from Kazimierz Wielki University, specializing in Corrective Gymnastics. This scientific background provides the foundation for her focus on movement quality and injury prevention.

    Global Technical Pedigree: A Peak Pilates International Certified instructor, Isabella has continuously refined her coaching language at leading professional studios worldwide, including the Joseph Pilates Studio.

    Comprehensive Certifications: Her diverse professional toolkit includes international certifications in Yoga, TRX, BOSU, and the Body Art program, as well as specialized training in prenatal movement.

    Corrective Focus: As a Ministry of Sport certified Recreation and Fitness Instructor, she specializes in corrective strategies that transition the body from general physical capacity to optimized movement.

BJJ Coach & Operations Coordinator

paki

Dra. Daniela Villalobos is a medical doctor, a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and serves as Vector’s Youth Jiu Jitsu Program Lead and Wellness Advisor. With over 10 years of experience in clinical medicine and sports performance, she specializes in curriculum design for young athletes and data-driven wellness counseling. Daniela bridges the gap between elite athletic training and medical science to ensure our members and youth students move safely and perform at their peak.