Martial Arts Training at Paladin Defensive Systems

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I began my martial arts training at age 16 in 1989, initially studying Wing Chun, Kali, and Muay Thai. Those early years marked the beginning of over three decades of continuous fitness training, teaching, and involvement in the martial arts community.

Around 1992–1993, I was introduced to Ajarn David Rogers of the Kali Muay Thai Association, who became a significant influence on my growth as a martial artist and instructor. Through him, I expanded my training in Muay Thai, Kali, and Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan Gung Fu, while gaining access to an exceptional network of instructors and practitioners from diverse martial arts backgrounds.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to train with and learn from esteemed martial artists, including Ajarn Brian Popejoy, Ajarn Ryan Blackorby, Ajarn Dean Lessei, Guro Marc Denny of the Dog Brothers, Guro Roy Hagan, Guro Jeff Westfall, Terry "Shadow Dog" Crutcher, and Coach Greg Nelson, among many others. These experiences exposed me to various approaches in Muay Thai, Kali, Silat, grappling, clinch fighting, and the realistic application of martial arts techniques, which I now incorporate into my self-defense classes.

For many years, Dave Rogers and I also collaborated on producing the Thai Boxing Association newsletter for Ajarn Chai Sirisute, giving me another chance to engage with and learn from the broader Muay Thai and martial arts community.

My formal instructor credentials include:

- Senior Associate Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto in Filipino Martial Arts and Jun Fan Kickboxing/Gung Fu

- Level 2 Maphilindo Silat Instructor

- Level 2 Muay Thai Instructor under Ajarn David Rogers

- Level 1 Instructor with the Minnesota Kali Group under Guro Rick Faye

My training has always transcended a single system. In addition to Muay Thai, Kali, Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do, and Silat, I have trained in Western Boxing, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Lethwei, clinch fighting, grappling, and other combat disciplines. I believe in learning from different systems and practitioners, integrating functional techniques into a practical approach for fighting and self-defense.

In 1998, I founded the Band of Brothers Martial Arts Group. What started as a community focused on exchanging martial arts knowledge eventually grew into a permanent school offering comprehensive self-defense classes.

Around 2015, my longtime student and training partner, Guro Sam "Fritz" Spence, now a full instructor, and I opened the Band of Brothers Martial Arts gym in Bloomington, Illinois. More than a decade later, we continue to train and teach there, sharing our love for martial arts instruction.

After over 35 years in the martial arts, the accumulation of training, teaching, pressure testing, and cross-training led to the development of Paladin Defensive Systems.

Paladin is not meant to be yet another traditional martial art or a mere collection of techniques. It is a reality-based defensive system developed from principles and methods that have consistently demonstrated their effectiveness throughout my martial arts journey. Heavily influenced by Muay Thai, Filipino Martial Arts, Panantukan, Silat, boxing, clinch fighting, grappling, and Jeet Kune Do concepts, it strips away techniques and traditions that do not directly address real defensive challenges.

The Paladin approach emphasizes simple gross-motor responses, proper positioning, structural integrity, footwork, control of the centerline, disruption of an opponent's decision-making process, and the ability to rapidly escalate or de-escalate force based on the context. Instead of attempting to match an opponent technique-for-technique, the objective is to negate their ability to maintain an effective attack.

Paladin Defensive Systems represents the culmination of what I have learned since I first stepped onto a training floor in 1989: take what works, pressure-test it, simplify it, and teach individuals how to apply these techniques in critical moments.