Recent News
1.11.06
Instructor Phillip Kirby
Phillip's martial art training began in 1991 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . He joined the Carolina Martial Arts club which practiced a combination of two arts: Kyokushin Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Basically the club did the hard striking of Kyokushin with its devastating low kicks and Tae Kwon Do forms. Later the club modified and practiced the pure Kyokushin style. The Head instructor of the club, Master Sung Su Choi, was the nephew of Mas Oyama. Oyama was the founder of Kyokushin Karate. Oyama was Korean but later changed his name when he moved to Japan . Oyama's name translates into Korean mountain. Phillip trained with this style for four years.
Upon graduating with a degree in Psychology, he move from Chapel Hill and began working for the department of correction in 1996. He then began training in aikido, the style made famous in America by Aikido expert/actor Steven Segal, which is know by its joint locks, dynamic throws, and circular movements. Phil studied this style for two and a half years.
In the summer of 1996, he was introduced to the jiu-jitsu by James Hodges of Rockingham , North Carolina . Hodges was a 4 th Degree Black Belt in Jukido Jiu-Jitsu as well as East Coast Kick Boxing Champion. This form of jiu-jitsu has a grappling style similar to Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, except it doesn't have the open guard flow of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Phil studied with Sensei Hodges until he received his black belt. At that time James Hodges retired from teaching and asked Phil to take over his instructional duties.
The year was 1997 when Phil was first introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He attended a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu seminar by the great Rickson Gracie. Rickson had just competed in the Pride fighting championships. Phil was amazed by the flow and use of leverage the techniques offered by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Phil immediately joined the Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association. Rickson began competing in Mixed Martial Arts/Vale Tudo competitions and made so much money doing this, that unfortunately he stopped teaching seminars across the United States . This was disappointing because he wanted to train directly with Rickson Gracie.
Then there was an advertisement in Black Belt magazine for a Relson Gracie seminar, hosted by Jay Dennis, in Georgetown , South Carolina . Phil attended this seminar and any seminar that Relson taught within driving distance of North Carolina . Phil eventually received his blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu from Relson. Relson then offered Phil a chance to join the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association. He gladly accepted. Now a Relson Gracie purple belt, Phil has attended and trained with some of the world's best Jiu-jitsu masters and practitioners such as: Relson Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Rolker Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie, Carlos Machado, Ricardo Almeida, Flavio Almeida, Daniel Moraes, Gordo, Sidney “Tita” Batista, Caique, as well as other great practitioners. He also complements his training in various striking arts such as training in a hybrid form of Thai boxing suited more for Mixed Martial Arts/Vale Tudo and not a pure Muay Thai boxing match.
Phil not only wants to keep improving his jiu-jitsu technique and game. He does this by attending as many seminars and training with anyone that he can. He also tests his jiu-jitsu techniques by actively competing in jiu-jitsu and submission grappling tournaments. Phil also wants to spread this highly effective art to others. He does this by offering plenty of classes and making his teaching schedule flexible. He also keeps the classes affordable so that anyone can train. He does not want anyone to not train because they cannot afford it.