INSTRUCTORS (in order of appearance)
Ken Pfrenger is a hoplologist from Northeast Ohio who has a background in teaching Muay Thai, JKD concepts and the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). Several years ago his focus changed from the Asian arts to the Western Martial Traditions of Europe and the United States. He has devoted most of his time researching the Martial Traditions of the various Celtic cultures, from Irish Collar and Elbow wrestling and stickplay to Cornish Close Hugg wrestling. He is one of the founding members of CMARS (Celtic Martial Arts Research Society) and is on the internation advisory council to the American Heritage Fighting Arts Association. An avid boxing fan since a young age, Ken has been seriously studying the sweet science for many years. His focus now is on the techniques and fighting concepts of the old pugilists.
Christopher Scott Thompson is the president of the Cateran Society, an organization devoted to researching and practicing the historic Highland martial arts. He is 32 years old, and lives in Portland, Maine.
Kirk Lawson has been training in martial arts for 19 years. He started
his training in oriental Martial Arts including Tang Soo Do and Tomiki
Aikido, and Judo, which he still practices. Kirk's interests have
expanded to include Western Martial Arts and he has been training
under Ken Pfrenger in Cumann Bhata as well as dabbling in other
Western methods. Kirk joined the Bartitsu group as part of his
interest in Western stickwork and has been an active participant since
2003.
Randal Gustitis has been training in the martial arts for 21 years. His early training was in karate and Western Fencing, although he has branched out over the years to a variety of Eastern and Western martial arts. An amateur hoplologist, he has traveled to New Zealand (where he was the first mainland American to be ranked in Maori martial arts) and Portugal to research and study. In the Asian arts, he is an instructor of Yang style Taijiquan, with 19 years experience, and holds a Nidan ranking in Meishin Muso Ryu Iaido. He is also a practicing Kendoka. In the Western arts, he is a ROSS instructor, and an avid practioner of Jogo do Pau do Ilha Terceira. Randal currently runs a ROSS/Jogo do Pau club at Bryn Mawr College, and teaches wushu for Physical Education credit at the college as well.
David Doyle has been involved with the sport of wrestling since he was 16 years old. Following high school, David contined his endeavors with wrestling through clubs and coaching. From 2003-2006 David was an assistant wrestling coach at Akron Hoban High School under Ralph Paonessa. In addition to wrestling, David also practiced JKD Concepts with Ken Pfrenger for four years, he has also studied jujitsu and tai chi at several seminars and schools.
Josh Little is the founder and main instructor for Ars Gladii. Ars Gladii focuses on the martial traditions of 14th and 15th century Germany, specifically the Liechtenauer lineage. His primary focus is on the longsword as presented in the Döbringer and Ringeck manuscripts. Josh has been running Ars Gladii and working with historical sources since 2000. Prior to that, he worked with various free combat groups including the SCA and fenced Olympic style for 6 years. Besides the longsword, Josh also works with I.33, dagger, wrestling, and the pole axe. He is also working with modern defensive tactics, knife fighting, and combat shooting. Josh holds a BA in Philosophy and Medieval History from Western Michigan University.
C. Allen Reed is a law enforcement officer with over twenty-five years experience. He is a firearms, baton and police combatives instructor for a Federal agency. He is a State of Illinois certified defensive tactics instructor. Allen also holds the rank of Kaiden (equivalent of 7th dan) in Paracombatives Jujutsu,. Allen studies and recreates the sword arts of Medieval and Renaissance Europe. He is a past member of the Chicago Swordplay Guild. Currently Allen is Headmaster at Gallowglass Academy in northwestern Illinois. Allen can be contacted at GallowglassAcad@aol.com.