The Instructors

 

 

 

SGM Hanshi Ron Carlson 

Hanshi Ron Carlson started training in Martial Arts in 1954. Last year Hanshi celebrated 70 years of learning and teaching Martial Arts, and he is back again this year to bring us another year of wisdom at Rocky Mountain Thunder. Hanshi holds a 10th Dan in his system of Gow-Ren-Lu Kempo and Gung Fu, a 9th Dan in OKO Kajukenbo, a 6th Dan in Sho Kempo, a 5th Dan in Hapkido and 3rd Dan in Jaindochin Jujitsu. SGM Ron Carlson is a senior member of many martial arts organizations, a former firefighter (search and rescue) and marine, and recipient of multiple awards, certifications, and accolades.  He is the founder of the Kempo First Foundation and co-founder of Rocky Mountain Thunder.

 

 

GM Ray Boyer 

Grandmaster Ray Boyer received his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Tai-Tsu Do in 1984 by Sensei Suzuki and a Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in 1985 by Sensei Suzuki before he left to go back to Japan permanently. Sensei Ray studied under Sensei Suzuki from 1974 to 1985 until Sensei Suzuki's departure. Sensei Suzuki passed away in Osaka, Japan in July of 1986 at the age of 76. 

Ray continued to train with various martial artists in the Denver, Colorado area until he met Kyoshi Gary Hinkle in 1996. Kyoshi Hinkle is the head instructor of the Te-Ashi Jujitsu system in Colorado. At this time Sensei Ray was introduced to the Kempo First Foundation and Hanshi Ron Carlson the founder through Kyoshi Hinkle.

Hanshi Carlson is the founder of the Kempo system Kuo-Jen-Lu. He is 8th generation from Master James Mitose, the founder of the Kempo system brought to Hawaii.

Sensei Ray studied with both Kyoshi Hinkle and Hanshi Carlson. 


Learning the disciplines of Bo, Ju-jitsu, Cane, Octagon Control Tactics, Kempo Jitsu and Wing Chun principles from Sifu Bart Mann, 9th generation from Yip Man.

 

 

GM Shelley Millspaugh

GM Shelley Millspaugh has been a personal student of GM Ernesto A. Presas Sr. (RIP) since 1993 learning several different curriculums in Modern Arnis De Mano - Presas Style, Kombatan Arnis - Presas Style, and the 'old style' of the Presas family art.

The style of Kombatan Arnis is a no nonsense Filipino approach to stick and knife fighting.

GM Shelley has schools in Colorado, Kansas City, Florida, Virginia, Ohio and his current location of Wichita, Kansas.

He has also trained in Aikido, Wing Chun, and many different styles of Arnis/Escrima and Pencak Silat/Kuntao.

GM Shelley also practices Kalis Ilustrisimo (KIRO) under the late GM Tony Diego and Coach Arnold Narzo, and also Abaniko Tres Puntas under GM Rene Tongson.

 

 

Guru George Morin

Guru George Morin was one of the Original 3 disciples of Willem de Thouars back in 1979.


1973 Kajukembo

1975 ShoKenpo

1977 Tae Kwon Do/SoRim KungFu

1979 Kuntao/Silat-during training w/ Uncle Bill and also trained w/ Uncle Wayne Ying Lung Hsing



 

 

Kyoshi Jason May 

Jason May Kyoshi is Kaicho (founder/chief) of the Nan Sho Budo system and director of Southern Pine Institute of Martial Arts. Since stepping on the path of martial arts education in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1985, he has been fortunate to find teachers of various styles to broaden his skill set and enhance his teaching style.

Kyoshi holds advanced rank in multiple systems and continues his studies in Gow Ren Lu Kempo Gung Fu, Progressive Arnis, Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Seiho-ha Iaido, Common Sense Self Defense (C.S.S.D), Inner Wave Pencak Silat and Morin Kun Tao Silat.

He is an active member of the Gow Ren Lu Kempo Gung Fu International Association, Progressive Arnis and Kamishinkai International. In years past, he instructed in officer survival tactics for Kentucky Department of Corrections C.E.R.T members and Greensboro Police Department. Currently, he continues as a guest instructor at seminars around the United States, Spain and Portugal.

 

 

Sifu Phil Switzer

Sifu Phil Switzer started his Wing Chun training in 1981 under Sifu Bart Mann(RIP). His lineage comes from Yip Man to Sifu Duncan Leung to Jerry Gardner to Bart Mann and then to him. Sifu took over the Colorado School of Wing Chun in 2006 after Sifu Mann passed. Sifu Phil says, "I love my students and the energy they give me to keep on training. I think my motto is 'Basics are everything!' I love the efficiency and simplicity of Wing Chun."

 

 

GM Conrad Bui

Dr. Conrad Bui is known as the "M.A.N." (Martial Arts Nerd). His mission is to spread the love of the martial arts lifestyle.


