The 40th Anniversary of the UFAF ITC is going to be one to remember! Our seminar lineup is packed full of amazing martial artists and UFAF Family!
Friday, July 12th is SEMINAR DAY! Seminars will be open to participants with the "Seminar Package," "Total Experience Package," or the "Family Package."
Here’s the seminar details!...
Adult Seminars
8:00 - 9:30 AM John & Carly Presti
Master Presti and his daughter, Carly, will teach finishing takedowns for rapid-fire one-steps. This new, exciting, and useful seminar will add a spice of Krav Maga to the mix to make takedowns aggressive and practical.
John Presti is a 9th-degree black belt and presently serves on the UFAF Board of Directors as Director of Special Events. Master Presti started his training in 1967 in Tang Soo Do then joined UFAF around 1980. Master Presti has many UFAF accolades and, as said by Grand Master Ken Gallacher, is a friend to the world. He operates schools in Niagra Falls and Lewiston, NY. Next year marks his 50th anniversary in business.
Ms. Carly Presti, now 18, started her training just before turning 6. She is a 3rd degree black belt and is following in her dad's footsteps. She loves competition, especially weapon and traditional kata, as she has placed well at the ITC and other competitions. Carly is currently attending Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio under a Dean's Scholarship. Carly loves UFAF, the friendships she has created, and the martial arts.
9:30 - 11:00 AM Lindy Woods & Andi Lynn (Woods) Williams
"Fluidity of movement" from one technique to another is beneficial in our traditional skills, self-defense, one-step punching, and more. In this seminar, the mother-daughter duo will show a variety of flowing skills including striking, kicking, and wrist and arm locks. “Flowing water never goes stale, so just keep on flowing.” Bruce Lee
Lindy Woods started in the Chuck Norris System in 1993 and opened her own school, Dunamis Karate, in 2001. In 2016 she opened a 2nd Dunamis Karate location near her hometown. Mrs. Woods is currently a 6th-degree black belt in CNS and 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga Force. She serves as the Region 7 chair and is a member of UFAF’s Advisory Board as Chief Communications Administrator.
Andi Lynn Williams began her Chuck Norris System training at age three. She is currently a 5th-degree black belt in CNS and 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga Force. Andi Lynn is a fierce competitor. She is a 3x Youth Forms Grand Champion, 1x Female Fighting Grand Champion, 1x Adult Forms Grand Champion and a 3x UFAF Competitor of the Year and the 2015 Most Inspirational Member.
11:00 - 12:30 PM Richard Norton
Richard Norton’s seminar will comprise reality-based, street survival techniques using the tools of the various arts such as boxing, karate, and MMA. He’ll help students understand ‘street speak’ when put in a ‘conversation range’ in a street setting. Topics covered will include adrenal switches and color codes of awareness.
Mr. Norton’s career in martial arts spans over 55 years. He has trained in judo, karate, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and various Japanese weapon systems. Mr. Norton is a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under world-renowned coach, Rigan Machado, a 5th degree Shihan ranking in International Goju Ryu Karate under Hanshi Tino Ceberano, a 9th degree and Soke title in Zen Do Kai Karate, Level 6 ranking in Kickboxing under Sensei Benny, ‘The Jet’ Urquidez and an 8th Degree Master ranking in the Chuck Norris System awarded to him by Chuck Norris. Richard has trained extensively with many martial arts legends, including the Machado Bros, Chuck Norris, Bob Jones, Tino Ceberano, Benny Urquidez, Tadashi Yamashita, Fumio Demura, Pete ‘Sugar Foot’ Cunningham and Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace.
12:30 - 1:00 PM LUNCH (provided by UFAF)
1:00 - 2:30 PM Benny "The Jet" Urquidez
Benny “The Jet” Urquidez is one of the greatest martial arts legends of all time and for five decades has been a moving force in the martial arts. “The Jet” retired in 1989 undefeated with an unprecedented title defense ring record of 62 wins, 57 knockouts, and 0 losses. In 1993, at age 42, he came out of retirement to seal his legendary status, defeating 25-year-old Japanese world welterweight champion Yoshihisa Tagami and winning the world light middleweight championship, bringing his record to 63 wins, 57 knockouts, and 0 losses. Urquidez pioneered full-contact fighting in the United States. He is the only fighter to have retained six world championships in five weight class divisions for twenty-four consecutive years.
