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 masters 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 also 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 continue to expand my martial arts knowledge. I have been studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Carlos Terrinha of Gracie Barra New England since Sept. 2006, and Kali/Silat 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. 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.

JEET KUNE DO aka JKD is a compilation of training methods, attitudes, philosophies, combat techniques and concepts conceived, researched and compiled by the late BRUCE LEE (LEE JUN FAN) until 1973. 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's own personal martial arts evolved into what we know today as JEET KUNE DO after researching and incorporating kicking methods from northern and southern Gung Fu systems, Hand Trapping Methods from Wing Chun Kung Fu, Western Boxing, and footwork from Fencing. Wing Chun, Western Boxing, and Fencing made up the basis of Bruce Lee's JKD. However, Bruce also researched techniques and training methods from French Savate, Thai Boxing, Judo, and a host of other martial arts. His personal library consisted of over 3,000 books. It is is important to note that Lee did not just combine a bunch of systems. He did not take little pieces of many systems to form Jeet Kune Do. Lee prefered to keep his art as simple as possible, using only what he felt would work for him. He was not concerned with adding on; rather subtracting extraneous techniques was more important. JKD is a system that is put together scientifically and logically, making it much more than merely a combination of many different martial arts styles. Bruce Lee's method is the base from which we work towards totality in personal combat. Bruce Lee always felt that martial arts should be one's own unique personal expression, so while we give you the base and root structure, no two students' "personal martial arts" will be the same. The JKD taught in the Magda Institute Association, and at Phoenix Martial Arts, comes from Sifu Cass Magda's extensive training hours with Guro Dan Inosanto, and also with Sifu Ted Wong, Sifu Tim Tackett, Larry Hartsell, Richard Bustillo, and Ted Lucay Lucay to name a few. Jeet Kune Do is meant to be progressive and adaptive to the environment, as well as the times. Martial Arts today is a lot different than it was when Bruce Lee formed JKD in the 60's and 70's. That is why the Jeet Kune Do taught in the Magda Institute and at Phoenix Martial Arts is progressive and adaptive to the times, while still staying true to its major principles.

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, and ground fighting. 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. Muay Thai kickboxing utilizes very powerful and sharp elbows and knees delivered at many angles, lightening fast kicks, hands from Western Boxing, efficient and practical takedowns and clinch wrestling into a very complete and effective Martial Art System. Practiced originally as military training and now as an exciting sport (it is the national sport of Thailand). Many Mixed Martial Arts fighters train in, or at least incorporate some of the many fighting elements of Muay Thai into their training regimen. The training methods are so rigorous and so demanding that the Dallas Cowboys have incorporated some of them into their regular training program.