I began formally I began formally training
in the Martial Arts when I was thirteen. Some friends and I met a gentleman who had
been a kickboxer. We convinced him to teach us and for the next couple of years would spend nearly everyday at his house
training.
When I was fifteen I began training at a local Tae Kwon Do school. I trained there for three years, and eventually
became an Instructor. While working there, I was fortunate enough to meet one of Grandmaster Ed Parker's nephews, Ward
Parker, whose sons, Ty and Malu, were like my little brothers. Through him, I was introduced to American Kenpo,
which I studied for about two years after leaving the Tae Kwon Do school. At that time I relocated and took a couple
of years off of training to start a career.
One day I ran into a gentleman named
John Bain, who I had worked with at the Tae Kwon Do school. He had begun training in the Filipino Martial Arts, and
convinced me to start training again. He introduced me to Ama Guro Raffy Pambuan, who I have been training with ever
since.
At the Sama Sama seminar in 1998, I
met Grand Tuhon Chris Sayoc and began training in Sayoc Kali. In the summer of 2002, I became an Apprentice Instructor
in Sayoc Kali. I earned the Katipunan Title in the summer of 2003.
It was also through Ama Guro Raffy Pambuan that I was able to meet Guro Ray Dionaldo. I currently
work with Guro Ray at Warrior Craft Blades, making training blades. I also train with Guro Ray in his system of FCS
Kali, and became a Certified Instructor in the summer of 2003.
I have also trained, through seminars,
for the past few years with Grand Master Bobby Taboada in Balintawak Eskrima, and with Abon "Garimot" Baet in his family system
of Arnis.
In addition to the Filipino Martial
Arts, I have trained in Ving Tsun Kung Fu under Sifu Lee Gar Lin and in Tai Chi Chuan under Sifu John Malone.