“The Jet” is an actor and a highly sought-after stunt and fight coordinator. He is and always has been a teacher. Teaching students of all levels, champion fighters, and celebrities. He has written four instructional books, released eight instructional videos, and countless online tutorials and classes. Visitors to bennythejet.com can find training tips, techniques, and teachings rooted in the Ukidokan system. Sensei Benny travels the world teaching seminars, classes and personalized training.
2:30 - 4:00 PM Doug, JoAnn, Haeley, & Hanah Shaffer
Explore kata bunkai, unlock the “secret” moves of these fighting systems that all of us have been practicing for years, and learn how to apply these concepts into one-steps and self-defense. You’ll gain knowledge and skills that will open your eyes to the meaning and purpose of our katas.
UFAF is a family thing in the Shaffer’s life. Owners of Shaffer’s Top Form Karate and Fitness, Doug (6th degree), JoAnn (4th degree), Haeley (1st degree) and Hanah (future black belt) are all active members of UFAF. Doug is the Region 8 chair, has earned a UFAF BJJ blue belt and is also a two-time Norris Cup winner. JoAnn is Region 8 board member. Both Doug and JoAnn are certified UFAF Krav Maga Force instructors. Haeley (15) and Hanah (9) both started in the Chuck Norris System at age 4. The Shaffer’s are pumped and honored to bring 50+ years of generational UFAF training to the 2019 ITC.
4:00 - 5:30 PM Rick & Lacey Prieto
This "FIGHTING BLOCKS-STREET STRIKES" seminar will explore wildly-effective blocks and strikes for street-smart survival!
Rick Prieto, black belt #42, started karate in November 1968 at the Chuck Norris Studios in Sherman Oaks, CA and received1st degree black belt in February 1972. He started assistant teaching within the first 6 months and has been teaching ever since. After helping Mr. Norris run studios in CA and VA, he returned to CA and opened his own studio. Mr. Prieto was influential in helping Mr. Norris with the “Kick Drugs Out of America” program in Texas (now called Kickstart). After 3.5 years, Mr. Prieto started a karate school in 1990 in The Woodlands, TX, and continues to live and teach daily.
Mr. Prieto has done several films with Mr. Norris, some Walker Texas Ranger shows, and several demonstrations including the opening for Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon. After 50+ years he still loves what he does and is learning all the time.
LACEY PRIETO 3rd degree red belt and Karate of The Woodlands School Co-Owner. She was born on March 10th, 1985, and has the same birthday as Grand Master Chuck Norris. She is a twin, so Mr. Prieto and Mr. Norris both have boy and girl twins. They must have been drinking the same water!
She began involvement in the martial arts at 19 by helping her father run his studio. After time in the corporate world and as a realtor, she has become co-owner and partner with her father. Lacey has made the decision to continue training and pursue black belt and hopes of attending the ITC next year as a black belt.
5:30 - 7:00 PM Jackson Rudolph
This bo seminar will cover a variety of techniques ranging from solid basics to advanced tricks and manipulations. All of these new skills can be put into combinations that are great for competition or demonstration. In addition to learning techniques, Jackson will break down the most effective teaching strategies for bo that will help you introduce bo to your school or take your weapons program to the next level. This unique instructor training experience is something you certainly don't want to miss!
Jackson is known for his weapons innovation with the bo having developed a style consisting of releases and manipulations combined with power and technical precision. Jackson has a great reputation as an instructor and travels extensively competing and teaching seminars.
· Member of Team Paul Mitchell Karate
· Professional Athlete and Brand Ambassador for Century Martial Arts
· Representative of Hyper Martial Arts
· 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do
· 1st Degree Black Belt in the Chuck Norris System
· 58 World Titles from NASKA (43), ISKA (8), and WKA (7) in forms and weapons
· Won all of sport karate’s major championships multiple times
· Bachelor’s Candidate in Human Biology at Stanford
Youth Seminars
8:00 - 9:30 AM Jorge & David Alonzo
"Speed and Agility Drills for Sparring" will help you train and develop quickness, mobility, and reaction through the implementation of fun drills.
