Dark Horse AJJ was built from a lifetime of service, leadership, and a deep commitment to protecting and empowering others. I’m a retired military leader who spent nearly 20 years engaged in worldwide operations—breaking down complex analytical data sets, solving high‑pressure problems, and leading teams in environments where clarity, discipline, and resilience mattered. After retiring, I shifted my focus to the world of martial arts, a passion I’ve carried for over 25 years through combatives, jiu jitsu, and personal development.

Outside of the military and martial arts, I’ve taught dance at Gruene Hall for nearly a decade, blending movement, rhythm, and instruction in a way that taught me how people learn, how they grow, and how confidence is built step by step. I also hold an engineering degree, which shapes the way I teach—structured, logical, and grounded in systems that work.

Today, I’m a head instructor at a major local gym, and my mission is simple: bring jiu jitsu into the community as a tool for strength, safety, and personal transformation.

Why Dark HorseAJJ Exists

My journey into coaching wasn’t just professional—it was personal.

My son, who is high‑functioning autistic, was bullied throughout school. He’s one of the sweetest kids you’ll ever meet, and watching him struggle—watching him be targeted simply because he was different—left me feeling helpless. That feeling changed me. It pushed me to build something that could help kids like him, and kids who stand beside them.

I started coaching to teach anti‑bullying, self‑defense, and community protection. Not just so children can defend themselves, but so they can defend others who may not be able to stand up on their own. I want to help create a generation of kids who carry strong values, courage, and compassion into their schools.

My younger daughter and son also faced fear in their own way—through active shooter drills and real‑world threats that no child should have to think about. Hearing them talk about what they would do if someone tried to harm them broke my heart. No parent should hear that. No child should feel that.

Dark Horse AJJ is my answer. My way of giving back. My way of strengthening the community. My way of making sure kids and adults alike feel capable, confident, and prepared.

Our Purpose

Dark Horse AJJ stands for:

• Protection of the vulnerable

• Empowerment through skill and discipline

• Community strength and shared responsibility

• Building confidence through structured, effective training

• Teaching values that extend far beyond the mat

We’re here to make jiu jitsu accessible, meaningful, and transformative—whether you’re a child learning to stand tall, a parent seeking safety for your family, or an adult looking to grow in strength and mindset.

This is who we are. This is why we train. This is why Dark Horse AJJ exists.