About David

I am passionate about helping students and clients address barriers to achieving their health, fitness, and independence objectives. I am certified as a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist Coach with specializations in Senior Fitness, Behavioral Transformation, and Corrective Exercise. I have studied martial arts since 1977 and am a Life Protection Coach and a certified Defensive Tactics Instructor with multiple black belts in Shotokan karate and Taiho Jutsu (control and arrest tactics). My non-black belt martial arts experience includes Aikido, Judo, Jujutsu, Kali, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi Chuan, and Tai Mantis Kung Fu.

I received my 1st and 2nd degree black belts in Shotokan karate under Shojiro Sugiyama and Hidetaka Nishiyama while training at the Midwest Headquarters for the Japan Karate Association. I received my 3rd and 4th degree black belts in Shotokan and 1st through 3rd degree Black Belts in Taiho Jutsu from Charles L. Plaines, Sr (a product of the USAF SAC Combative Measures Instructor Program).

I hold an MBA in Public/Non-Profit Management and Human Resource Management, and I am a Certified Supply Chain Professional. I was the General Secretary of the United States Taiho Jutsu Federation from 2002 through 2012, served as the Illinois State Representative for Gospel Martial Arts Union International, and am a lifetime member of the Kicks for Christ Federation and the United States Jujitsu Federation. I served as Director of the Waukegan Community Church Life Protection Academy from 2004 through 2018.

Trainer at: TEMPO Group