BIO

Growing up in East Moline Illinois, I developed a love for martial arts at a young age. However, I did not join a Martial Art School until I was 21 years old. It all started in the fall of 1996, while speaking with a counselor at the community college I attended. I saw the words "Kuk Sool Won" written on a dry erase board and  asked the counselor what the words meant. He replied "It's a new martial art we are adding to the curriculum. You should try it." I registered for the class as soon as I could. My first Kuk Sool Won instructor was Master Paul Garza. I knew within a couple months there was nothing else I wanted to do besides martial arts. 

I received my first promotion within a few months and was asked by my Instructor to help teach the new students. I trained under Master Garza for 5 years before moving out of the area. Unable to find another Kuk Sool Won school, I practiced what I had already learned. In 2001, I met my wonderful wife and we soon returned to East Moline. Master Garza was no longer operating a school and so unfortunately  I was again without a school to continue my training. 

One fateful day while shopping with my wife. She tells me "I saw a black belt in Kuk Sool. You should go talk to him." I did just that. He informed  me where he studied and invited me to the school. I wasted no time visiting the school. That's where  I met my current instructor Master Jeff Green. I reached the rank of 3rd Dahn under his instruction before my wife's job had us relocated to Peoria Illinois. In order to continue my training  I continued to make the drive each month to train with Master Green.  I am now a 5th Dahn Master.

In April of 2017, I fulfilled one of my dreams and opened my own martial art school in Washington Illinois. I will continue to practice Kuk Sool Won for the remainder  of this life and into the next.