You will find the best instructors in the Bloomington Normal area at AMMA. Whether you are looking for someone to train you to fight, get you in shape or teach you the basics of self defense, we have what you are looking for. Our instructors and coaches have over 75 years of combined experience in boxing, muay thai, jiu jitsu and judo. Read more about each instructor below.
Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers has been teaching kickboxing since 1985. He has trained and instructed with the best Muay Thai institutions in the country. His training and instructing background is as follows:
- Wrestling in High School 1972-76.
- Shotokan Karate in 1979.
- Kung Fu, Black Sash. Tae Kwon Do, Green Belt 1983-84.
- Muay Thai & Filipino Martial Arts started training 1984.
- Started teaching Kali & Kickboxing in 1985.
- Became Apprentice Instructor in Kali / Jun Fan–Jeet Kune Do Concepts in 1991 under Guro Daniel Inosanto, holding the ranks of, Lakan Guro, "Level 7" in Kali (Filipino Martial Arts), and Sifu, Apprentice "Level 8" in Jun Fan Gung Fu.
- During the 1990's was hired to teach a drama course (Motion class) at Illinois State University, & Choreographed swordplay for a Community Theater play and have worked on several different self-defense programs presented to the public as well.
- Twice attended "FAIRTEX" Thai Boxing Gym, AZ. 1995 & 96.
- Achieved Apprentice Instructor Level in Muay Thai in 1996 under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute, Founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA. http://www.thaiboxing.com/
- Chicago Regional Director, 2001 TBA-USA / Promoted to Director, State of Illinois, 2003 TBA-USA.
- Certified USA Boxing Coach in 2002.
- Became Editor of the Thai Boxing Association USA Official Newsletter 1998, as well as being a Consultant/Contributor and USA Distributor of, "MUAY THAI, A LIVING LEGACY" www.sprypublishing.com, on the art of Muay Thai 2002. Content Consultant on a Children's book (aimed at 1st & 2nd grades) called "Muay Thai" by Tim O'Shei with Capstone Press, MN. Mentioned in the Book Forward by Sgt. Matt Larsen, in "H2H - Hand To Hand Combat, Modern Army Combatives" by Greg Thompson.
- Taught a Boxing / Thai Boxing course at Ft. Benning GA. that was adopted as Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) Level 3 curriculum. Reference, Sgt. Matt Larsen, president@moderncombatives.org
- Promoted to Associate Level Instructor in Muay Thai in 2004 in TBA -USA.
- Taught a Strength and Conditioning course to the ISU Football Team, consisting of Boxing Drills, 2004. Reference Rork Cutchlow ISU Strength Conditioning Coach.
- Since approximately 1993 I have been involved in the Ring Sports of Muay Thai, Western Kickboxing, Western Boxing, and Toughman Boxing / Kickboxing bouts in the positions of; Referee, Judge, Time-keeper, Cornerman, & Fight Coordinator in approximately 400+ bouts.
Coach Thorpe
Coach Thorpe began boxing competitively in 1964 when he won the Springfield, IL Golden Gloves Champion in the Novice Category. Since then he has gone on to win over 75 fights, including fighting in the National Golden Gloves Tournament, the Illinois A.A.U. Championship and numerous Army fights. He completed extensive coach training in the Army and has been instructing professionally for over 30 years. Coach Thorpe has an unparalleled passion for boxing and if you want someone who will teach you the sport from the ground up and turn you into the best fighter you can be, he is the man to train with.
Boxing is one of the most difficult sports to learn because you have to train so many parts of your body to work together. Then you have to conquer your weakness and your fears. If you do these two things, winning will take care of itself. The lessons you learn in boxing classes not only apply in the ring, but will help you in every aspect of your life. Learning to work hard and believing in yourself have never been bad traits to have.
Leon Battiste
Leon Battiste is the owner and head coach of AMMA. He started his training at age 10 when he started kids wrestling, with the IKWF Dolton Falcons. Leon went on to wrestle in Junior High and High School. Leon started his grappling training in Bloom Trail High school studying Judo. Leon's instructor, Drew Wickham, a 6th Degree Black belt in Kodokan Judo, was, at the time, President with the Chicago Judo Black Belt Association. Under Sensai Drew Wickham's guidance, Leon became a two-time state champion, three-time Chicago open Champion and a National Champion in 1993. Leon went on to train at Lake Placid at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center in 1994 and '95. Leon was invited and competed in the American Canadian games in 1995 where he took a hard fought 4th place finish. In 1996 Leon was asked to come to the Olympic Festival to compete for a place in the Olympic Games, where he took a 4th place finish. In 2004 Leon received his Black Belt in Judo with the USJF.
Leon then began studying Japanese Jui-Jitsu and competing in submission grappling matches as well as MMA matches. Leon received his Black Belt in Jui-Jitsu in 2005. Leon started his Muay Thai training under Pete Farrias, a student of Dave Rogers, in 2001. Under Pete, Leon recived his Junior instructor ship in Muay Thai and his level 1 in JKD. Leon also studied knife fighting and kali with Pete. With 24 years of grappling experience and 7 years of Muay Thai, Leon hopes to make his students the best they can be. What Leon's most often heard saying is " I DO NOT care how GOOD someone is. If you can OUTLAST them you can beat them!" Leon also trains, finds fights and corners all the fighters. Leon, with Dave Rogers and Coach Thorpe, will make you the best you can be!
