About Us

Our Story: The Heart Behind Evolution

By Martin “Tarzan” Sandoval – Founder & Head Coach

Before I ever stepped into a martial arts academy, I was already living the life of a disciplined athlete. I started playing soccer at 4 years old and pursued it to a semi-professional level into my early 20s. Discipline, grit, and a competitive mindset were already a part of me. But something was missing.

My first taste of martial arts came as a kid training in Kung Fu, then a few years of wrestling. I always had a deep respect for the discipline and philosophy behind the arts. One of the key figures that left a mark on me was Mr. Campbell — my teacher and the first cage fighter I ever met. He planted the seed. Years later, helping my older brother Kristian on his wrestling for his fighting journey brought me back to the mats, and in 2007, martial arts became my true calling.

At first, martial arts gave me an outlet — a way to channel life’s highs and lows. But quickly, it became more than that. It became a lifestyle. A way of thinking. A way of being. I live by the code now. It taught me how to face pain, struggle, ego, and adversity — not just in the cage, but in life. I’ve faced physical injuries, mental blocks, and spiritual lows. But every time, the values martial arts gave me helped me navigate forward with resilience and purpose.

The most defining moment in my career wasn’t a title or a fight — it was the moment I realized that the biggest enemy to any athlete is ego. When I learned to put mine aside, to open my mind and heart fully to growth, everything changed. Martial arts didn’t just shape my body — it shaped my identity. It gave me a mindset that made me more adaptable, more humble, and more in tune with life.

Opening Evolution International Training Center was a dream years in the making. I first envisioned opening an academy in Modesto. But after life brought my family and me back home to Oakdale — the town where I was raised — the opportunity to bring that vision to life came here. We trusted the timing, and we trusted the project.

Evolution isn’t like every other school. We don’t just do martial arts — we live it. Our roots come from one of the most respected wrestling programs around. From there, we build complete athletes, grounded in skill, humility, and experience. Whether you’re a striker, a grappler, a kid just starting out, or a seasoned competitor — this is a place where you evolve. Quickly. Honestly. Fully.

But more than building athletes, we’re building a community. A family. A space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and goals can come to grow. This academy is my home — and I treat it that way. I teach every student to respect it with the same care my grandparents and parents taught me to show. When you walk through our doors, I want you to feel welcomed, challenged, and inspired.

My core belief is this: martial arts teaches you to become a better version of yourself. It’s about more than technique or trophies — it’s about quality over quantity. Discipline. Accountability. Personal growth. I try to instill those values in every student who trains here.

To anyone just starting out: My greatest teacher told me “If you think it, feel it, write it down. Hold yourself accountable to it”. Anything you want is possible. That’s not just advice — that’s truth earned on the mat.

The proudest moments in my journey haven’t come from titles or accolades — they come from sharing the mats with my wife and kids. From watching students grow, not just in skill, but in character. That’s the legacy I hope Evolution leaves behind: a place that gave people the space, the tools, and the belief to become who they were meant to be.

WELCOME TO EVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTER.

Where growth is personal and legacy is earned.