Jorge Alonzo - Training martial arts for 39 years - 6th-degree black belt - competed with Team CKD for 9 years - Region 12 chair.
David Alonzo - Training martial arts for 30 years - 6th-degree black - member of Team CKD for several years.
Jorge Alonzo Jr. - Training Chuck Norris System for 8 years - Red Belt.
Danika Alonzo - Training Chuck Norris System for 6 years - Red Belt
9:30 - 11:00 AM Clayton, Amber & Gabriel Ferguson
The Ferguson family will be teaching one-step concepts for self-defense. This class will take beginner one-steps and follow the techniques up thru black belt rapid-fire one-steps.
Clayton Ferguson is a 9th-degree black belt in the Chuck Norris system and 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga force. He is a two-time Kata Grand Champion and a multi-times men’s lightweight fighting and senior men’s fighting grand champion at the UFAF ITC. Mr. Ferguson has trained many students to become national champions. In 1989 he traveled with the Intersport Trade Commission to the USSR (Soviet Union) with the first-ever U.S. Karate Team to compete with the best the Soviet Union had to offer.
Amber Ferguson is a 6th-degree black belt in the Chuck Norris system and 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga. She is multi-times open division forms champion in the women’s division at the UFAF ITC and was a member of the initial 2005 UFAF Chuck Norris team. She was a member of the 2003 United States AKJU national karate team and traveled to Ireland to compete in the 7th Irish Cup Nationals, winning the women’s kata and placing third in fighting.
Their son, Gabriel Ferguson, has practically been raised in the karate studio and is currently a red belt in the Chuck Norris System. He is an avid competitor with one of his most recent competitions being the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
The Ferguson family owns and operates Champion Martial Arts in Barboursville, WV.
11:00 - 12:30 PM Steve & Madyson Giroux
"Sparring 101 – drills and skills that work in every arena!" In this seminar, Steve and Madyson will go over the drills that Steve used in his 24 years' experience when fighting. These will include blitzing, lunge kicking to the blitz, body punching, defensive side kicks and fading away side kicks. It will be tons of fun, but be prepared to work! Towards the end of the seminar, Mr. Giroux will spar with each participant. This father/daughter duo will bring the same level of energy and fun that they use when training together.
Steve Giroux is a 7th Degree Black Belt in the Chuck Norris System and owner/head instructor at Giroux Brothers Martial Arts, which he founded in 1999. He had a very successful competition career in point sparring spanning over 24 years. At our annual ITC, Mr. Giroux is a 3x men's sparring Grand Champion and Norris Cup recipient. He was ranked nationally on both the NASKA and NBL circuits. Mr. Giroux was also the 2012 recipient of the Wieland Norris Award.
Madyson Giroux is currently an advanced green belt in the Chuck Norris System. She started her training (by default) at age 2 1/2. She continued training off and on until two years ago when she made the decision to compete at the ITC and earn her black belt. Now she trains a few times a week and is very excited about sparring. Her goal is to earn her black belt by the same age that her Dad did at 11 and she’s making great momentum towards that goal!
12:30 - 1:00 PM Lunch (provided by UFAF)
1:00 - 2:30 PM Eric, Aaron & Jackson Hensley
Learn from this triple threat, three generations of UFAF black belts, as they take you through the skills that helped all three win Grand Champions at the UFAF ITC. Starting with the bo, and ending with double chux, you’re sure to leave with a better understanding and new ideas to improve your ability with both weapons!
Eric Hensley is an 8th UFAF Black Belt with over 50 years of martial arts knowledge. He created a name for himself in sport karate by being someone that could win in any category he entered. Early on, he passed that passion to his son, Aaron, who is currently a 7th UFAF black belt. Together they would travel to compete and shared time developing martial arts and life skills to prepare them for the future business of owning and operating multiple martial arts schools.
Today, that legacy is continued as Aaron and his son, Jackson, a 1st-degree CNS black belt travel to compete and share that father/son bond. Currently, Aaron and Eric own 5 martial arts schools and host a NASKA 5-A tournament, the Dixieland Nationals. Team Hensley: Legacy - One team, One family.
2:30 - 4:00 PM David, Ryan & Amy Gamble
“Mastering the Basics of the Chuck Norris System” seminar will help you take the core skills of the Chuck Norris System and learn how to develop and advance your way up the ranks to 1st degree black belt and beyond! In this seminar, there will be a mix of both traditional and fighting techniques from the black belt test.
