Everyday Martial Artist

Dan Bernardo has dedicated his life to the study, preservation, and cultivation of traditional martial arts, with a deep connection to the teachings and lineage of Hwang Kee, the founder of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. Beginning his martial arts journey at the age of 10, Dan has spent decades learning from respected instructors and practitioners while exploring the history, philosophy, and traditions...

Trap Gambino has experienced the world of combat sports from just about every angle, from training and competing in MMA and grappling to cornering fighters, working in combat sports media, and appearing on MMA-related reality programming. Along the way, he has gained valuable experience working alongside some of the industry’s most experienced figures. Today, he has brought those experiences...

Jeremy Butler has spent more than two decades studying, teaching, and applying the martial arts, developing an approach that goes far beyond simply learning how to fight. His work focuses on preparing people for the physical and psychological realities of violent encounters, and understanding what it really takes to be prepared when things go wrong. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Jeremy...

David Brock has spent more than five decades training, competing, teaching, and helping shape the martial arts community around him. His martial arts journey began at the age of 17 and would eventually lead to a 9th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate and approximately 45 years of teaching. Along the way, David had the opportunity to train with and learn from some legendary figures in the martial ar...

Gator Conley is a lifelong Kenpo Karate practitioner whose martial arts journey has spanned more than four decades, built on loyalty to his instructors, a passion for teaching, and a deep commitment to preserving the traditions and lineage of American Kenpo. His journey began in 1984 at the age of sixteen, and what started as an unexpected introduction to martial arts soon became a lifelong pursui...

John Hackleman has spent more than five decades immersed in martial arts, beginning as a young kid learning to defend himself on the streets of Hawaii and eventually becoming one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts. A lifelong martial artist, John began training in Judo, Shotokan Karate, and Kajukenbo before building a career as a boxer, kickboxer, and professional fighter. He earn...

Chris Henderson is a lifelong martial artist whose journey has taken him through both the hard and soft sides of the martial arts, combining physical discipline with a deep commitment to balance, health, and personal well-being. His martial arts journey began in 1984 with Song Moo Kwan Taekwondo. After stepping away from the martial arts for nearly two decades, Chris eventually returned with a ren...

F. Braun McAsh has spent nearly five decades exploring the intersection of martial arts, historical weapons, acting, and stage combat. An actor and fight director since 1977, Braun has choreographed combat for more than 100 productions across theatre, film, and television. His work includes multiple seasons of Highlander as well as the feature film Highlander: Endgame , along with fight direction...

Ice “The Iceman” Young is a lifelong martial artist, fighter, instructor, and creator of a reality-based combat system shaped by decades of training, competition, and real-world experience. His martial arts journey began as a child under the guidance of his father, who helped lay the foundation for a life built around discipline, perseverance, and personal growth. Over the years, Ice has trained a...

Steven Franz has dedicated nearly five decades to the study, practice, and preservation of traditional Okinawan karate. A Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt) in Shorin Ryu Shorinkan and a longtime student of Eddie Bethea Kyoshi, Steven has built a lifelong commitment to authentic training, disciplined instruction, and practical martial arts. In 1991, Steven founded Franz Karate with the goal of creati...

With more than three decades dedicated to the study, competition, teaching, and leadership of the martial arts, Mr. Steve Cooper has built an impressive legacy within the American Kenpo community. A 9th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo, Steve began his martial arts journey in 1990 under Mr. Steve Spry before continuing his training with the legendary Mr. Bob White. His studies have also extende...

Bradley Anderson has dedicated much of his life to preserving and teaching the traditional Japanese martial arts, following a path that took him from rural Minnesota to the training halls of Japan and back again. Growing up in Hawley, Minnesota, Bradley developed an early interest in martial arts that eventually led him halfway around the world. He spent 11 years living and working in Japan, immer...

Before martial arts changed his life, Jerry Trimble was a shy, anxious teenager who struggled with bullying, fear, and self-doubt. What began as a search for confidence at the age of 13 became the foundation for one of the most remarkable careers in martial arts history. Nicknamed the “Golden Boy,” Jerry quickly rose through the ranks, earning his first-degree black belt at just 15 yea...

