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What made you get into martial arts?
I was interested in finding peace in my life. Violence seems to exist in life and always has. Instead of escape I looked for a way to experience it in a controlled way with the ability to capitalize on my comfort in violent situations. I wanted to be able to learn to develop skills and have an outlet for the violence that would help me be a better man, Father, and Husband rather than turn those closest to me away.

Tell us about your journey/background/accomplishments?
My journey in life? I grew up on a Dairy farm in NY. I was involved in sports in school and attended college. I decided that was not the path I wanted and moved to KS to get away from things in NY. I worked there in Agriculture and started my own trucking business. I have run it for the last 20 years. Biggest accomplishments are providing for my family and marrying my wife and having children. Without those things I may have been lost before I found martial arts.

What is your goal as a coach?
To give back what has been given to me. To be around my children and children of the gym family who are looking to develop skills that will improve the life and well being of anyone involved.What makes it special is the culture of the gym. It is a place of happiness and violence mixed together. The knowledge and skill sets in life and martial arts offered here are priceless and rare in the world today. The amount of peace it has offered myself and family is irreplaceable. Without it my life would be very different.

What makes High Altitude Martial Arts special?
My mental and physical health have drastically improved since joining this gym. The relationships I have gained and experienced while here will never go away. The bond between most everyone there is very strong and stands up over time. Very high level instruction and skill development. You can choose to either train as a hobby or be a high level pro athlete here. The choice is yours.