I have helped train various groups of people from the New York City Police and Fire Department, to ATF, to the girls and boys scouts, at after-school youth programs, to men and women in the United States Armed Forces. But my favorite group of people to teach is the average person. I tend to think of myself as one, after all I am a high school history teacher with a BA in American studies, and a master’s degree in Education.

Before becoming involved with Phoenix Martial Arts and the Magda Institute, I began my training in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate. My first teacher was my father, who was a 2nd degree blackbelt (and now is a student of Sifu Greg Pichardo). From there I studied various forms of Karate (Shotokan, American and Okinawan Kenpo, and Goju Ryu) over 12 years, eventually earning a black belt.

Currently I am still training with Sifu Greg Pichardo and Sifu Cass Magda in Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Indonesian Pentjak Silat, aside from running my own classes. I am first and foremost a martial artist. I love to train and continue to learn, and I will always be a student. On my off-teaching days I have begun expanding my martial arts knowledge by studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Carlos Terrinha of Gracie Barra New England, and Kali with Guro Guy Chase of the Guy Chase Academy of Martial Arts. I attend monthly and yearly seminars, workshops, as well as weekly martial arts classes. It is my belief that to be a good teacher, one must never stop learning. If one stops learning, and rests on their laurels, they can become stale and the arts they teach, can also become stale.

The primary arts that I teach are the Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Buka Jalan Pentjak Silat of the Magda Institute Association. Those are the primary arts in which I identify myself as a martial artist as well. While I may be learning new systems and arts, I will not teach anything that I am not allowed to teach, or anything that I am under-qualified to teach. I believe strongly in teaching what I know and preserving the arts and integrity of those who came before me.

The JUN FAN MARTIAL ARTS is a compilation of training methods, attitudes, philosophies, combat techniques and concepts conceived, researched and compiled by the late BRUCE LEE (LEE JUN FAN) until1973. It was from this that JEET KUNE DO eventually evolved. The base of BRUCE LEE'S JUN FAN METHOD was the Chinese Gung Fu system of Wing Chun which was developed by a female nun about 400 years ago and is considered to be one of the most sophisticated fighting methods to originate in China. LEE researched and incorporated kicking methods from northern and southern Gung Fu systems, French Savate and Thai Boxing. He incorporated his hand methods from Wing Chun, Western Boxing, various Gung Fu systems and Western Fencing Grappling, locking and throwing are also integral parts of the JUN FAN METHOD. The JUN FAN METHOD is considered to be the explosive precursor to a JKD understanding; or, in other words, thebase from which we work towards totality in personal combat.

The art of the Philippines is as diverse as the islands themselves, encompassing over 7,000 of them within the archipelago with over 87 major languages spoken. The names vary widely (KALI-ESCRIMA-ARNIS-SILAT-KUNTAO-ESTOQUE-KALIRADMAN-PAGKALIKALI). As a general term, we use "KALI" representing the ancient art existing before the arrival of the Chinese in the T'ang Dynasty in the 9th century. The art was outlawed in the 16th century by the King of Spain out of fear that the art would be used against the Spanish regime occupying the Philippines at that time. Its efficiency in combat cost Magellan his life. Encompassing an entire spectrum of weaponry and also featuring sophisticated empty hand concepts, this highly efficient, deadly and combat-proven art enabled the southern Philippines to remain unconquered for almost 400 years. The weaponry and empty hand are taught together; the principles being common to both and interchangeable. Regardless of whether armed or unarmed, the student learns to relate to any situation using the same concepts of body angling, positioning, zoning, and flowing with the opponent. Depending upon speed, footwork and skill rather than brute strength, this fluid, practical method of self-defense is one of the most comprehensive martial arts systems known.

Known as PENTJAK SILAT in Indonesia and BERSILAT in Malaysia, the difference between these two arts are subtle. There are over 250 styles commonly practiced in and throughout Indonesia and Malaysia. Both arts involve various complex and intricate empty hand and foot maneuvers, clever and unique multiple joint locking, sweeping and throwing manipulations. These arts form an important portion of the intermediate and advanced levels taught at Phoenix Martial Arts and in the Magda Institute Association.

Called the science of the eight limbs (hands, elbows, feet, knees), Muay Thai is considered to be one of the most devastating martial arts in the world today. Practiced originally as military training and now as a brutal sport (it is the national sport of Thailand). The training methods are so rigorous and so demanding that the Dallas Cowboys have incorporated some of them into their regular training program.