July 2006 Newsletter

Share with us a little bit of your non-martial arts background.

I grew-up in this area, and at 18 went to college. I graduated from the University of South Florida in 1993 then finished my doctorate in chiropractic in 1998. My wife, Desiree, and I have three children, Evan, Austin, and Kyla. We currently own two chiropractic practices in Hopewell and Pennington. Our practices are committed to helping people live a better quality of life - naturally.

What influenced you to start training and return to your training after a hiatus?

Initially, I was looking to train in the arts because I had done it briefly as a kid, and always wanted to do it again. In 1999, I was finished with school and no longer involved with any organized athletics. Wanting to stay fit and practice martial arts brought me to PAMA. I trained at PAMA for 2 and a half years before leaving to build-up my chiropractic practice, get married and start a family. I always knew, and planned to come back to train again though.

How would you characterize your progress since you first started? Also, what arts have you trained and why?

When I started PAMA I really had no experience, so in that respect my progress has been tremendous. I started out training Silat. The fact that it was different than anything I had ever seen really drew me in. I loved the entries, sweeps, and especially the finishes. I trained in Silat only for almost a year before I took Sifu Rick's advice to cross-train. I tried Muay Thai next and fell in love with the physical intensity of the work-outs. Learning those powerful kicks, and how to box instilled a new confidence in me. My next move was to Kali. The knife, stick, bo staff, and of course the footwork really improved my timing and coordination. I have also participated in numerous Jun Fan classes which also prompted me to spar on Wednesday nights. That was were you got to put everything together and really test yourself. Since I returned to PAMA I have focused on the Mixed Martial Arts class. Ground training was an aspect I wanted to improve in. The rigorous training, and live grappling at the end of every class is not only challenging, but an incredible workout!

What is it about the martial arts that motivate you to make it a part of your life?

I'm motivated to make martial arts a part of my life for both my family and me. For my family I want to have every advantage possible in the preservation of the ones that I love. For me, having an active family life and busy chiropractic practices, the arts is a way to release stress, and keep in shape.

What is your favorite aspect about training at PAMA?

Some of my favorite aspects of training at PAMA include the facility itself. It's always clean, the equipment is top notch, and of course the decor - the weapons, pictures, and articles really immerse you into the world of martial arts. I also love the camaraderie of the school. Everyone from the instructors to the students are always friendly and approachable. But what I love most about training at PAMA is the wealth of knowledge, the quality of instruction, and the diversity of classes... We students truly are blessed for choosing PAMA as our place to train.