Professional Background

I began training in the martial arts in 1969 and have trained continuously ever since. During more than five decades of study, I have never taken an extended break from training. Martial arts and combatives have been a constant part of my life since childhood.

Throughout much of my career I trained in multiple systems concurrently rather than studying one art, leaving it, and then beginning another. It was common for me to devote years of serious study to two or more disciplines at the same time while also competing, teaching, traveling, and conducting research. As a result, some instructor certifications and promotions appear relatively close together chronologically, but they represent years of overlapping study rather than rapid progression through unrelated systems.

As one highly respected martial arts master once said, "It's not how long you've been in it; it's how much you've been at it." I have always believed that the quality, consistency, and intensity of training matter far more than simply counting the number of years that have passed.

The timeline that follows represents documented milestones in a lifetime devoted to continuous training, teaching, and professional development.

Professional Highlights

• Continuous martial arts and combatives training for more than 55 years
• Trained extensively in multiple martial arts systems concurrently throughout much of that time
  
• Founder of the International Blade Fighters Guild and AMOK! (1992)
• Conducted over 1,500 seminars
• Taught in 25 countries
• Developed instructor certification programs used internationally
• Author of more than 60 books covering combatives, personal safety, methodology, history, philosophy, leadership, and human performance
• Served military, law enforcement, government agencies, security professionals, and civilians throughout the world

Martial Arts Background

Early Training

• Began martial arts training (1969)
• First martial arts promotion (1972)

Competition

• Competed in 50+ sports competitions (1970-1975)
• World Kickboxing Champion – World Professional Karate Organization, New York (1980)

 Documented Martial Arts Credentials 

• First Degree Black Belt – Nick Cerio's Kenpo (1983)
• Second Degree Black Belt – International Kenpo Karate Association (1983)
• Sifu of OoDer Kuntao (1985)
• Guru of Kali-Silat (Filipino-Indonesian Martial Art) (1994)
• Guru of Pekiti-Trankadas-Echikete (Stick and Aldabon Knife System) (1996)
• Mata-as na Guro – Bacolod Negros Arnis-Kali Escrima Federation (1996)
• Professor of Pekiti-Tirsia Daga (Filipino Knife System) (1996)
• Professor of Dagaso-Tirsia Daga (Filipino Knife System) (1996)
• Fifth Degree Black Belt – Kenpo-Kobudo Karate (1999)
• Professor of Qol Demama Daga (Filipino Knife System) (2001)

Philippine Training

In 1996 I traveled to Negros Island in the Philippines where I trained with Filipino World War II veterans and senior instructors, further deepening my understanding of Filipino blade systems and the cultural traditions from which they evolved.

Awards and Recognition

Mandala Award – Philippine Grand Magisterium (2000)

Master Instructor of the Year – United International Kung-Fu Hall of Fame (2000)

Lifetime Achievement Award – Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame (2001)

Order of Sikatuna – Philippine Presidential Command 2001

Presented with American Flag by US Armed Forces, Iraq 2008 & 2009

Professional Certifications and Affiliations

Member, International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors
Certified U.S. Concealed Carry Association Instructor
Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
Certified NRA Rifle Instructor
Certified First Responder – CPR/AED
Certified First Responder – Stop the Bleed
Certified Motivation Profiler and Analyst
Volunteer, Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Marine Unit
NASBLA Boating Safety Certification (U.S. Coast Guard recognized)

Additional Training and Expertise

Throughout my career I have believed that becoming more capable means developing skills beyond martial arts alone. That philosophy has led me to pursue training in survival, emergency response, firearms instruction, security, and marine operations.

Survival

Security

Aquatic Skills

Diving

My Work Today

While my professional roots are firmly grounded in traditional martial arts, my work today has evolved far beyond the pursuit of rank or style.

My primary focus is researching and developing functional methodology—understanding how people learn, make decisions, adapt, perform under pressure, and solve real problems. That work has led to the development of AMOK!, Functional Methodology, Truly Safer, The Motive Coach, and other educational projects centered on improving human performance.

I no longer measure progress by belts, titles, or organizational rank. I measure it by whether a method produces better decisions, better performance, and better outcomes.

The martial arts gave me an extraordinary foundation for which I will always be grateful. The work I do today is my attempt to build upon that foundation through continual study, experimentation, and refinement.

Learning never ends, and neither should the pursuit of becoming more capable.