About Me & Contact information
I started martial arts training when I was about 12 years old. My uncle took me to meet someone who was a karate black belt. "Wow!" I thought. "This will be cool." Little did I know it would be the start of a wonderful journey.
The teacher was Wayne Herring of Aiken, SC. I trained with Wayne for many years, finally earning my brown belt while in college. Life happened, and Wayne was no longer able to continue teaching, but I never stopped learning. I also trained with Kaicho Hiroaki Toyama (now U.S. Director of the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization) of Jay, FL while I was visiting family during a couple of summers. I met Cheryl Wheeler-Duncan while I was there. She is a great martial artist and stunt woman.
I met a friend in college who introduced me to Claude Thompson. His "style" was Thompson-Shibayama Karate. I trained with Claude until I went to San Antonio, TX following another dream: horse racing! I was gone for 2.5 years (Texas, California, Ohio) and then returned to Aiken, SC.
I began training with Johnny Hughes in karate in 1997, and then his instructor Mike Hess.
In 2000 I joined the United States Marine Corps. While in Boot Camp I learned a style of combatives called L.I.N.E. Later at my unit I learned the Marine Corps Martial Arts (MCMAP). In the mid-2000's I practiced kickboxing at a local gym in Augusta. I never competed, just worked out some.
I began practicing Modern Arnis in 2009 under Sensei Hughes and Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2010 under Joshua Miller. In 2011 I was promoted to 2nd degree (Nidan) black belt in Kindai Karate by Sensei Hughes.
I have also practiced Western martial arts such as boxing, broadsword and shield, quarterstaff, and foil & saber fencing.
The teacher was Wayne Herring of Aiken, SC. I trained with Wayne for many years, finally earning my brown belt while in college. Life happened, and Wayne was no longer able to continue teaching, but I never stopped learning. I also trained with Kaicho Hiroaki Toyama (now U.S. Director of the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization) of Jay, FL while I was visiting family during a couple of summers. I met Cheryl Wheeler-Duncan while I was there. She is a great martial artist and stunt woman.
I met a friend in college who introduced me to Claude Thompson. His "style" was Thompson-Shibayama Karate. I trained with Claude until I went to San Antonio, TX following another dream: horse racing! I was gone for 2.5 years (Texas, California, Ohio) and then returned to Aiken, SC.
I began training with Johnny Hughes in karate in 1997, and then his instructor Mike Hess.
In 2000 I joined the United States Marine Corps. While in Boot Camp I learned a style of combatives called L.I.N.E. Later at my unit I learned the Marine Corps Martial Arts (MCMAP). In the mid-2000's I practiced kickboxing at a local gym in Augusta. I never competed, just worked out some.
I began practicing Modern Arnis in 2009 under Sensei Hughes and Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2010 under Joshua Miller. In 2011 I was promoted to 2nd degree (Nidan) black belt in Kindai Karate by Sensei Hughes.
I have also practiced Western martial arts such as boxing, broadsword and shield, quarterstaff, and foil & saber fencing.