Ryan Gamble is a 5th-degree CNS black belt, a multiple-time World Champion in both kata and sparring, and 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga Force. Amy Gamble is a 3rd degree CNS black belt, a multiple-time World Champion in sparring, a 1st-degree black belt in UFAF Krav Maga Force. Amy also won the Norris Cup in sparring in 2016 becoming the Female Fighting Grand Champion. David Gamble is a 5th-degree CNS black belt, a recipient of the Wieland Norris award, and currently serves as Region 1 chair. David and Ryan together have owned and operated Family Christian Martial Arts for 18 years, helping 54 students earn their CNS black belts.
4:00 - 5:30 PM Steve, Erin & Miles Hammersley
UFAF KIDS KRAV MAGA FORCE / DEFEAT THE EVIL WARRIOR: Your Mission, if you choose to accept it, is to stay away from dangerous people, places, and things. If danger finds you, and you're attacked by the evil warrior (and… I’m sure you will be attacked by the evil warrior in this seminar), you must survive and get to safety as fast as you can (while having fun)! To prepare for the evil warrior attack, you will learn and develop the 5 magic skills that will destroy the evil warrior and the confidence and mindset that will send the evil warrior running scared and take his power away forever! May the Force be with you!
Mr. Miles Hammersley, age10, has trained in the “Chuck Norris System most of his life (stepped on the mat and started training at 2 years old). As a dedicated CNS 1st degree youth black belt, Miles teaches and assists as a youth instructor at American Martial Arts. Miles has competed at the ITC winning first place weapons kata two years in a row & first place sparring. Miles also trains in UFAF Kids Krav Maga and holds his first level gold.
Mrs. Erin Hammersley is a 3rd degree Chuck Norris System black belt and a Level 5 black belt UFAF Krav Maga Force Instructor & co-owner of American Martial Arts New Smyrna Beach Florida. Mrs. Hammersley has trained in the CNS system for 22 years. Mrs. Hammersley is the chief director of the award-winning after-school homework program at AMA, that has been lauded 5 stars by the City of New Smyrna Beach for her mentoring and tutoring of the children at AMA.
Mr. Stephen Hammersley
· UFAF Board of Directors
· Director UFAF Krav Maga Force
· Director Krav Maga Force USA East Coast
· 8th Degree Black Belt, “Chuck Norris System”
· 2nd Degree Black Belt UFAF Krav Maga Force
· 5th Degree Black Belt “Tang Soo Do”
· 5th Degree Black Belt “Champion Martial Arts”
· 1st Degree Black Belt “Kuk Ki Won / Tae Kwon Do”
· Blue Belt UFAF “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”
· 1995- Inducted into the International Black Belt Hall of Fame
· Owner and Chief Instructor: American Martial Arts and “Krav Maga Force Florida”
· Dedicated husband & father of one beautiful wife for 23 years, with 5 wonderful children & 8 fantastic grandchildren.
Parents: UFAF Krav Maga Force Kids program is a fun, encouraging self-defense class for kids. UFAF Krav Maga Force for Kids teaches tools and techniques tailored for situations that commonly confront kids at school, on the playground, and in life. In our seminar, we stress three things: self-defense, fitness, and confidence. By focusing on these real-world needs, kids are engaged in the learning process. Your child will be safe and have a blast while learning these skills, in fact we are looking for a few parent/adult family members to help make this seminar even better, if interested please see us before the seminar.
See you in Vegas…All the best, The Hammersley’s
5:30 - 7:00 PM David & Darby Dunn
In this seminar, Mr. Dunn and Darby will give an overview of Brazilian jiu-jitsu positions so students have a clear understanding of what to look for and what to be cautious of. They will also cover the basics of stopping the takedown by utilizing head control, the forearm, and the sprawl. And last, they will explore options of getting back to your feet if taken down.
David Dunn is a 6th degree UFAF black belt, a 4th degree black belt Jean Jacques Machado BJJ, and a Veteran Mixed Martial Artist.
Darby Jo Dunn is a 9-year-old red belt in CNS. She has 7 years of martial arts training. Her weekly training includes CNS, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, weapons, and demo team.
