Well, let’s see…  Where to start?!?!?!  Well, since this is a blog on martial arts, I suppose I’ll begin with my martial arts background.  This seems to be the most obvious and logical start for this page.

My interest in the martial arts began at a very young age.  All I remember is that I took an interest in the martial arts while I was still living in New York.  So that had to be somewhere between birth and 8 years of age.  So, for the earlier parts of my younger years, my training merely consisted of Filipino Martial Arts and Kung Fu with my Dad and Uncles.  I didn’t start taking martial arts seriously until I moved out to the west coast.  California to be exact!  So, from 8 years old (the age I was when I moved to California) to high school (14 years old I believe) I simply continued training with neighbors, friends, and family in Filipino Martial Arts and more Kung Fu.  Around that time I found my self putting down the sticks for a bit to concentrate on Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Choy Lay Fut, and Kickboxing.

High school came around and things began to change!  My interests began to change!  I realized that traditional martial arts wasn’t  something you can utilize on the streets effectively (this comes from countless altercations my freshman year of high school).  Action on that new found realization didn’t take effect until 1993 when I first saw the UFC.  It was then that my view on fighting, self-defense, and the martial arts made a total change and made a 360 for the best!  In a result of the change my training changed.  I joined my high school wrestling team and I started training in Shooto, Muay Thai, JKD, and Filipino Martial Arts with a JKD group in my home town.  I even made the transition from point fighting tournaments to full contact karate tournaments.  Tournaments such as Koshiki and Kyokushin style fighting.  From then on it was all smooth sailing from there.

During those years, I read in a magazine article, at least I think it was an article that was by Guro Dan Inosanto.  Heck, it might of been an interview.  Anyway, that’s besides the point.  As I read the article, he stated that it’s a good thing to train with different people and different instructors.  Because, just as people are different, styles are different.  Just as there are many people in any one culture, such as Japanese, German, and Spanish; they are all one culture but they all have different looks, appearances, mannerisms, voices!  The same thing applies to martial arts.  You have many practitioners in Muay Thai, but each person has there own individual style influenced by their coach, their training partners, their body frame, and so many other factors.  So, because of that Dan promoted to see the differences.  See how many differences there are to throw a round kick and train with those difference.  So, with that being said, I also trained with friends and other instructors (while keeping with my current instructor) in other forms of Kickboxing and Karate!

Then college came around and things got better!  It was then I started getting more in to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.  I even got to train at the original Fairtex here in Chandler, Arizona for the short time that they were here.  So from then on things have stayed the same.  My views have changed for the best, I’ve picked up many other forms of training such as instructional videos, and I still train with as many different people and instructors and I can.  I’ve trained with many top BJJ instructors and players, many top wrestlers and coach’s, great muay thai instructors,  and some old time catch wrestlers.  I’ve since competed in many large and prestigious Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Wrestling tournaments, many small ones, and I’ve had great success in Mixed Martial Arts competition.

Right now, I just want to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and read thus far.  I will soon be posting a full bio on my martial arts training history and people that I’ve trained with.  So, stay tuned!  Thanks again!

More News About Me!!!

Comming soon to Ahwatukee, LA Boxing!!! I am the new head coach for LA Boxing’s BJJ and Submission Wrestling Program along with Jason Bress who head the Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and conditioning training. We will be working together to for the strongest team that Arizona has to offer. Don’t miss out on our grand opening specials!

LA Boxing will be offering classes for Men, Women, and Children in Boxing, Kickboxing, Cardio Kickboxing, Conditioning, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Wrestling, and Mixed Martial Arts. For more information call 480-496-IBOX! Or visit www.laboxing.com! LA Boxing, Ahwatukee 4825 E. Warner Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85044 480-496-IBOX (Located in the Bashas Shopping Center on the corner of Warner Rd. and 48th St. next door to Chuk E Cheese)