Master Dan Jackson

Master Jackson first began his training in the martial arts under Master Ray Szuch at the Cleveland Academy; a member school of the Central Tae kwon do Association based in Cleveland, OH. From early on, Master Jackson was devoted to his training, and usually arrived at the school before it opened and stayed well past closing. This diligence eventually earned him his own key to the school, and his hard work was rewarded in 1977, when he earned his First Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, in under two years of training. In 1980, Master Jackson tested and earned his Second Degree Black Belt.

Although he had won multiple AAU and USTU State Championships by that point, Master Jackson was looking to develop as a fighter, but more importantly, as a martial artist. It was this search for self development that eventually led him to Grandmaster Joon P. Choi of the Oriental Martial Arts College (O.M.A.C.). Grandmaster Choi had developed a reputation for training the top Tae Kwon Do competitors of the era, and although he was over two hours away in Columbus, OH, Master Jackson made the trip weekly, often via public transportation. While in Cleveland, Master Jackson studied under Senior Master James Cahn. In competition, Master Cahn was frequently Master Jackson’s coach and to this day is still an essential part of Master Jackson’s training.

Even though he held a Second Degree Black Belt at the time, Master Jackson was required to retest all the way through Grandmaster Choi’s system, from White Belt to Black. In the two years before he earned his Black Belt under O.M.A.C., Master Jackson was not allowed to wear any belt or any indication of his rank while training. This lesson in humility was an important part of his training, and essential for developing his mental discipline. As part of his training, Master Jackson literally lived at Master Choi’s dojang while in Columbus, sleeping on the floor of the meditation room and performing miscellaneous jobs to pay his tuition.

In total, Master Jackson has qualified for the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU) U.S. National Team three times. Additionally, he has represented the United States in competition on three additional national teams. His success at the international level of competition earned him an invitation to try out for the inaugural United States Olympic Taekwondo team. Unfortunately, his weight group was eliminated and he was not selected for the team. Two years later, he was again invited to the team tryouts, but once again, his weight group was not included in the contingent being sent to the games. For the 1988 Seoul Olympic games, the U.S. Taekwondo team was represented by a reduced contingent, and only competed in four of the twelve weight groups.

Some of Master Jackson’s competition highlights include:

	2x World Martial Arts Expo champ
	2x International Taekwondo champ
	2x US Olympic team trainee
	3x National Taekwondo champ
	5x State Taekwondo champ
	6x National Team member

Since opening The DoJANG, Master Jackson has taken three teams to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Taekwondo National Championships. In total, his teams have brought home 17 medals, making this small school a prominent player in the national competition arena.

Beyond Tae Kwon Do, Master Jackson has significant experience in Hapkido, Western boxing, Kung Fu, fencing, grappling and weapons. By combining the footwork of boxing, the movement of a fencer and the strong techniques of traditional Tae Kwon Do, Master Jackson developed the system of Sa Moo Ryu. The fluid footwork of this system allows a fighter to get into striking position while staying out of striking range himself. According to Master Jackson, Sa Moo Ryu is the doorway via which the traditional practitioner moves from formal patterns of movements (poomses/katas) to actual combat. Master Jackson credits this system for his numerous victories in competition.

More recently, he has expanded his training into traditional Japanese systems, studying Shotokan and Shorin Ryu Karate under Hanshi Dan Sawyer, a legendary martial arts Hall of Famer. He is also studying the Inosanto Blend of the Filipino art of Kali/Escrima.

In August 2006, Master Jackson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and was inducted as a full member.

