Martial Arts struck my fancy at age 19.
First was judo for a brief moment before being introduced to Karate which lead me to many different forms of the Martial Arts.
With more than 48 years of training in the martial arts and I still feel like I'm just starting out.
Earning ranks in Arnis, Karate, Judo/Jujitsu and training in Kickboxing. Additionally, I have earned Sifu level in T’ai Chi Ch’uan under the watchful eye of Grand Master Chen Weigun teaching combative Tai Chi for self defense.
I've been inducted into several martial arts halls of fame for contributions I've made to the martial arts community. I have been featured in and written for several publications. Being a top student of Grandmaster Remy Amador Press's founder of “Modern Arnis”, and one of the inheritors of the Atillo Balintawak Saavedrs Eskrima system. In 1984 as a community activist, I took over a fully occupied drug infested building on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan from drug dealers, with the intent of opening a martial arts school. After putting life and limb on the line and 13 hard years of work the dream was realized. I have been fortunate enough to have taught the art of stick fighting in many countries around the world and have produced 5 world champions. My major goal at this point in my life is to follow in the footsteps of my teachers and introduce this art to those who become victims in their homes and even their relationships. This is why Women's Force12 was created in order to really change the game in personal protection.