Striking Coach

3rd Degree Taekwondo Black Belt | 1st Degree Cheezic Tang Soo Do Black Belt | MMA Conditioning Specialist (NASM) | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt (KORE BJJ)

Instructor MJ brings over 30 years of martial arts experience and a lifelong dedication to striking arts. A respected figure in the Connecticut martial arts community—particularly in New Haven County—he has become a leading voice in the growth and development of kickboxing in the region.

His martial arts journey began in the early 1980s, inspired by the martial arts films he grew up watching with his siblings. Starting with Taekwondo as a child, MJ’s curiosity soon led him to explore Kempo Karate, Tang Soo Do, boxing, Muay Thai, Aikido, Japanese Jujitsu, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and even Taijutsu. By his early teens, he was already competing successfully in open karate point sparring, earning top rankings and building a reputation for his skill and passion.

In 2008, Taekwondo Grandmaster Kiye Cho gave MJ the opportunity to teach a hybrid kickboxing program at one of his schools—an innovative move at a time when blending striking styles within traditional martial arts was uncommon. From that foundation, MJ developed what would become Black Tiger Kickboxing & Martial Arts, a comprehensive system combining the strengths of multiple striking disciplines.

Throughout his career, MJ has continued to pursue excellence both as a student and as a teacher. He achieved his 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo under Grandmaster Cho in 2014, his 1st degree black belt with the Cheezic Tang Soo Do Federation in 2025, and his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with KORE BJJ. He has also been certified as an MMA Conditioning Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

In addition to his decades of training and competition, MJ has taught cardio kickboxing and martial arts at numerous fitness centers and universities across Connecticut. He currently teaches credited courses in Fundamentals of Kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Fitness Training & Nutrition Strategy at Quinnipiac University and serves as Faculty Advisor for the Quinnipiac University MMA Club. His classes at Dandelion BJJ in West Haven continue his mission of blending tradition with innovation, offering students a striking program that is both disciplined and dynamic.

Lineage: Kano > Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Machado > Tim Burrill > Dustin Rhodes > James Cook > Marvin Jones