Education:

University of Mississippi – Computer Science and Business
Fort Lewis College – BA in Sociology and Minor in History
Grand Canyon University – Masters Degree in Education
Clayton College – Doctorate in Natural Health and Naturopathy

I want to say a quick word about Clayton College. Unfortunately, there are some people who disparage the school and its graduates due to their naivete and lack of understanding, or simply their own personal agendas. This program was considered controversial at the time because they offered a doctor of naturopathy. There were only two other schools in the United States that offered this degree, and they were both medical schools in the Northwest. These rival schools were pushing for all naturopaths to be medically licensed by the government. I had no interest in going to medical school or jumping through hoops to get a government sanctioned naturopathic license, nor to open a practice in naturopathy. This degree was for me and my healing, not for my career or recognition, so I chose Clayton College.

The practice of naturopathy has always been an unlicensed practice, and still is in most parts of the world. There are only a few states that require naturopaths to be licensed by the state. The two schools in the Northwest had a problem with Clayton College because their degrees were for natural naturopathy and did not require a license. Their issue was not with the education of the school, but issues within the medical community.

Clayton College of Natural Health was a non-traditionally accredited college. The organizations that accredit the college are private associations that offer professional accreditation in naturopathy, holistic nutrition and other areas of natural health. Clayton College was licensed by the Alabama Department of Post-secondary Education. The PhD in Holistic Nutrition with Clayton College has been approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. The International Organization of Nutritional Consultants in Canada lists Clayton College as an approved school. The school was also accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners(A.A.D.P.) and the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board (A.N.M.A.B.).

In addition, graduates of Clayton College are represented and supported by the American Naturopathic Medical Association. Furthermore, doctorate degrees from Clayton College are also recognized by state and federal organizations, such as public schools and government organizations. My degree has been recognized and accepted by the State of Colorado as a legitimate degree, and the coursework has been accepted for my pay scale and for my teaching endorsement. Clayton College had completed all requirements to be regionally accredited as well, but when the recession hit, they ended up closing their doors in 2010, along with many other schools, organizations and businesses.

Martial Arts Rank and Title

My official martial arts training began in 1984 under the instruction of Bob and Nikki Allen. Since that time I have had several different instructors, as we had to move around because of school and work. I earned my first black belt in Shotokan karate in 1996 under Shihan William Jackson and continued training with under his direction, up through the rank of Go Dan in 2005 which is also signed and certified by Cindy Jackson and Soke Richard Hallman.

In September of 2014, I was honored with the Honorary Title of Hanshi. This award was given to me as a lifetime achievement award for my contributions in the martial arts community. This is a great honor for me, not necessarily because of the title, but because of the great men who felt that I was worthy of being honored in such a way as this. The title of Hanshi was given to me by the following martial artists:

Sifu Al Dacascos: Founder of Wun Hop Kuen Do, winner of over 200 championships, the Black Belt Hall of Fame Instructor of the year in 1977, Inside Jung Fu Magazine Instructor of the Year in 1992, has instructed agents from the FBI, U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, U.S. Marshals, and the German military and police.

Grandmaster Phil Torres: Colonel U. S. Marine Corps, Advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Washington DC, Chief of Nuclear Security Policy and Chief of Command Security for the United States Strategic Command, the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon, and Secretary of Defense appointee to a Department of Defense.