Kim Jin-sung (Tae Kwon Do Ji Do Kwan) was my first instructor. He taught me from 1968-1970 while my father was stationed in Bangkok with the US Army.
James K. Roberts, Sr. (Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan) was my second instructor. His instruction forms the foundation on which all of my subsequent training rested. I started training with him in 1970 and he continues to be my primary mentor. Mr. Roberts is Moo Duk Kwan black belt #6561, was promoted to 8th Dan by Kim Ki-whang, and to 9th Dan by Adriano Emperado (co-founder of Kajukenbo). He retired from active teaching after nearly 40 years as head of the Roberts School of Karate in Springfield, Virginia. The school continued under the leadership of George D. Rockwell, with whom I trained in the 1970s, until fall 2005 when the home studio finally closed. Mr. Roberts' students currently own or instruct at schools throughout the nation. The Norfolk Karate Academy is the official keeper of the Roberts School of Karate lineage website. Notably, Mr. Roberts' son, James K. Roberts, Jr., assumed leadership of the Kim Studio in Maryland with the passing of Kim Ki-whang in 1993.
Fred Karimian and Ricardo Wilson (Jeet Kune Do) opened my eyes to the limitations of some traditional approaches to martial arts during the six months I trained with them at Ohio State University in 1989.
Reno Claudio (Judo and Jujutsu) introduced me to throws and sweeps during the year (1996-1997) I trained with him while on instructor duty at the US Military Academy.
Tanc Dickens (Sport Tae Kwon Do) greatly improved my understanding of movement, distance, and kicking techniques. Tanc was a NCAA National silver medalist in Tae Kwon Do. We trained together from 1998-1999.
Rorion Gracie (Gracie Jiu-jitsu) opened a whole new world of understanding with his mastery of ground-fighting and exceptional teaching ability. I brought him and his son Ralek to Korea four times from 2000-2002 to teach soldiers I commanded in the US Army's 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. I remain actively involved with the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy through visits to their school, attendance at seminars, and study of Rorion's incomparable books and videos. In 2006, I earned a blue belt from the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and the Gracie family regularly send their first-rate instructors to Norfolk Karate Academy for seminars, including the Gracie Combatives for Military and Law Enforcement instructor certification course.
Kim Mun-ok (Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido) was my guide to Korean military and sports martial arts during my two years in Korea (2000-2002). He and I developed the Warrior Tae Kwon Do program to introduce the soldiers of the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division to a Korean martial art. Master Kim also assisted me in developing a more practical program for the infantry soldiers in my unit that emphasized striking techniques from Korean martial arts and grappling techniques from Rorion Gracie's outstanding seminars.
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