Guro John Daniels (JD) started his martial arts career In 1972 when at the age of 12, he began informal karate lessons at the urging of his father due to his son being picked on by neighborhood gangs. These early lessons were unforgiving and grueling, but John was hooked from day one. He continued his lessons and started high school wrestling. JD’s burning desire to continue his martial arts training led him to Marty Martinez, who taught Karate and Kendo. His training with Sensei Martinez was arduous, but John’s perseverance paid off when, upon graduation from high school, he was awarded a first-degree black belt in Martinez Karate/Kendo.
Still wanting more, while working at Portland International airport, JD met Professor Leonard Trigg. After seeing Professor Trigg teaching Arnis to some of the airport police, he sought to learn from him. This was Guro Daniels first exposure to the Filipino arts and he was immediately hooked. JD trained and traveled with Trigg for 8 years. where he met and trained with Ted Lucay Lucay, Grandmasters Ernesto and Roberto Presas, as well as traveling to the Philippines. They were the first to bring GM Ernesto to the united States in the early 80's and opened his home to GM Ernesto as a base for their travels in U.S. During this period, JD also took up amateur boxing with a 12-3 record as well as Laoation Kickboxing with Ajarn Samsak Boupha and Muay Thai under Master Chai.
In 1986, JD met Cliff Lenderman who introduced JD to Dan Inosanto. Cliff’s training methods, though considered harsh by some of his students, really pressed upon JD the need for regular full contact sparring in order to fully develop one’s skills as a martial artist. Cliff also encouraged and helped JD reach his goal to learn from and ultimately be an instructor under Dan Inosanto. Guro Dan’s example has been a constant inspiration for JD to continually learn and grow as a martial artist.
In 1993, JD began to learn BJJ from Fabio Santos who has remained his teacher and friend. JD also learned knife and Jujitsu from his uncle Terry Blackeagle and Dave Minden.
After serving 2 years as a staff instructor at Matt Thorton's Straight Blast Gym, JD teamed up with Sifu Al Dacascos and traveled to Europe to help spread the arts to Sifu Al's extensive student base in Germany. Sifu Al also introduced JD to GM Cacoy Canete during this period.
Exposed to fencing in 1999 by Preston Boyd, a former student of Mr. Lenderman, Mr. Daniels found the lessons learned from fencing, has given him a deeper understanding and appreciation of JKD and Kali/Escrima/Arnis.
*Certified Full Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto *7th Degree Black Belt under GM Roberto Presas *3rd Degree Black Belt under GM Ciriaco "Cacoy" Canete. *Apprentice Instructor under Guro Ted LucayLucay *Tagapagturo (Instructor) under Guro Leonard Trigg *Phase 1 Instructor under Ajarn Chai Sirisute *Graduate (Instructor) in Laoation Kickboxing under Ajarn Samsak Boupha *Phase 1 Instructor under Paul Vunak & Tom Cruise *Blue Belt under Fabio Santos (BJJ) *2nd Dan in Hopkido *Featured in numerous Black Belt Magazine and Inside Kung-Fu articles *Appeared in GM Ernesto Presas book "Arnis Presas Style and Balisong" 1988
Guro John Daniels (JD) started his martial arts career In 1972 when at the age of 12, he began informal karate lessons at the urging of his father due to his son being picked on by neighborhood gangs. These early lessons were unforgiving and grueling, but John was hooked from day one. He continued his lessons and started high school wrestling.
In 1986, JD met Cliff Lenderman who introduced JD to Dan Inosanto. Cliff’s training methods, though considered harsh by some of his students, really pressed upon JD the need for regular full contact sparring in order to fully develop one’s skills as a martial artist. Cliff also encouraged and helped JD reach his goal to learn from and ultimately be an instructor under Dan Inosanto. Guro Dan’s example has been a constant inspiration for JD to continually learn and grow as a martial artist. 