Baltimore Martial Arts Academy Instructors

Sensei Gary Berger graduated cum laude from Towson State University with three degrees in Biology, Psychology and Animal Behavior. Mr. Berger abandoned his future in science in order to pursue his true passion - the martial arts. He and his wife, Danyelle Berger, jointly own the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy.

Having studying martial arts since the age of 4, Mr. Berger is now a nationally and internationally recognized instructor and competitor in the martial arts. In 1993 he won a gold medal in the U.S. National full contact Kuoshu Championships. In 1994 he was a member of the U.S. Kung Fu team and won a silver medal in the European Kuoshu internationals. Mr. Berger has also medaled in several championships in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Mr. Berger has pioneered and developed an adapted karate class. This course offers a unique approach to teaching physically and/or mentally challenged children the martial arts. Mr. Berger has been featured in several publications and television shows for his endeavors in this new field. Sensei Gary Berger has also served as a martial arts technical advisor for the Baltimore based television series Homicide. Mr. Berger’s greatest talent lies in his structured style of teaching that makes learning easy, safe and enjoyable.

Jeff is the head Aikido instructor for the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy. He began training in martial arts in 1984. Jeff is recognized by the Japan Aikido Association and Aikido America International as a second degree black belt in Shodokan Aikido (commonly referred to as Tomiki Aikido) under Brian Sutherland Sensei, Godan. He also holds a brown belt (ikkyu) in Judo from the United States Judo Association, a black belt in karate under the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, and a blue belt in jiu-jitsu under Professor Pedro Sauer.

Jeff is also a Fitness Coach and Certified Personal Trainer. He has trained in numerous other martial arts over the years including kenpo, vale tudo, muay thai, and traditional weapons.

Jeff is the Executive Director of Mims Innovations, Inc., a Baltimore-based internet and business consulting firm. He earned his Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Towson University and holds numerous industry certifications.

Sifu Thomas has been involved in the martial arts for over 25 years. He holds a black sash in Ho Chen Pai, Tien shen pai, and Hua Mountain Kung fu. Indoor student of Master Luping Zhang for thirteen years where he studied Tan Tui, Hua Mountain Kung fu, Shaolin Kung fu, Ba Gua, Xing Yi, Yang Tai Chi Chuan and Chen Tai Chi Chuan. He also has experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Sifu Thomas currently studies old frame chen village chen style Tai Chi chuan under renowned Master Wang Haijun (China's three year national push hands champion). Sifu Thomas is the winner of six gold metals in Tai Chi Push Hands and was recently elected into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005.

Master Thomas teaches the intricate movements of four chen tai chi chuan forms along with the martial applications, self defense, chi kung, developing full body power, push hands, sensitivity drills, two person fighting application drills and weapons.

Mike is 12 year police veteran who's been training in the Martial Arts since 1990. He started training in the art of Tang Soo Do and successfully competed in the tournament circuit for sparring and kata. After winning John Burdycks' 12th Annual Maryland Open Men's light weight black belt sparring division in 1994 he began kickboxing at the Laurel Boys & Girls Club under coach John Crawford.

Soon after Mike began training Shingi Tai ju-jitsu. In 2001 he began training in Gracie Jiu-jitsu and was certified as a Law Enforcement G.R.A.P.L.E. Instructor by Rorion Gracie. Since then he's continued training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Pedro Sauer earning the rank of brown belt in June 2009.

Mike's other certifications include:

• ASP Instructor
• LVNR Instructor
• MPCTC Defensive Tactics Instructor
• Force Training Division Krav Maga Instructor
• MPCTC Firearms Instructor
• MPCTC Enhanced Instructor
• NSPA Personal Trainer
• RKC Instructor
• Cooper Institute Law Enforcement Fitness Specialist
• G.R.A.P.L.E. Instructor

Steve Lord began his study of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in Hawaii in 1996 after being introduced to the art by some Brazilian co-workers. He was hooked instantly. He continued his training by moving to Utah to learn from Professor Pedro Sauer, a world-renown black belt. In 2001 Steve earned his blue belt from Professor Sauer.

In 2002 Steve moved to Ellicott City where he continues to live, work, and train jiu-jitsu. He earned his purple belt from Professor Sauer in 2006. Steve is a Grappler’s Quest silver medalist and is said to always have jiu-jitsu rolling around in his brain.