Master Dana Hall moved to Las Vegas from Salt Lake City, Utah in April of 2010 to attend her junior year of college at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.  Her major course of work includes Theatre Design and Technology.  Other areas of interest include snowboarding, racquetball and dancing.  She contacted The DoJang Martial Arts College soon after her arrival in Las Vegas and chose to become a student and instructor, studying under Chief Master Dan Jackson, “because I was looking for a place to train and possibly teach while attending school in Las Vegas.  The choice was easy because it is the best school in the State.” Master Hall began her career in martial arts at a very young age.  She was motivated by her parents and her brother, who is also a 4th degree black belt.  She and her brother started taking taekwondo classes together.  “Our parents told us we both made a commitment to become a black belt and pushed us to reach our goal, to never quit, and to finish what you start.  However, after achieving my 1st dan black belt, it became a part of our lives.  We just kept going and never looked back.”
As an instructor, Master Hall stated her philosophy of teaching is simple. “If every person can leave class learning something new, then it was a success.”  Master Hall’s past achievements during her Taekwondo career are impressive: 

• 1 x Korean Open Medalist                                 
• 4 x U.S. Open Medalist                                     
• 6 x U.S. Open Competitor                                 
• 2 x Junior Olympic Medalist
• 6 x Junior Olympic Competitor
• 2 x Regional Qualifier Medalist

Personal Quote:

“Work as if you don’t need the money, Love as if you’ve never been hurt, Dance as if nobody’s watching.”

Young Lee

Walter Vital "Cascão"
*Team Mica/Cascão BJJ Instructor

Walter began his training in Jiu jitsu in 1992 with Mário Sukata. He earned his black belt in 2003 under Mario Sukata from Northern Brazil. His titles and competitions include the 2006 PanAmerican Champion, winner of three MMA en Beppu in Japão, two-time champion of MMA Ultimate Combat Experience in Utah, US Open champion in 2005 in Santa Cruz, California, 2005 Grapplers Quest winner in Las Vegas, and Third Place PanAmericano 2005, Carson, California , and third place 2006, 2007 World no gi Champion, 2007 American Champion, 2007 Panamerican third place. 2008 Panamerican third place, Grapplers Quest Black Belt Challenge in Las Vegas. He has hosted four seminars in Oita, Beppu, Fukuoka and Tokyo, Japan representing Conde Koma academy. Today he teaches Jiu Jitsu and submission grappling in Las Vegas, NV with Professor Amilcar Cipili at Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu affiliated with Master Rigan Machado and The DoJANG.

Personal Quote:

“Float like a boat; Hit like a tree”   

Dan DeNuccio

Instructor Dan DeNuccio moved to Las Vegas in 1978.  He has been a real estate agent for Prudential Realtors for over 26 years.  He has always been a highly active individual and enjoys skiing, hiking, traveling and weight lifting and training.  Back in 2003, Mr. DeNuccio came to The DoJang to take some basic self defense classes. This led to a greater interest in the Martial Arts.  After private training with Master Dan Jackson for approximately six months, at the age of forty + years, Instructor DeNuccio decided to begin studying self defense at a much higher level and became a full time student of the martial arts.  Almost three years later, after a lot of hard work, training and sweat, he earned his first degree black belt.  However, he didn’t stop there, but only became more inspired to attain a higher skill level.  Mr. DeNuccio is now a second degree black belt, which he achieved in June of 2009, along with two other instructors.  As his confidence level began to rise, Mr. DeNuccio started competing in numerous tournaments, including the 2010 Taekwondo U. S. Open held at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.  
Instructor DeNuccio constantly strives to improve his teaching skills and recently became a certified coach and referee.  He is also the Head instructor of the F.I.S.T. (First Instincts Street Tactics) self defense program.  Even though Mr. DeNuccio owns and runs a real estate business, his dedication to the art of Taekwondo is apparent.  He volunteers much of his spare time to The DoJang School, the students and to Master Jackson by performing martial arts demonstrations at local community events.  As a higher rank martial artist, Instructor DeNuccio believes it is his duty to help promote the beneficial aspects of martial arts training including the development of a high level of physical fitness, mental and physical stamina and moral values and virtues.

Personal Quote:

"I have found in life it's easier to just do your best than it is to make excuses."

