All Global Martial Arts University instructors are highly trained, experienced, and officially certified in their martial-art styles. The following is an list of our instructors along with complete details about their martial-arts backgrounds.
JONAS BIERI
Instructor - Shotokan Karate
Jonas holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. He’s a Certified Martial Arts Teacher (CMAT) and has been teaching Shotokan for the GMAU since 2019. His martial-arts career began in 2015 when he joined the Goshindokan Dojo Liestal and started training in Goshindo Jiu-Jitsu and Kobudo. He currently holds a Purple Belt in Goshindo. Jonas started formal training in Shotokan Karate in 2016 under the GMAU’s Sensei Jon Hodge. Jonas loves to find new aspects of the martial arts to dive into, explore, optimize, and teach to his students. He lives in Basel, Switzerland, where he works full-time as a senior web and database developer.
NATHAN DOUGLAS
Head Instructor - Ultimate Bo
Nathan holds a 3rd Black Chevron in Ultimate Bo. He started his Ultimate Bo training with the GMAU in 2016 under Sensei Michael Hodge, and became the program’s head instructor in 2019. Also, Nathan has been training in Taekwondo since 1997 under Master Sung Ju Kim, and currently holds a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt. He has been a martial-arts teacher since 2012 – teaching Taekwondo and Bojutsu at a local academy. When Nathan isn’t swinging a giant stick or kicking things he enjoys watching football and all things nerdy, and spending time with his wife, Sarah, and his kids, Tailynn and Jacob, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
ADAM GERRALD
Head Instructor - Nunchaku & Taekwondo
Adam is a senior practitioner and instructor in a variety of martial arts. He began in 2006 when he first trained in Taekwondo (Chung do kwan) under Grand Master Kwan Kyun Kim. In 2008, he switched to practicing Kukkiwon Taekwondo under Grand Masters Ezzedeen Alsharif and Fouad Atoun. He began teaching Taekwondo in 2009 and training with the nunchaku. His martial-arts credentials include: Kukkiwon Taekwondo - 4th Dan Black Belt; American Style Nunchaku - 4th Degree Black; Marine Corps Martial Arts Program - 1st Degree Black Belt; Filipino Martial Arts - Apprentice Instructor (under Sifu Pat Tray); Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Purple Belt; Capoeira - 3 Yellow / 1 Green Cord (intermediate level); GMAU Ultimate Bo - Brown Chevron. Adam also has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (Exercise Science), which enhances his knowledge and abilities as an instructor. He’s been instructing for the GMAU since 2018.
JON HODGE
Instructor - Shotokan Karate
A co-founder of the GMAU and now retired from teaching, Jon holds 6th Degree Black Belts in Shotokan Karate and Song Moo Kwan. Master Hodge studied many different forms of martial arts and is also a Master of Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Master Hodge is well known as a teacher of self defense, self discipline, and most importantly to him – self improvement.
MICHAEL HODGE
Instructor - CMAT, Shotokan Karate & Ultimate Bo
Co-founder of the GMAU, Sensei Michael is also creator of the Ultimate Bo weapon style. He's been studying martial arts since age seven, and holds 3rd Degree Black Belts in Shotokan Karate and Song Moo Kwan. He has taught thousands of classes as an instructor in his own dojo and his father’s dojo over the years, and now currently works with home-study students around the globe. His goal is to help others reach their full potential.
AARON IACINO
Instructor - Krav Maga
Aaron has a 1st Degree Black Belt in GMAU Krav Maga and is a Certified Martial Arts Teacher (CMAT) and Certified Krav Maga Instructor. In addition to teaching GMAU Krav, he teaches self-defense, defensive tactics, and Active Killer Survival Tactics to law-enforcement personnel and civilians. He runs an MMA gym where he teaches Krav Maga, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Boxing. He's also an appointed NRA training counselor, where he certifies pistol, rifle, shotgun, and concealed-weapon permit instructors. Aaron has studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing since the late 1990s. He was a Muay Thai Kickboxing champion and has competed in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and MMA.
DUSTIN KOPPEL
Head Instructor - Krav Maga, CMAT & Krav Maga Instructor Certification
Dustin has been involved in martial arts since 2007, when he started training in Krav Maga and Kickboxing under John Gabriele and Thierry Williams. In 2008, he began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and earned certification to teach Krav Maga and Kickboxing. Dustin holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga, black belts in Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and a senior rank in Muay Thai. As a competitor, he has won Kickboxing championships in the light and super heavyweight categories. He’s been instructing for the GMAU since 2016.
ISMAEL RICO
Instructor - Taekwondo
Rico currently holds a 4th Dan certified Kukkiwon Black Belt in Taekwondo (WTF). He started his Taekwondo (ITF) training in 1998 at Troy Dorsey’s Karate school in Dallas, Texas, where he earned his 1st Dan Black Belt. In 2009, he joined the United States Taekwondo Academy (run by Masters Alsharif and Atoun) as an instructor and student. There he earned his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dans in the WTF style. During that time, he also trained in Capoeira with Prof. Molejo at the Capoeira Resistencia club in Allen, Texas. In 2019, Rico left the United States Taekwondo Academy to join the GMAU as a Taekwondo instructor. And he is currently training in Wing Chun with Joram Greber at the Authentic Kung Fu school in Dallas. To Rico, martial arts is life.
MICHAEL SOUTH
Instructor - Krav Maga
Michael is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga. He started his Krav training in 2008 under Steve Swinford in Northern Oklahoma. Over the years he's trained with John Gabriele, Ernie Kirk of Krav Maga Universal, James Hiramasa of Krav Maga Worldwide, and Dustin Koppel of the GMAU. Michael earned his black belt in Krav in 2013 and his second degree black belt in early 2022. He also holds black belts in Taekwondo and Hapkido, and is an avid student of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Michael is an active martial-arts competitor and is the founder of National Martial Arts, an Oklahoma-based martial arts organization where he specializes in teaching Krav Maga.
SETH SULLIVAN
Head Instructor - Shotokan Karate
Seth is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. He's been training in Shotokan since 2006 and is the owner and chief instructor of Sullivan’s Shotokan Karate in Sumrall, Mississippi. He has trained under several instructors including Sensei Steve Parham (3rd Dan) and Don Byington (7th Dan, and a student of Sensei Kanazawa for a time). Seth received his 1st Dan black belt under Craig Beeding (who received his black belt through Don Byington). And after joining the GMAU as a Shotokan black belt in 2014, he earned 2nd Dan that same year and 3rd Dan in 2017 from Sensei Jon Hodge. Seth has attended many seminars in various martial art styles including Shotokan, Seibukan, and Jiu-Jitsu. In 2011, he earned U.S. Champion in bo and 2nd place in kata at the U.S. National AAU Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, and Double State Champion in bo and kata and 3rd place in kata at the Mississippi Karate Association Tournament. Seth enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and riding his Harley motorcycle. He loves teaching and supporting martial-arts students.
WESTON TITUS
Head Instructor - Combat Strong
Weston has a lifelong passion for health and movement. He has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in kinesiology (the study of human movement) and is currently working on his PhD. He's a professor at a local collage and coaches group fitness classes. He spends his free time finding new events or races to challenge his body and mind. He enjoys helping people learn and reach their goals.
NICK VASALLO
Head Instructor - Muay Thai
Since 2003, Coach Nick has trained in various martial arts including Aikido, Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Krav Maga. He began Kickboxing in 2005 at CSU East Bay in Hayward, CA. In 2016, he transitioned into Muay Thai training with Stephanie Moon and Muay Thai world champion, George TsuTsui, in Danville, CA. He has won tournament medals and has competed in amateur bouts. Coach Nick also practices Jiu Jitsu and is the head instructor of Muay Thai at Danville Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, and Kickboxing. He’s a Certified Martial Arts Teacher (CMAT) and the creator of the GMAU's Muay Thai program. Coach Nick is sponsored by an affiliate of Zebra Athletics, Iron Neck, RXT-1, DoubleUP Roller, and Punch King. He's also a college professor of music, married with two kids, composes/sings/plays guitar in two bands (Antagony and Oblivion), and owns WeNeedMerch.com - a custom apparel company.