Marc MacYoung has spent a lifetime studying violence, not as a sport or a theory, but as a reality. A longtime martial artist, security professional, author, and educator, his unique perspective was shaped by growing up in gang-infested neighborhoods of Los Angeles, where understanding violence was often a matter of survival rather than choice. His experiences in bodyguarding, bouncing, and event...

Katie Stensgard is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai competitor whose inspiring journey into martial arts is a testament to resilience, determination, and the ability to embrace new challenges. What began as a way to rebuild her life following a difficult divorce has evolved into a passion that has transformed not only her own life, but also the lives of her four children, all of whom have train...

Joseph Herreman has dedicated more than 25 years to the study, instruction, preservation, and promotion of traditional martial arts, establishing himself as one of the Northern Plains’ most respected martial arts instructors and school owners. His martial arts journey began in 1999 under the guidance of Hanchi Julio “Mutch” Usera in Rapid City, South Dakota. While earning a degre...

Dave first stepped onto the mat in 1967 at just eight years old, beginning his training in Judo before finding his true home in Kenpo Karate under the instruction of Paul Dye. What makes his story especially unique is his unwavering loyalty to his teacher. From his first day of Kenpo training in 1972 through every rank advancement, including testing for both brown belt and black belt under the leg...

Dan “The Beast” Severn is one of the most influential figures in the history of mixed martial arts. A UFC Hall of Famer, legendary wrestler, professional wrestling champion, coach, promoter, and educator, Dan helped build the foundation of modern MMA during the sport’s earliest years. Making his UFC debut in 1994, Severn quickly became one of the most dominant competitors of the...

Bruce Hoyer has dedicated more than two decades to the study, practice, and teaching of martial arts, building a reputation as both a highly respected coach and lifelong student of combat sports. A 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Combat Hapkido, Level 2 Coach in Combat Submission Wrestling, and Gold Level Boxing Coach through USA Boxing, Bruce has trained ext...

Hanshi Miguel Ibarra is a lifelong martial artist, educator, and retired law enforcement professional whose experience spans both traditional martial arts and real-world self-defense. He served more than 25 years with the New York City Probation Department, working in specialized assignments including the Warrant Squad, Gang Suppression Unit, Intelligence Unit, and as a Defensive Tactics and Firea...

Kaitlin Young is one of the true pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts. Long before women’s MMA received mainstream attention, she was helping build the sport through her performances inside the cage and her contributions behind the scenes. Kaitlin began her martial arts journey at age 14 in Taekwondo, eventually earning her black belt before finding her passion in Muay Thai. Her training led her...

Harry Psaros brings a unique blend of professional expertise, martial arts experience, and a deep commitment to serving others. A certified health coach and Executive Neuroscience Account Specialist, Harry has built a career at the intersection of science, performance, and helping people improve their lives. He is also widely known as the “Pitt Guru,” a respected voice in University of...

In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya St-Lawson, a martial artist whose journey spans continents, cultures, and decades of deep personal cultivation. Born in the former Czechoslovakia, Tanya first began training in the martial arts as a teenager after moving to Prague, where she was introduced to Shaolin-style kung fu. What started as an interest in martial arts quickly evolved into a lifelong purs...

Michael Janich is a lifelong martial artist, combat trainer, and internationally respected authority on personal defense whose career spans military intelligence, edged weapons, and practical self-protection. A U.S. Army veteran and former Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael also served as a POW/MIA Investigation Team Leader in Vietnam and Laos, experiences that help...

Paul Dye is a lifelong martial artist and one of the most accomplished competitors and instructors to emerge from the world of American Kenpo. He began his martial arts journey in 1972 at Dave Hebler’s Kenpo Karate Studio in Glendora, California, training under Jim Thompson before earning his black belt from Grandmaster Ed Parker just 18 months later, an achievement that reflected both his dedicat...