Scott Hicks
Founder / Muay Thai
Scott is the founder of Megalodon. He was a long time student of the renowned Arjan Priteung Tongpakwan (Bangkok, Thailand). Scott has trained many state, regional, national and world champions. His fighters have dominated in both amateur and professional divisions, fighting around the world in countries such as, Canada, China, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand. Some of Hicks’ most notable events took place in Thailand’s famed Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadiums.
In addition to Muay Thai, Hicks trained extensively in Muay Lanna and Faan Daap. He was the only non-Thai student of Arjan Manohp Yarana and Arjan Mohngkhohn Siangcharee that was promoted to Arjan status in Chaing Mai, Thailand. He became one of only a few Muay Boran/Muay Chaad Chuek trainers in the USA.
Sit Quan Tong Muay Thai Association was established by Hicks to preserve the authenticity of Muay Thai and to ensure present/future Muay Thai practitioners engage in genuine training.
Casey Baynes
Co-Founder / Head BJJ Instructor
Casey is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Romero “Jacare” Calvacante, head instructor of the World Champion “Alliance” team.
He is a certified Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) Defensive Tactics instructor and a co-author of “Locks and Levers”- a P.O.S.T certified lesson plan for law enforcement. Casey has been in law enforcement since 1995 and currently serves as an instructor at the Georgia Public Safety Commission facility in Forsyth. He has training in several forms of martial arts.
He is a graduate of Georgia College and State University with a major in Health and Physical Education.
Johnny Myung
BJJ Instructor
Johnny is a black belt in BJJ and former high school wrestler. He received his black belt from Casey Baynes of Megalodon MMA.
Johnny has been competing since 2008, with over 17 top 3 finishes at competitions, numerous NAGA and Newbreed 1st place finishes and has competing with the National Fighting Championship (NFC) and has been featured on FloGrappling.
Besides training BJJ, he has also run in various races including the Georgia Marathon and a few Tough Mudder races. Johnny teaches the wrestling and Judo-geared portions of the BJJ classes.
Ian Bowen
BJJ Instructor
Ian has been training with coach Casey Baynes since 2005, and promoted to Black Belt in 2018.
Ian has 17+ years law enforcement experience, and retired from the Athens Clarke County Police Department in 2019. Ian introduced a BJJ program to the department, which he kept open to both officers and civilians. He was the lead defensive tactics instructor since 2015, using techniques based on a police-centric MMA style he developed with Casey over the years that the two trained together.
Bart
Mingledorff
BJJ Instructor
Bart started martial arts as a wrestler. After moving from Northern California to Athens, Bart became the catalyst for the forming of the Clarke Central Wrestling Team, and competed on Team Georgia for two years as well as competing in Fargo, N. Dakota. Bart wrestled Freestyle, GrecoRoman, and Folkstyle. Bart finished in the Top 15 both years.
Bart counseled troubled children for 5 years for the Georgia Department of Human Resources and Eckerd Academy of the Blue Ridge. Bart credits a lot of his coaching style to these years working as a counselor.
Bart started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 30 and shortly after started competing and coaching kids. He has competed and medaled at every belt at IBJJF Atlanta Gi and No-Gi tournaments. He has competed at many NewBreed Pro events, as well for the NCF and was featured on FloGrappling. Bart is currently a purple belt and the Megalodon Kid's Competition Coach.
Kati Baynes
BJJ Instructor
Kati is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu purple belt. She has trained and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since she was approximately 8 years old. Her competitions have been featured on FloGrappling.
Kati volunteers part of her time assisting to teach defense tactics to police officers, and has experience with children's and women's martial arts / self defense instruction.
Nicolas
Ayala-Toro
Capoeira Instructor
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Nicolas has been studying martial arts from an early age beginning with Kyodai Ryu Karate. After moving to the US mainland in 1997, he studied under Menkyo Kaiden Dr. Karl Friday of the Kashima Shinryu tradition of swordsmanship to the rank of Shoden.
Nicolas began to study Capoeira in 2013 under Grão Mestre Fran, founder of Grupo Maculelê Capoeira. Grão Mestre Fran granted him permission to teach Capoeira in the Athens area for the last two years.