Robert Passer-Lemaster

Robert began training part time in the martial arts at Black Mountain Recreation Center in 2002.  He became a full time student of Master Jackson when The DoJang first opened a short time later.  Prior to becoming a talented martial artist, Robert was a gymnast for over two years.  He also enjoys reading and playing the guitar and video games.  Robert recently graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, in May of 2010, with a double major earning Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degrees in both History and English.  Robert earned his first degree black belt in December of 2007.  He has earned countless medals and awards for his performance in tournaments and competitions.  Robert was also a competitor in the 2007 AAU National Championships.  Robert has been a coach and a member of the demonstration team at The DoJang since 2004.  After achieving his black belt, he developed a secondary interest in Machado Brazilian Jiu  Jiu Jitsu which he has been studying for almost two years and earned a blue belt.   He continued his training in Tae Kwon Do and is now a 2nd Dan black belt, which he achieved in 2009.

Robert has developed a deep appreciation for the martial arts lifestyle.  Areas of study include Olympic and Traditional TKD, Hapkido, Kali Escrima, Jeet Kune Do, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, First Instinct Street Tactics (FIST) self defense program, and Snake Boxing, developed by Master Jackson.  Robert has been the Director of Recreational Programs and one of the Head Instructors at the DoJang and Silver Springs Recreational Center since 2007. 

Robert is a very talented instructor.  He believes that if you are a student of the martial arts you should always train as hard as you can.  His area of focus as an instructor is on cardio-conditioning.   Robert believes that his students should be allowed to develop their own style and technique, through repetition, contemplation and hard work, with the helpful guidance of the instructors.       

Personal Quote:

“The worst thing a person can do is nothing at all.”  

Kyle George

Kyle George has been training in martial arts for ten years and currently holds a first degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under Master Dan Jackson. Kyle began his martial arts training at Professional Tae Kwon Do in New York City under eight time Korean National Heavyweight Champion, Master Kwang Sup Kim and Bulgarian National Team Member, Master Lubomir Penev.

After moving to Las Vegas in 2003, Kyle began training under Master Dan Jackson at THE DoJANG World Training Center, and eventually became an instructor in the Tae Kwon Do program at the Silver Springs Recreation Center. In September 2005, Kyle tested for his first degree Black Belt, and together with Matt Blanken, were passed as THE DoJANG’s first class of Black Belts.

Since earning his Black Belt, Kyle has expanded his training into Kali/Escrima (Inosanto Blended System) under Instructor Ken Sawanakrit and Shorin-Ryu Karate under Martial Arts Hall of Famer Hanshi Dan Sawyer.

Kyle currently specializes in weapons training, and is proficient in the staff, tonfas, knife and kali sticks. He is an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Certified Coach and was a coach for the 2005 and 2006 Nevada contingent to the AAU Tae Kwon Do National Championships. He is currently training for his second degree Black Belt and anticipates testing for his second degree in July 2007.

Celeste Hamner

Ms. Hamner has been training in the martial arts for more than 8 years. She became a student of Master Jackson at the Dojang in 2005, after leaving school closed, and receiving a recommendation from a friend. She soon recognized the value of Master Jackson’s training and started over, dropping from the level of a brown belt back to that of a white belt. Although here initial interest in martial arts was only casual,  it has since developed into a passion. Celeste recently earned her first degree black belt in March 2010 after taking private lessons with Master Jackson for 3 years. She became a certified USAT referee in early 2010. She began competing as part of her 1st Dan training, and earned first place in the sparring competition and second place in the poomse/forms competition during the 2009 Pacific Rim Tournament in Las Vegas. She also received a Leadership Award from the Dojang, presented to her by Master Jackson.

Celeste has always valued physical fitness as an important aspect of her lifestyle; she swam competitively through college. She also enjoys road biking, movies, and shopping, not always in that order. And Celeste has always been a high achiever. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1990 and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration in 1993, also from UNLV. She now serves as an Assistant Customer Service Administrator at McCarran International, where she has worked for 21 years. 

Celeste is a very attentive instructor who can identify the individual needs of every student she teaches. She has a pleasant, sometimes humorous personality that quickly makes students comfortable and willing to learn. She strives to make each student’s martial arts training experience exciting and fun while simultaneously instilling the discipline required to advance to a higher level.  

Personal Quote:

I actually have two: one is from me and one that truly defines my martial arts life-
“Tae Kwon Do isn’t easy, but then it isn’t supposed to be.”

