Martial Artist

Martial Artist-Instructor-Coach-Fighter

       

 

Brian Keith Banks:

Title: Personal Trainer 
Rank: 5th Degree Black Belt-Taekwondo
Affiliation: Juk-Ahm
Training: 40 Years
Teaching: 36 Years

Instructors:

9th Degree GM Brad Whitlow
Murfreesboro, TN

2nd Degree Black Belt, Professor Victor Emanuel

Scottsdale, AZ

1st Degree Black Belt, Professor Thiago Aso

Scottsdale, AZ

8th Degree Master Randy Edwards
Memphis, TN
9th Degree GM Jin Yong Kwon
Virginia Beach, VA

Raymond Crow

Dallas, TX

Michael Talley

Memphis, TN

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
MMA Record: 1-1-0
2015- 4th Degree Black Belt Certification

2021- 5th Degree Black Belt Certification

2023- Blue Belt Certification in Brazilian Jiu-JitSu

Cross Training:
Jeet Kune Do:
Western Boxing
Muay Thai
Kali/FMA: Panantukan/Pananjakman/Dumog
Silat
Savate
Wing Chun
Aikido

Brazilian Jiu-JitSu                                              

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 (American Taekwondo Association) association. That same year Brian continued his training under now, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Jin Yong Kwon in Virginia Beach, VA whom is affiliated with the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) association.

Then in 1986 Brian moved to Memphis, TN and continued his training under now, 8th Degree Black Belt, Master Randy Edwards, 2nd Degree Black Belt, Terry Campos and now 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Terry Brumley at Memphis Taekwondo; an ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) affiliated school. And in 1988 Brian received his Black Belt under Master Edwards and began teaching the art. Along with his best friend John Farris, both began cross training in Jeet Kune Do (JKD) under the guidance of Sifu Michael Talley. While training in JKD, Brian learned elements of Western Boxing, Muay Thai, Kali, & Savate and in 1989 earned his 1st Degree Black Belt under Master Edwards.

Soon in 1990 while finishing his senior year in high school at Overton High School Brian, along with Rick Allen and Jason Allen a father and son duo, and his best friend John Farris, they opened their first Taekwondo school in Southaven, MS. They also had another Taekwondo Instructor that held a black belt rank in Aikido as well, all started training in this Japanese system. During this same year Brian, promoted a Taekwondo and Self-Defense (Hapkido) Seminar given by Grand Master Jin Yong Kwon at the Southaven location. In the same year Brian also helped running another Taekwondo school in Collierville, TN owned by Denise Epperson and another school 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, 9th Degree Black Belt, Grand Master Brad Whitlow, and Grand Master Robert H. Hardin with the M.A.T.C. an ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) 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 education under him. During 1991 until 1993, Brian trained extensively under GM Whitlow in Taekwondo, while cross training in other systems related from JKD, Kali, Boxing, Muay Thai and JiuJitSu. 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 was also responsible for the creation of the famous Black Maxx.

In the Autumn of 1993 Brian moved to Dallas, TX for college and while living in Dallas, he taught Taekwondo for Rob Ellis. He soon left Rob Ellis's Taekwondo school and develop a new training approach that centers around fitness, self-defense, and mix 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, he 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. Under his guidance he primarily trained in Wing Chun, Kali and Silat as well as began training himself in the sport of Mix Martial Arts (MMA).

Brian finally moved from Dallas, TX to Phoenix, AZ in 2010 making Arizona his permanent home state and established Fit-Defense MMA. 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. And 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. Soon after in 2021, Brian received his 5th Degree Black Belt certification in Taekwondo from GM Whitlow, and in 2023 he received his Blue Belt rank in Brazilian Jiu-JitSu, under 2nd Degree Black Belt, Professor Victor Emanuel.