Noel Smith began his study of martial arts at 10 years of age. He received a brown belt at age the age of 13 in Shotokan Karate. He continued to study karate till he joined the military in 1992. Noel then spent 4 years in the Navy as a Corpsman stationed at Camp Pendleton with 3rd Battalion 1st Marines.

In October of 1998 Noel met Roberto Marques DaSilva (AKA Maguilla). Maguilla at the time was a 4th degree Black Belt under Andre "Dede" Pederneiras in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Noel trained with Maguilla and received his Brown Belt in 2006.

His introduction into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has changed Noel's life forever. He now trains as a brown belt under Renato Tavares.

Robert McKay has studied various martial arts over the years. He began his training in 1982, earning his first instructor rank, ten years later, in an eclectic Filipino Kuntaw Silat style. Robert continued teaching, while furthering his own studies in the Indonesian art of Pencak Silat Mande Muda. Eventually, Robert earned Jagabaya Instructor rank in Mande Muda. He is licensed to teach, through the Suwanda Academy in West Java, Indonesia. Robert also holds a current instructor (Cikgu Muda) rank in the Malaysian art of Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi.

Robert's teaching style can meet a broad variety of needs. His students have ranged from homemakers and clergymen to active-duty military and members of Federal law enforcement.

Danyelle is the Russian Kettlebell and Core Conditioning instructor for the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy. Danyelle began her martial arts training in 2004 in Modern Kung-Fu, a hybrid martial art consisting of traditional Kung-Fu, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves. She earned her black belt in November of 2007. Danyelle is also a certified Russian Kettlebell instructor (RKC) as of June 2009.

Outside of martial arts, Danyelle holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters Degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Prior to joining the school, Danyelle worked as a financial analyst with Citigroup Smith Barney.

Danyelle lives in Columbia with her husband Gary and two young sons, Bryce and Tristan.

Sue began her training under Sensei Berger in 2000. She won a bronze medal in an international Kuoshu Tournament in July 2002. She has enjoyed being an instructor at the dojo since the Summer of 2004, continuously teaching kick boxing.

Since 2004, Sue has also been training people one on one at the Colisseum Gym. She is a student and practitioner of the techniques and methods pioneered by Athlete's Performance, an internationally-renowned training program frequented by Division I college and professional athletes.

Sue has been a lifelong athlete herself. She ran track and sprinted in high school and played volleyball for the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She continues to compete at a high level in doubles volleyball in the sand.

Jim joined the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy in July, 2004. Seeing the kick boxers work out while watching his son in the Kung Fu class, he thought it looked like a good way to lose the extra weight he had put on over the years. One class and he was hooked. Six months later, Gary suggested they “put an edge on the animal we’re creating” and thus he started Modern Kung Fu. In May of 2008 Jim earned his black belt under Sensei Gary Berger.

Occasionally filling in for kick boxing instructors who needed time off, he started teaching the Tuesday evening class full time in November of 2005.

During the day, Jim works as the Technical Operations Manager for a medical device company, Nucletron Corp. Jim has been happily married to wife Genna, since 1986. They have one son, J.D., 14.

Aaron Seligson is a native of Annapolis, Maryland. He is a member of the World Escrima, Kali, Arnis Federation (WEKAF) and has been practicing the Filipino martial art of Arnis since 1993. Aaron trained under Master Carlos Patalinghug Jr. and studied the Doce Pares style under Grand Master Ciriaco (Cacoy) Cañete. He achieved his black sash in 1996 and has since been teaching Arnis and Escrima. He has trained more than 30 nationally ranked fighters; as well as judged and refereed national and world-level WEKAF fights and forms. As a member of the U.S. Stick-Fighting Team, he won First Place in the United States for stick fighting, team form, and personal form; in addition to placing second in the World Tournament for stick fighting, first in the World Tournament for team form, and first in the World Tournament for personal form. He has participated in events throughout the United States, England, and the Philippines.

Aaron also has experience with other disciplines of martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and mixed martial arts. He actively develops curriculum for his ongoing classes and has been an instructor at Baltimore Martial Arts Academy since 2002.

Tomas teaches Judo for adults and children at Baltimore Martial Arts Academy location in Catonsville. Tomas started Judo at the age of 9 in Bratislava, Slovakia. He was awarded the rank of shodan (first degree black belt) by the United States Judo Federation in 1996.