“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit.  Most men succeed because they are determined to.” George E. Allen.

Jay Balajadia

Mr. Balajadia was born in Thermal, California of  Filipino descent.  He began his martial arts training at the age of 12, under the Korean system of Moo Duk Kwan, a form of Tae Kwon Do.  In 1993, he began studying Kali and Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Dennis Blue, at the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Redlands, California.  Jay attended three years of community college in California where he first studied law, then later, religious history.  He also enjoys tennis, soccer and boxing.  After moving to Las Vegas in 1997, he continued his training and has studied under several Sifus over the past 13 years, including the legendary Martial Arts instructor, Paul Vunak.  In October of 2009, Jay became certified as a Phase One instructor, by Sigung Paul Vunak, in the “Progressive Fighting System.”  He is currently near completion of his training in the system to be certified as a Full Instructor.  Mr. Balajadia came to The DoJang Martial Arts College, owned by Chief Master Dan Jackson, in 2003 to take Jeet Kun Do (JKD) classes, the martial Arts system in which Bruce Lee was trained.  Jay states he liked the instructors and students and has been training at The DoJang ever since.  Mr. Balajadia is now the head instructor of the Tactical JKD program and the Ino-Santo-La Coste Kali program for both adults and children, since October of 2009. 
Jay states his philosophy of teaching is tactical reality/based.  “My primary mission as an instructor is to teach practical martial arts that will help the individual student to defend him/herself in all ranges of combat with a clear mind and Focus.”  Jay believes that Kata/ forms are an expression of the “Soul of a Master.”  “The first step in learning martial arts forms is to learn the movements; however, you become a real martial artist when you recognize the meaning behind the movements of the form, which is an expression of the experience and feelings of the movement. Forms were created in order to help a student visualize a combat situation.  As one of my masters used to say”, “If you really want to pierce the mystery of a Kata/ form you must realize it is somebody’s personal experience and soul.”
Jay has earned several awards and has been recognized for his Martial Arts talent during his career as a martial artist including: 

• 3rd place, Stick Fighting-Novice Division, Chinese Kickboxing International Tournament, LV., Nevada (2006).

• President & Member in Good Standing(1994)United Students of Martial Arts and Sciences, Riverside, California

• Community College, Riverside, California.

• Phase One Instructor Certification, Progressive Fighting Systems, Sigung Paul Vunak, October 2009.

• Listed as a descendant of the Masters at Paul Vunak’s website, Fighting.net.

• Certified Law Enforcement Force Continuum Instructor, October, 2009

Personal Quote:

“I cannot teach you anything.  I can only help you find yourself.” – Bruce Lee.

“The more you know, the more you realize you don’t really know.” – Jay Balajadia.

Dan Richmond

Dan Richmond was born in Fort Gordon, Georgia.  His father was career military personnel.  While growing up on army bases across the United States and Europe, Dan’s first exposure to the martial arts was through Judo, beginning at age 3 or 4.  This training eventually developed interests in others areas of martial arts having studied Kempo Karate and eventually Kung Fu and later still to medieval re-enactment. He moved to Las Vegas approximately five years ago.  Dan has been working at the Venetian Hotel in customer service for the past 3 or 4 years, where he met Jay Balajadia, The DoJang’s head Jeet Kun Do (JKD) and Kali instructor.  They have been training closely together ever since.  Dan is a co-instructor with Mr. Balajadia at The DoJang.  Together, they instruct the Tactical JKD program and the Ino-Santo-La Coste Kali program for both adults and children, since October of 2009.  Dan, along with Mr. Balajadia, became certified as a Phase One instructor, by Sigung Paul Vunak, in the “Progressive Fighting System.”  He is currently near completion of his training in the system to be certified as a Full Instructor.  Dan is also a certified Law Enforcement Force Continuum Instructor, since October of 2009. 
Dan states his philosophy of teaching is, “Do your best and be patient and eventually you will learn.  I want my students to be the best at whatever endeavor they undertake, be it martial arts or anything else. If I can help, I will.”

Personal Quote: