Joseph Bautista is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo and a proud third-generation martial artist who carries forward his family’s legacy with the true spirit of Aloha.

He began training at just five years old and has spent a lifetime immersed in the martial arts. His journey spans multiple disciplines, including Kajukenbo, Jeet Kune Do (where he served as an assistant instructor), USA Judo where he earned the rank of Brown Belt, USA Boxing as a Green Level Coach, and Doce Pares Escrima. This diverse background has shaped his adaptable, well-rounded approach to both training and teaching.

Sifu Bautista is the owner and head instructor of Bautista Kajukenbo MMA in Chandler, Arizona, where he develops martial artists who can move fluidly between ranges and respond effectively in any situation. He also serves as the Events Coordinator for the Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute, helping to strengthen and grow the Kajukenbo community.

Rooted in Hawaiian values of Ohana, respect, and humility, his philosophy emphasizes bridging disciplines rather than isolating them. For him, martial arts is not about limitation — it’s about integration, growth, and balance, both on and off the mat.

In this episode, we explore legacy, cross-training, adaptability, and what it truly means to live the art.

Please welcome my guest today, Sifu Joseph Bautista.

Instagram

Bautista Kajukenbo MMA – Bautista Kajukenbo

The Way of the Christian Samurai: Reflections for Servant-Warriors of Christ: Nowak, Paul: 9780977223466: Amazon.com: Books

Tammy McCracken is a self-defense professional, psychotherapist, and international instructor whose work lives at the powerful intersection of violence dynamics, trauma recovery, and transformational leadership.

She is the Founder and CEO of 500Rising, an organization built from decades of experience in both mental health and self-defense. Through 500Rising, Tammy provides education and instructor training across North America and Europe, with a strong focus on empowering women and girls through realistic, experience-based learning.

Tammy is also the founder of Kore Self-Defense & Krav Maga in the Northern Virginia and DC Metro area, where she serves as program advisor, teaches general training classes, and directs the instructor college training program. Her leadership extends internationally as a core member of the renowned Violence Dynamics teaching team established by Rory Miller. She is a certified Conflict Communication Instructor, Situational Awareness Specialist, Krav Maga Instructor, scenario development trainer, and facilitator.

As a psychotherapist specializing in acute and complex trauma recovery, Tammy has worked with both survivors of violence and perpetrators, giving her a rare and deeply informed perspective that shapes how she teaches self-defense and develops instructors.

She earned her Expert Rank in Krav Maga in Israel through Krav Maga Global, becoming the third woman in North America to achieve that rank and the first fully certified female instructor on the East Coast within the organization.

In addition to her hands-on training and clinical work, Tammy has authored numerous articles, developed a self-defense course for The Great Courses, contributed a chapter to Rory Miller’s most recent book, and appeared on multiple podcasts sharing her expertise.

In this episode, we explore the realities of violence, the psychology behind conflict, the responsibility of instructors, and how true empowerment is built through both competence and compassion.

Please welcome my guest today… Tammy McCracken.

500 Rising – Home

Krav Maga Northern Virginia | Self-Defense | Kore Self Defense

Events Calendar – KMG – Krav Maga Global

My guest today is Professor Gabe Reynaga, a lifelong martial artist whose journey began at just nine years old, and more than four decades later, he’s still competing, teaching, and making history.

By the age of seventeen, Gabe was already competing at the adult level, quickly rising to the top of the sport karate world and earning four world titles. At just twenty years old, he joined the legendary Paul Mitchell Karate Team, one of the most elite teams in martial arts, and opened his first karate school that same year. Under his leadership, his students went on to capture multiple international championships.

He earned his 4th degree black belt in karate and was later inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame by Chuck Norris himself. Widely regarded as one of the greatest sport karate competitors of all time, his accomplishments alone would secure his legacy, but his journey was far from over.

In 2009, he expanded into MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Between 2012 and 2014, he stepped into the cage for three professional MMA bouts, winning his final fight by first-round TKO in just 45 seconds… at the age of 42.

As his jiu-jitsu career progressed, he became a dominant force on the IBJJF circuit. From blue belt onward, he claimed title after title across Texas. At purple belt, he won both his weight class and the open division. In 2017, he earned his brown belt and immediately made history, winning gold at his first Pan American Championship, followed by another gold at Master’s Worlds later that same year. He was awarded his black belt on the podium.

As a black belt, he continued to excel on the world stage, earning gold in his division, a No-Gi World bronze medal, and a Pan American silver.

His career spans decades, disciplines, and continents, and his impact on martial arts continues to grow.

Please welcome to the show – Gabe Reynaga!

Takedown City Wrestling & Jiu Jitsu Academy San Antonio, Texas

My guest today is a lifelong martial artist, instructor, and historian dedicated to preserving one of the most important lineages in modern martial arts history.

Greglon Lee is the son of James Yimm Lee — a highly respected martial artist, author, and close friend and training partner of Bruce Lee. Growing up in Oakland, California, Greglon was immersed in the martial arts culture that surrounded Bruce Lee during his formative years in America, witnessing firsthand the early development of ideas that would later evolve into Jeet Kune Do.

Drawing from personal experience, firsthand stories, and decades of training, Greglon offers a rare and authentic perspective on Wing Chun, early Jun Fan Gung Fu, and the philosophical evolution of Bruce Lee’s martial approach.

Today, as a teacher, speaker, and co-author of The Dragon and the Tiger, he continues to share the lessons, history, and philosophy passed down from his father and Bruce Lee — ensuring that this influential chapter of martial arts history is accurately remembered, preserved, and understood.

Please welcome my guest today, Greglon Lee.

Amazon.com: Remembering the Master: Bruce Lee, James Yimm Lee, and the Creation of Jeet Kune Do: 9781583941485: Campbell, Sid, Lee, Greglon Yimm: Books

Amazon.com: The Dragon and the Tiger, Volume 1: The Birth of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do: 9781583940891: Campbell, Sid, Lee, Greglon Yimm: Books

Amazon.com: The Dragon and the Tiger, Volume 2: The Untold Story of Jun Fan Gung-fu and James Yimm Lee: 9781583941188: Campbell, Sid, Lee, Greglon Yimm: Books

Melody Johnson is a lifelong martial artist, educator, and one of the true pioneers in children’s martial arts development. With more than three decades of experience researching childhood development as it relates to sports, coaching, and parenting, she has helped shape how martial arts schools around the world teach, coach, and support young students.

Her groundbreaking work began with the creation of the Little Ninja Preschool Martial Arts program, a curriculum that has since been implemented in thousands of schools worldwide. Building on that foundation, she went on to revolutionize the children’s martial arts space through the development of the age-specific SKILLZ curriculums and drills—programs now used in over 1,000 martial arts schools across more than two dozen countries, setting a global standard for excellence in child development through martial arts.

Beyond curriculum design, she is a highly sought-after consultant, educator, and speaker. She shares her expertise through initiatives such as SKILLZ University, the Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialist program, and dynamic seminars focused on teaching, coaching, and parenting—helping instructors better understand how kids learn, grow, and thrive both on and off the mat.

Her own martial arts journey began in 1987. She holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo under former guest of the show “Super” Dan Anderson, a 5th Degree Black Belt in the ATA, and is an ATA World Champion in forms.

She currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with her family, and her son—who continues to inspire her daily mission to help children reach their full potential through martial arts and life.

Please welcome my guest today, Melody Johnson.

SKILLZ Program – SKILLZ Child Development Center

My guest today is a lifelong martial artist whose journey into self-defense began not with trophies or titles, but with necessity, responsibility, and a deep desire to protect others.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1987, Addison Plaisance is a true child of the ’90s—raised on Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, and the belief that real strength comes from discipline, purpose, and service. His childhood was far from easy. Growing up with an abusive older brother, Addison learned early how to de-escalate danger, remain calm under pressure, and shield the people he cared about. Those formative experiences shaped his view of martial arts—not as a tool for dominance, but as a path toward peace and responsibility.

At just 13 years old, Addison began training at Silver Dragon TaeKwonDo Academy in Morgan City, Louisiana under Master Raymond Rutledge and Master Brian Rutledge. There, he learned far more than techniques. Master Ray instilled resilience, humility, and the importance of keeping one’s guard up—physically and spiritually.

