Martial Artist-Instructor-Coach-Fighter
Title: MMA-Fitness Coach
Rank: 4th Degree Black Belt-Taekwondo
Affiliation: Juk-Ahm
Training: 36 Years
Teaching: 32 Years
Taekwondo Instructors:
9th Degree GM Brad Whitlow
Murfreesboro, TN
8th Degree Master Randy Edwards
Memphis, TN
9th Degree GM Jin Yong Kwon
Virginia Beach, VA
1988- Black Belt Certification
1989- 1st Degree Black Belt Certification
1991- 2nd Degree Black Belt Certification
1991-1993 M.A.T.C. Demo Team Member
Appreciation Award For Dedication & Leadership in Taekwondo-Brad Whitlow
Defensive Tactics Instructor-EBB
MMA Record: 1-1-0
2015- 4th Degree Black Belt Certification
Cross Training:
Jeet Kune Do:
Western Boxing
Muay Thai
Kali/FMA: Panantukan/Pananjakman/Dumog
Silat
Savate
Wing Chun
Instructors:
Michael Talley- Memphis, TN
Raymond Crow- Dallas, TX
Brad Whitlow- Murfreesboro, TN
Joint Locking & Manipulation
Elements of JuiJitSu/Aikido/BJJ
Instructors:
Brad Whitlow- Murfreesboro, TN
In 1984 at the age of 13, Brian began studying Taekwondo in Panama City, FL under the guidance of now, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master GK Lee who is affiliated with ATA association. That same year Brian continued his training in under now, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Jin Yong Kwon in Virginia Beach, VA whom is affiliated with the WTF association.
Then in 1986 Brian moved to Memphis, TN and continued his training under now, 8th Degree Black Belt, Master Randy Edwards and 2nd Degree Black Belt, Terry Campos at Memphis Taekwondo; an ITF affiliated school. Then in 1988 Brian received his Black Belt under Master Edwards.
Along with his best friend John Farris, both began cross training in Jeet Kune Do Concepts (JKD) under the guidance of Michael Talley. While training in JKD Brian learned Western Boxing, Muay Thai, Kali, Savate and in 1989 earned his 1st Degree Black Belt under Master Edwards and started teaching Taekwondo.
Along with his best friend John Farris, both began cross training in Jeet Kune Do Concepts (JKD) under the guidance of Michael Talley. While training in JKD Brian learned Western Boxing, Muay Thai, Kali, Savate and in 1989 earned his 1st Degree Black Belt under Master Edwards and started teaching Taekwondo.
In 1990 after graduating from Overton High School Brian, along with a father and son duo and his best friend John Farris, opened their first Taekwondo school in Southaven, MS. They also had another Taekwondo Instructor that held a black belt rank in Aikido as well and they all started training in this Japanese system.
Brian then promoted a Taekwondo and Self-Defense (Hapkido) Seminar given by none other than Master Jin Yong Kwon at the Southaven location. During this same year Brian also began running another Taekwondo school in Collierville, TN owned by Denise Epperson and another one in Germantown, TN owned by Bobby Strantenburgher; which they all knew one another from obtaining their black belt rank status from Memphis Taekwondo.
Brian then promoted a Taekwondo and Self-Defense (Hapkido) Seminar given by none other than Master Jin Yong Kwon at the Southaven location. During this same year Brian also began running another Taekwondo school in Collierville, TN owned by Denise Epperson and another one in Germantown, TN owned by Bobby Strantenburgher; which they all knew one another from obtaining their black belt rank status from Memphis Taekwondo.
While running the Collierville school in 1991 Brian received his 2nd Degree Black Belt under Master Randy Edwards, now 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Brad Whitlow, and 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Robert H. Hardin with the M.A.T.C. an ITF affiliated school; whom he also trained privately under since 1989. Upon receiving a personal phone call from GM Whitlow, he moved to Murfreesboro, TN to continue his martial arts under him.
During 1991 until 1993, Brian trained extensively under GM Whitlow in Taekwondo, cross training in other systems related from JKD, Kali, Boxing, Thai Boxing and JiuJitSu and still continued to train in Taekwondo under GM Hardin in Nashville, TN as well.
While living and training under Master Whitlow, he started training in kickboxing under him, taught classes, became a team member of the M.A.T.C. Demo Team and promoted GM Whitlow’s Isomaxx (stretching apparatus) in which he personally designed and developed at all the local and national tournaments across the nation. He ( GM Whitlow) also created the famous Black Maxx.
While living and training under Master Whitlow, he started training in kickboxing under him, taught classes, became a team member of the M.A.T.C. Demo Team and promoted GM Whitlow’s Isomaxx (stretching apparatus) in which he personally designed and developed at all the local and national tournaments across the nation. He ( GM Whitlow) also created the famous Black Maxx.
In the Autumn of 1993 Brian moved to Dallas, TX for college while living in Dallas he taught Taekwondo for Rob Ellis while continuing his training in Taekwondo from afar under Master Whitlow. He soon left Rob Ellis's Taekwondo school and at this point in his training Brian decided to drift in a different direction.... more on the path of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Therefore, he started to develop a new training approach that centers around fitness, self-defense through mixed martial arts. He comprised all of his knowledge of training from different systems while adding new elements along the way. With his close bond and continual relationship with Master Whitlow still golden, Brian then began training people in Fit-Defense MMA as a Group EX Instructor for both Larry North Fitness Centers and Bally’s Total Fitness Centers in Dallas, TX.
Therefore, he started to develop a new training approach that centers around fitness, self-defense through mixed martial arts. He comprised all of his knowledge of training from different systems while adding new elements along the way. With his close bond and continual relationship with Master Whitlow still golden, Brian then began training people in Fit-Defense MMA as a Group EX Instructor for both Larry North Fitness Centers and Bally’s Total Fitness Centers in Dallas, TX.
During his time living in Dallas, TX Brian continued his Jeet Kune Do (JKD) training under now Sifu/Guru Raymond Crow of Crows Martial Arts whom is certified under 3 of Bruce Lee's students....Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, and Richard Bustillio. Brian primarily trained in Wing Chun, Kali and Silat as well as began training himself in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
In 2010 Brian moved from Dallas, TX to Phoenix, AZ permanently making Arizona his home state and establish Fit-Defense MMA training program in AZ. He then traveled to Tennessee in 2015 to test for his new rank at Whitlow's Camp Juk-Ahm where he was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt. Then In 2018, Brian opened a martial arts club located at the North Mountain Visitor Center with the Save Our Mountains Foundation; where he also pledged to carry on the Juk-Ahm Philosophy.
No comments:
Post a Comment