Soneca, Helio

February 1, 2010 By admin

Helio Soneca Returns to Knoxville!

Soneca started practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 8 with Black Belt master Cirilo Azevedo and Elias Martins. Having fallen in love with this Martial Art at the age of 9, he was already a Brazilian Champion. At the age of 13, Helio moved to Rio De Janeiro and started to practice with the Gracie Club, now known as Barra Gracie, taught by the Machado Brothers, Ze Henrique Leao Teixeira and Renzo Gracie. Soneca, as he is known in the Martial Arts world, chose Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as his career totally dedicating himself to it. At the age of 22, he received from Master Carlos Gracie JR., the Black Belt he had been dreaming of; a prestige that few people had at that time.

Soneca is currently a 4th Dan and known as one of the best fighters and Masters in the world. He is also one of the founders of Gracie Barra, currently the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the world.

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England, Logan

January 31, 2010 By admin
  • Black Belt (Sho-Don) in Isshinryu Karate
  • Green Belt in Satori Ryu Iado (Japanese Swordsmanship)
  • 1 AAU National Title
  • 1 Georgia State Title
  • 3 World Christian Martial Arts National Titles
  • 1 Knoxville Open Title
  • 3rd Place Tennessee State Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • 12 Year Martial Arts Background
  • School: Wolf Clan Combat Sports
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Chavis, Jason

January 31, 2010 By admin
  • Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Helio Soneca
  • Trained under renowned boxing instructor John Foust
  • Trained several mixed martial artists substantially increasing their strength and endurance for competition
  • 155lb Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Title Holder (Chaos MMA, Sept 2007)
  • North American Grappling Association (NAGA) 159 lb Georgia state Champion No-Gi Division 2005
  • Undefeated in MMA Amateur Competition; Amateur Record 5-0
  • Student Strength Trainer-The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 2003
  • School: Wolf Clan Combat Sports
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Bledsoe, Brandon

January 31, 2010 By admin
  • Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Helio Soneca
  • 2009- 2nd place Budweiser World Cup of BJJ
  • 2008- 1st place Sinister Brand BJJ Open
  • 2007- 2nd place Tennessee State Championships
  • 11 years Pro fighter/29 MMA fights
  • World Vale Tudo Featherweight Champion
  • Kentucky Fighting Championships Super fight Winner
  • Former #1 Contender at HOOK & SHOOT
  • School: Wolf Clan Combat Sports
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    England, Lancing C.

    January 29, 2010 By admin
    • 6th Degree Black Belt in Isshin-Ryu Karate
    • 4th Degree Black Belt in Satori-Ryu Iaido
    • 3rd Degree Black Belt in Muso-Shindo Jodo
    • Senior Instructor for the Isshin-Rhu Karate and Satori-Ryu School of Swordsmanship @ the University of Tennessee
    • Inducted into the World Sokeship Council’s International Martial Arts Hall of Fame
    • International Martial Arts Federation’s Hall of Fame as Weapons Instructor of the Year
    • Graduate of the University of Tennessee w/ Masters in Exercise Physiology and Elementary Education
    • Veteran of Desert Storm
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    Lewis, Jerry M.

    November 1, 2009 By admin

    Instructor Jerry M. Lewis began his martial arts training in Isshinryu Karate in 1985. His First Sensei was Master Bill McMillan. He had the wonderful opportunity to receive several of his Kyu rank promotions from Master Harold Long, who was Master McMillan’s Sensei. Mr. Lewis had the opportunity to become a full time instructor in 1992 when he received his Sho Dan. This gave him an opportunity to help train local Law enforcement in Anderson County. Mr. Lewis was a instructor with McMillan’s until the closing of his dojo in 1996 when he joined the Oak Ridge Academy of Martial Arts with Doyle Seiber and Lee Sloan. Later Lewis would take over Mr. Sloans position and become partners with Master Seiber.In 2004 Lewis opened his own dojo in Halls which he currently runs four days a week.

    Mr. Lewis has had  recognitions in several Hall of Fames and competitions over the years. He has been recognized and inducted into: The Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame,World Karate Union Hall of Fame, World Head of Family Sokeship,Isshinryu Hall of Fame and the USIKA. He has won and competed in local,state and world tournaments for the last 24 years. Mr. Lewis currently is under instruction of Master Doyle Seiber and plans to further his knowledge in Isshinryu and share his knowledge with his students and colleagues.

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    Clear, Richard

    October 27, 2009 By admin

    Sigung Richard Clear has studied in China, the U.S. and Canada. He has over 30 years of continuous study in the martial arts, psychology, philosophy, medicine and physiology.

    Sigung Clear and his highly successful schools have been featured in Inside Kung fu magazine, Fox National News, World Net News Daily, as well as other local television and media all over the U.S.

    His training includes over ten styles of Silat and Kung Fu and Systema, as well as intensive knowledge of Tai Chi, Ba Gua, Xing Yi and Chi Kung.

    Professional Certifications

    • Self Defense Master of the Year 2007
      USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
    • Sigung (Senior Teacher – Red Sash)
      Old Hand Shao lin and Internal Kung Fu
      Advanced training received from China’s “old Masters” Living Treasures in Mainland China 1993 & 1994
    • Master Practitioner of KUN TAO SILAT de Thouars
    • Master Practitioner of Pentjak Silat
    • Sigung (Senior Teacher – Red Sash) Tai Chi and Chi Kung
    • Si-Tai-Gung Street Kung Fu (Founder and Head of System)
    • Certified Instructor of Russian Martial Art Systema
      by Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev as of may 2003
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    McSorley, Toni

    October 27, 2009 By admin

    The head instructor and shihan at Arts of the Samurai, McSorley brings almost 40 years of Martial Arts experience to the classroom, where students receive a “liberal arts” education in a style which encompasses open-handed, weaponed, and grappling arts. She was recently promoted to the rank of 8th degree by the International Alliance Ranking Board.

    Sensei McSorley has been inducted into the US National Martial Arts Hall of Fame five times: Woman of the Year (2001), Female Master of the Year (2002), Head Founder of the Year (2003), Chaplain of the Year (2004) and as the first female Pioneer Award Recipient (2005).

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    Asher II, Rik

    October 27, 2009 By admin

    Rik has been training in martial arts since 1998, starting with Shaolin Kenpo Karate and moving to Krav Maga in 2002. He has competed in many traditional martial arts tournaments and is a 2002 Junior Olympic Bronze Medalist. Mr.Asher has been teaching children since 2002, is the head of the children’s program at Modern Martial Arts, and teaches all children’s classes.

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    Bullman, Terry

    October 27, 2009 By admin

    Terry has training in various styles of mixed martial arts, and is a certified personal trainer. He started his training in Taekwondo in 1992, reaching the level of 1st degree blackbelt. He won several tournaments on the point fighting circuit and then decided to try full contact. After winning seven toughman championships and competing in the World Toughman Championship, he decided to take it to the next level and became a professional boxer. He put together a 6-2 record in the heavyweight division and is now training for mixed martial arts events such as the “Ultimate Fighting Challenge”.

    He started his Krav Maga training in 2000 and is currently one of the only blackbelt instructors in the Eastern United States. Mr. Bullman is also the creator of the current hit television show “Human Weapon”, which focuses on some of the different martial arts around the world. He did most of the motion capture in all the episodes demonstrating the different moves used in each episode. Mr.Bullman’s adult life has been dedicated to bettering himself as a mixed martial artists and teaching others how to stay in shape and keep themselves safe. He currently teaches adult Krav Maga classes.

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