By age 18, Addison earned his 1st-degree black belt before heading to Louisiana State University, where he continued training, led the LSU TaeKwonDo club, competed in national qualifiers, and expanded his knowledge through Judo. Along the way, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s in Plant Pathology.

His career eventually brought him to Fargo, where he managed greenhouses for NDSU and unexpectedly stepped into one of his most meaningful roles—becoming a devoted single father.

Years later, while simply driving around in search of an arcade, fate intervened. Addison and his daughter discovered Red River Traditional TaeKwonDo, and just like that, he found himself back where he belonged—training, assisting, and giving back to the martial arts community.

Today, Addison teaches a dedicated Friday sparring class, not for money or recognition, but because he believes service is the highest calling. As he reminds his students—and himself—the “Do” in TaeKwonDo is the Way: the way we live, the way we serve, and the way we strive to become better human beings.

Please welcome my guest today, Addison Plaisance.

Addison PLAISANCE | Bioinformatician | Master of Science | North Dakota State University, Fargo | NDSU | Department of Plant Pathology | Research profile

Social Media Destruction: Plaisance, Addison: 9781796073751: Amazon.com: Books

My guest today is a lifelong martial artist whose journey began more than six decades ago and ultimately led him to develop one of the most recognizable branches of American Kenpo in the Midwest.

Sr. Grandmaster Tom Saviano first stepped onto the mats in the mid-1960s, beginning his training in Goju-Shorei Karate before later studying under the legendary Grandmaster John McSweeney, one of Ed Parker’s original black belts and a key figure in bringing Kenpo to the Midwest. Under McSweeney’s guidance, Tom earned his black belt and developed a deep understanding of principle-based, practical self-defense.

In 1984, he founded Saviano’s White Tiger Kenpo Karate in Addison, Illinois. The White Tiger Kenpo system blends the directness of Japanese and Okinawan karate with the fluidity and circular motion of Chinese martial arts. Over the past four decades, Tom has refined this system, promoted generations of black belts, and built a cohesive curriculum known for its efficiency, adaptability, and real-world effectiveness.

Tom has been inducted into multiple Martial Arts Halls of Fame and has led countless seminars while cultivating a community rooted in discipline, respect, and personal growth. What began in a small training space has grown into a lasting legacy that continues to influence martial artists across the Midwest and beyond.

Beyond the dojo, Tom’s life experience includes work in radio and television, as well as time spent working at a California winery, adding unique perspective to a career defined by learning, adaptability, and service.

Please welcome my guest today, Sr. Grandmaster Tom Saviano.

White Tiger Fitness Center | martial arts | 823 S Rohlwing Rd, Addison, IL 60101

Today’s guest is a lifelong athlete whose competitive spirit carried him from the wrestling mats of small-town North Dakota to the bright lights of the UFC Octagon.

Chris Tuchscherer was raised in Rugby, North Dakota, where he built his foundation in wrestling, a discipline that would shape not only his athletic career, but his approach to life. After a standout high school run, he continued competing at North Dakota State University before transferring to Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he became a two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

That same relentless drive propelled him into mixed martial arts. Known to fans as “The Crowbar,” Chris became a feared heavyweight with crushing wrestling, unshakable toughness, and a reputation for outworking anyone standing across from him. His impressive professional career earned him a spot on the sport’s biggest stage, where he competed in the UFC against some of the division’s most formidable names.

Beyond the cage, Chris has remained deeply invested in the growth of combat sports in his home state. He founded Crowbar MMA and promoted regional MMA events in North Dakota, events I was lucky enough to be involved with as a judge.

But stepping away from fighting didn’t mean stepping away from competition.

Staying true to his blue-collar roots, Chris shifted gears, literally, into IMCA dirt track racing, where he now brings the same intensity and passion he once showed in the cage. Alongside racing, he runs his agricultural businesses and remains closely connected to the communities that shaped him.

A wrestler.
A fighter.
A racer.
A businessman.
A husband and a father.

Please enjoy my interview with my friend Chris Tuchscherer.