Head Instructor
Cody Houston
3rd degree black belt
Affiliations
Marcelo Alonso
Gym Location
Port Angeles, WA
What to know
5th Element’s Head Instructor, Professor Cody Houston, has been an avid student of the martial arts for over 25 years. Before his introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, he spent years studying Kajukenbo, Kung Fu, Karate and Boxing with a variety of different dojos and instructors. Then, after years of searching for something more, he was able to find a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA coach and team in Bend, Oregon where he began on Valentine’s Day in 2000. He spent 2.5 years training under Professor JT Taylor (Marcelo Alonso BJJ) and the Desert Dog Fight Team. It was also during this period that he was first introduced to Professor Marcelo Alonso (Carlson Gracie BJJ). He moved to Portland, OR to finish his college education and began his training period with Professor Matt Thornton and Straight Blast Gym International. He received his BJJ Blue and Purple belts from Matt Thornton and also received an Associates Degree in Business Administration and Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Portland State University.
After three years of training and teaching in Portland, OR he moved to Bellingham, WA where he discovered an absence of BJJ or MMA training facilities. He decided to take the plunge and opened his first gym (West Coast Fight Club) in 2007. This was when he discovered his purpose in life and his passion for coaching athletes of all skill levels. While running the WCFC team in Bellingham, he decided to renew his affiliation and relationship with Professor Marcelo Alonso. Under Professor Alonso, he received his Brown Belt and was awarded his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on April 9, 2011. In April of 2012, Professor Houston decided it was time for a change of scenery but was not quite sure where he would start his next program. While visiting family in PA, he did some training with the CageworX MMA team and was asked to become the head coach. A short time later, he became owner of CageworX and decided it needed a new name and thus 5th Element BJJ/MMA was born. Professor Houston has always believed in a well-rounded martial arts experience and during his Jiu-Jitsu journey he never lost his love for Muay Thai or Judo. On December 4, 2015, he was awarded his Kru (Instructor) in Muay Thai under Kru Yai Srab Srouey and Ajahn Suchart and received his Kru Yai the following year on December 10, 2016. Houston also holds a 2nd Degree Brown Belt under Sensei Grant Gilliam.
Jiu Jitsu Event Photos
To get started click on an event below.
