I began my martial arts’ career in 1974 while attending college at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. After seeing an Aikido demonstration by students of Toyoda Sensei of Chicago at the Northwestern student union, I signed up for lessons. I trained in Aikido for one year at Northwestern and then my instructor left. I sought out what training I could find at the college some of which included Shotokan karate, wrestling, and boxing.
While attending Northwestern, I was an NROTC U.S. Marine Corps reservist and midshipman. After graduating from Northwestern with a BS in Education, I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. I served a total of 4 years active and 4 reserve. During that time, I graduated from U.S. Army Airborne School in 1974, the very first Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course in 1977, and the U.S. Army Ranger School in 1979. While in the Marines I continued to train in boxing, and trained briefly in Hwa Rang Do.
Upon leaving the Marines in 1980, I embarked on a career in emergency medical work as a Paramedic and RN, and in family medicine as an NP. Having a busy career and raising a family put constraints on my ability to train. However, I still managed to train in Taekwondo, Taiho-Ryu, Jeet Kune Do, kickboxing, and kenpo karate.
In 1998 I became a 3rd Degree Black belt in Kenpo. In 2008, I was promoted to Black Belt in HaganaH, an Israeli system similar to Krav Maga. I ran a successful martial arts school for over 10 years from 1998 to 2008. My school closed in 2008, when I decided to begin overseas contract work. I deployed to Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan and Iraq over 10 years, continuing to train and share knowledge in martial arts and self-defense with those I worked with including police and military. I returned to the USA permanently in 2018 and teach martial arts and self-defense full time at my dojo facility and online.
Throughout the last 48 years, I have continued to seek out, train in, and compare, many different martial arts, and self-defense, styles and systems. I am continually searching for ideas and concepts that made sense and were reality based.
I continue to provide classes in Kenpo karate, Israeli Tactical Combatives (HaganaH), SDTS, and our newest innovation Koritsu Sento.
I also coach K-Robic kickboxing and fitness/weight loss classes.
I welcome you to come by our facility at 371 Rock Court Dr, Marshfield, MO to see what we have to offer, or call us at 417-763-8864.
