I am an MMA-Fitness Coach/Personal Trainer at Fit-Defense MMA with 40+ years cross training in the martial arts and over 35 years teaching individuals, groups, law enforcement, military personnel, athletes, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and corporate executives. Currently, I am a 5th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo under the guidance and instructorship of 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Brad Whitlow of Juk-Ahm based in Murfreesboro, TN. A 4 Stripe White Belt in Gracie Brazilian JiuJitSu under Professors Victor Emanuel, Nivian Oliveira and a Phase II in Jeet Kune Do Concepts under Sifu Michael Talley and Sifu/Guru Raymond Crow.

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In 1984 at the young age of 13, I began training in Taekwondo (American Taekwondo Association) under now, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master GK Lee in Panama City, FL and then continuing under now 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Jin Yong Kwon (World Taekwondo Federation) in Virginia Beach, VA; as well as learning some Hapkido skills under Master Kwon. I then moved to Memphis, TN in 1986 where I earned my 1st Degree Black Belt (International Taekwondo Federation) in 1988 under now, 8th Degree Black Belt, Master Randy Edwards and now 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Terry Brumley.

 

Shortly after receiving my black belt in 1988 I began cross training in Jeet Kune Do Concepts learning the elements of Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Savate, and Kali under Sifu Michael Talley; who trained under Sifu/Guru Dan Inosanto. And in 1989, I along with a few other black belts opened our own Taekwondo training center in Southaven, MS along with another instructor that taught Aikido which we all began training in. While teaching at Southaven Taekwondo and Aikido I promoted a martial arts seminar with Master Jin Yong Kwon; which Master Randy Edwards was in attendance along with students from different schools around the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi surrounding areas. 

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Soon after I left Southaven Taekwondo & Aikido in the Summer of 1990, I began teaching at Collierville Taekwondo in Collierville, TN. Then in 1991 I earned my 2nd Degree Black Belt under Master Randy Edwards and now 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Robert H. Hardin in Nashville, TN. However, in 1991, I parted ways with Collierville Taekwondo and began teaching at Germantown Taekwondo in Germantown, TN; where I also helped coached, a young, talented black belt, by the name of Trip Ferguson for International Competitions. 

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I then parted ways with Germantown Taekwondo and moved to Murfreesboro, TN in 1991 to continue with my training under, Grand Master Brad Whitlow; which I also became a member of his M.A.T.C. Demo Team and assited him with all of his self-defense seminars. I also helped him with promoting his Isomaxx (stretching apparatus). ​After spending a few years in TN training under GM Whitlow, I moved to Dallas, TX in 1993 for college but also continued with my training and began teaching in Plano, TX for 4th Degree Black Belt Rob Ellis. However I decided to leave Mr. Ellis’s Taekwondo Training Center and began to develop my own training program that lead me in the process of developing Fit-Defense MMA.

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I then contacted several Gym’s about teaching my program and in doing so, I became a Group Ex Instructor for Larry North Fitness Centers and Ballys Total Fitness Centers. Then in 2009 I began teaching for 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Scott McNeely. While teaching for him I also began training and representing myself in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in Hot Springs, AR. I also became a Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor for Executive Black Belt Program under now, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Jason Wadley. Also, I continued with my training in Jeet Kune Do Concepts under Sifu/Guru Raymond Crow whom is certified under Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, and Richard Bustillio. Under Sifu/Guru Crow I focused my attention on the elements of Kali, Panantukan, Pananjakman, Silat, and Wing Chun.

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In the Autumn of 2010 I moved to Phoenix, AZ to begin a new chapter in my life and plant the roots of Fit-Defense MMA training people all around the valley in Fitness, Self-Defense through Mixed Martial Arts. During the Winter of 2015 I spent roughly two weeks at GM Whitlow’s, Juk-Ahm Training Center, where I tested and promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt (after 24 years of not testing). Master Whitlow and I then discussed about bringing the Juk-Ahm curriculum to Arizona, to train people in, and to continue with his philosophy. Therefore, not only will one learn valuable life skills through self-defense applications, but have a solid foundation rooted in a traditional martial arts. Under his guidance and governed by him one will be able to achieve a black belt rank and beyond and recognized internationally. 

 

Currently now, I’m living in the Paradise Valley area of Phoenix, AZ where I teach at the North Mountain Visitor Center working with their foundation, the Save Our Mountains Foundation. My interests ranges from martial arts and fitness, which I am an avid hiker with my beautiful wife and son. My other interests includes Multimedia and Interactive Art, Art, Music Recording and the Guitar, Photography (Black & White), and Nature. I am also a blogger for Arts and the Martial Arts where I blog about anything revolving around the ARTS of any genre, the MARTIAL ARTS, and anything relating to Health and Fitness. Not only this, but I also earned 2 college degrees from the Art Institute in Dallas, TX.

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