 

 

Sifu Richard Dean 

Hua Quan Dao, or Chinese Fist Way, is the embodiment of Sifu Eric Ling’s lifetime of study in the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMAs).  Principles of structure, mechanics and dynamic flow are the bedrock of Hua Quan Dao.  By this, we learn to generate incredible power and speed without pause…one flow.  

Hua Quan Dao has been referred to as Jin Dao, or the way of energy.  Hua Quan Dao is a continuum of study from Saolim Lohan to Fuzhou Whooping Crane…the bookends of HQD.  Maximum power, to softest targets, with sharpest weapons, liberated to deploy as needed with innumerable manifestations.  This is what principle based training allows one to cultivate.  

Everything is a target and everything is a weapon, at any range.  We don’t block bridge, we destroy it…”three gates and your general is mine.”  Hua Quan Dao teaches one to hold one’s peace; so in the savagery of study, we cultivate a meek spirit.  This is power under control.  Thus it is said, “The meek walk away because they can.  The weak walk away because they must.”



 

 

Professor Bob Austin

 Professor Austin has achieved high level black belt ranking in several disciplines, and he is an avid practitioner of the Filipino martial arts systems.  He is the current head of the United Martial Arts Alliance, and he has founded a number of martial arts academies in Colorado.  He has been training in the arts of Kenpo, Jujitsu, Kuntao / Silat, Escrima, Go Shin Jitsu, and Tae Kwon Do for about 50 years. 

(Having been born and raised in Colorado, Kyoshi Darin Reisler has trained with Professor Austin for over 30 years and is in his direct lineage.)

Professor Austin’s teaching style is direct and entertaining.  He has the highest level of care for his students.



 

 

Renshi Matt Ansari

Renshi Matthew Ansari has been training in several different martial arts styles, including judo, since 1993 and began teaching Shorinji Kempo in 2003. He served in the U.S. Army Airborne Infantry for more than 7 years, including two tours in Afghanistan

Current Rankings:

1st Dan in Shorinji Kempo under Sensei Chester Israel

4th Dan in Shihairyoku Kempo under the founder, Sensei Chester Israel

2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate under Sensei Mark Zachary

1st Dan in Okinawan Kempo

2nd Dan in Shur-Te Bu-jutsu-Kai under Shihan Troy Price

Advanced instructor in Progressive Arnis under Guro Chad Bailey

 

 

Lao Shr Brandon Berman

Lao Shr Brandon Berman has over 40 years of experience in the study of martial arts and is both a lineage holder and an active teacher within the Ying Lung Hsing system. Ying Lung Hsing, or Image of a Dragon Body, is the culmination of a lifetime of study by Lao Shr Wayne Welsh, encompassing traditional internal Chinese arts such as Bagua Zhang, Tai Chi, Hsing-I, Indonesian martial arts, and a deep understanding of natural body motion and mechanics.

Brandon's martial arts journey began in his childhood in New Mexico, inspired by Bruce Lee's films. He started by dabbling in Judo at the YMCA before earning several belts and breaking a few boards at Kim's Taekwondo.


In 1993, Brandon moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he began studying Traditional Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu under Shifu Howard Solow. This was a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of his serious commitment to martial arts as a daily practice. Over the next decade, he studied with and taught under Shifu Howard Solow.

In 2003, Brandon transitioned to studying internal martial arts with Lao Shr Wayne Welsh, focusing on Bagua Zhang, Hsing-I, and Tai Chi. After the passing of Lao Shr in 2020, Brandon dedicated himself to furthering his knowledge of Tai Chi. In 2021, he underwent intensive, private Tai Chi training with Master Christoff Clarke and subsequently began studying Chen Man Ch'ing Tai Chi with Sifu Greg Phister, making this style the primary focus of his Tai Chi teaching since 2022. 


Brandon currently teaches Bagua Zhang, Hsing-I, Tai Chi, and Qigong at various venues, including recreation centers, studios, retirement homes, and his personal home kwoon.

Currently, he continues his studies by attending international Tai Chi retreats, studying Jujutsu with Kyoshi Jason May, Gao style BaGua Zhang and Combat Shuai Chiao with Sifu Chi Hsieh, and Morin Kun Tao Silat with Guru George Morin.

 

 

Shihan Ben Aldridge 

Shihan Ben Aldridge started studying Kenpo Karate in 2001 with Kyoshi Robert Koch, and currently holds a 5th Degree Black Belt. He has continuously trained in Kenpo since he started and is currently the owner and operator of the International Black Belt Studio in Alden, NY.

Around 2005, he began training for a with Sifu Christopher Zeth in Jung Hop Kuen Gung Fu. In December of 2021, Shihan started training in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Seiho-ha Iaido with Kyoshi Jason May. In January of 2023, he began training in Progressive Arnis with Guro Chad Bailey and currently holds the rank of Purple Belt and Taga Pagsanay.  Shihan Aldridge is working his way through Grand Master Bram Frank’s Instructor Training Program for the Modular Blade Combat and Concepts course.