My life is not measured by trophies or records. It’s measured in mat time: the countless hours spent in the dojang, the thousands of students I’ve taught, and the hundreds of Black Belts and Master Instructors I’ve promoted; the journey itself has been a study in courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and respect. My greatest achievement is not a title; it is giving students the indomitable spirit to overcome challenges and achieve goals they once thought impossible. People ask me about the countless competitions and records, but for me it has always been about the discipline, the joy of competing and the satisfaction of teaching.

​My own journey began in 1975, at the age of 15, in the small town of Bourbon, Indiana. The moment I first stepped into a Taekwondo class, I knew instantly: this is where I belonged. I wasn’t the biggest or the fastest, but I had an unyielding tenacity; back then, we didn’t wear pads, we fought hard, and blood was a badge of honor. While others relied on brute strength, I found my power in repetition—drilling kicks and forms until they were flawless, long after everyone else had left the mat. That dedication, fueled by thousands of hours of training, eventually transformed me into a force to be reckoned on a national level.

​This personal commitment compelled me to share the art with others. In 1976, with support from my instructor I began teaching as a blue belt. At the age of 18 and a Second degree black belt, I bought my first TKD school in Mishawaka, IN. After opening several schools in various locations through out the country, I finally landed in Warsaw, IN. In 1994, with the endless assistance and support from my wife Sheila, I created the United Taekwondo Federation (UTF). The UTF was a unique style of Taekwondo that incorporated techniques and philosophies from the many other martial arts I had learned over the years. Serving as its Founder and President, I oversaw its expansion, which ultimately led to 10 franchised schools spanning several states.

​Tournaments are an integral part of most styles of martial arts. In the early days, tournaments were “open,” and all styles and nationalities competed against one another. The judging and the rules were very inconsistent, and winning depended as much on will and ingenuity as on skill. I competed in, and ran, countless tournaments, traveling extensively to some of the largest cities in states like Florida, California, Michigan, and Texas, and most places in between. As the tournament world continued to progress into what it is today, one championship led to another for me. When I achieved my 7th fighting title and many titles in Forms, I realized my pursuit was no longer just about winning. It was about the art itself, about proving that “perfection of technique” is the foundation for “application of technique,” and through thoroughly understanding the physical and philosophical lessons born in martial arts, incredible strength and true compassion are forged.

​This quest for mastery drove me down roads leading to attempts and setting several world records, each a testament to a unique skill and special brand of strength. I pushed past my own limits: breaking one hundred handheld boards in 52 seconds, smashing twenty inches of concrete with an elbow strike, and snapping 10 individual pool cues against the base of my throat in 16 seconds. And ultimately, in 1995, I became the only person in the world to successfully punch a 28lb, Oneida #15, bear trap—a feat I successfully accomplished 17 times over the years. These were less about the physical act and more about the mental fortitude and focus they required—a constant battle against my own limits, challenging every limitation to exhibit previously unthinkable feats using refined skills. Each accomplishment reinforced a core truth: the greatest success is not found in winning a championship, but in building a legacy of discipline and perseverance that inspires others to keep going. This is the real victory.