INSTRUCTORS

JUDO

Nick Zaffuto 6th degree Black Belt
Our club founder, "Mr.Z" began Judo in 1945 in Pearl Harbor, while a member of the United States Marine Corps, and began the first Judo Club in Pittsburgh at the downtown YMCA. He has been teaching judo for over 60 years and currently run's our kids program.

Here is an opportunity to have your children learn judo from a true old school master.

Carl Levy, 2nd degree black belt

Phil Farabaugh, 1st Degree Black Belt
A former college wrestler and a black belt in judo since 2000. He has been training and teaching as one of the head instructors at South Hills Judo for a seven years
Highlights of his judo competition record include:
• 2005 Fall Classic National Championships (3rd place)
• 2004 USA Judo National Ladder (2nd place)
• 2003 Quebec Open (3rd place)
• 2002 Morris Cup (2nd place)
• 8x PA state champion

Phil began training in 1995 at Slippery Rock University. Phil believes judo is one of the most fun and dynamic of sports.

Ricky Brown, 1st Degree Black Belt
Ricky Brown, a black belt in judo and an Olympic contender, teaches judo two times a week. He is one of the head instructors at South Hills Judo. Rick has been training judo for most of his adolescent and adult life. Realizing the importance of martial arts in his own personal development and success, he aims to share that with Pittsburgh youth. Rick has trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and amassed an impressive competition record. Highlights include:
• 2007 Pedro’s Judo Challenge (3rd place)
• 2007 Liberty Bell Classic (2nd place)
• 2006 Flag City Open (1st place)
• 2002 Liberty Bell Classic (2nd place)
• 2002 USA Judo National Championships (5th place)
• 2001 USA Judo National Championships (2nd place)
• 2001 Swamp Classic (1st place)
• 2000 U.S. Open (2nd place)
• 1999 USA Senior Championships (3rd place)
• 1998 Senior Nationals (3rd place)
• 1997 USJI Junior Olympic Judo Championships (2nd place)
• 1997 Junior Nationals (2nd place)

Rick's mentoring is not limited to martial arts. He and his brother, Martin, also provide academic tutoring before the classes to ensure that his pupils excel both in and out of the classroom. Rick provides a positive role model to those at-risk youth that would not otherwise have one.

Scott Fingal, 1st Degree Black Belt
A black belt in judo, Scott is an instructor at the Club and President of the Board of SHOJI, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides high quality judo instruction to underprivileged, at-risk youth in the Pittsburgh area. Scott also serves as the clubs executivee director, overseeing the operations of both the club and the non-profit organization.

In addition 10 years of judo, Scott has trained in Fillipino Martial Arts
and Muay Thai.

Paul Dieseroth,1st Degree Black Belt

MUAY THAI

Stephen Strotmeyer
Stephen "Pisand" Strotmeyer is the head instructor for Khaay Muay Sit-Kangmongkorn, Pittsburgh Muay Thai. He has over 7 years experience fighting and coaching muay thai. Stephen is an official USKBA Thaiboxing Coordinator, USMF East Coast Coordinator, and USMTA Certified Kru. His accomplishments include:
• WKA US Muay Thai Featherweight Champion (2004)
• WKA US Amateur Kickboxing Lightweight Champion (2003)
• USKBA Lightweight Amateur Muay Thai Champion (2003)
• Battlegrounds Muay Thai Lightweight East Coast Champion (2003)
• UWMTA Midwest Lightweight Muay Thai Champion (2002)
• Ranked #3 IKF Bantamweight Pro modified Muay Thai
• Ranked #1 IKF Featherweight amateur Muay Thai (2004)
• Ranked #2 IKF Lightweight amateur Muay Thai (2003)

A superbantam/feather-weight A-Class fighter, Stephan has fought on Chanel 7 and UBC-TV in Thailand and was a IFMA World Championships Fighter (2004) and team Captain (2006 and 2007). He has fought for X-1 Thailand (2007), the WKA North American Featherweight Muay Thai title (2003 and 2005), and was a superfight competitor in the King of San Da World Championships (2004). Some notable opponents are Khamlayok Fairtex (Thailand), Graeme Ness (Scotland), Darren Robson (Canada), Songkreat (Thailand), Saruul-Od (Mongolia), Salma Sakayev (Kazakhstan), Tomas Dupuy (France), Jose Villarisco (USA).
Stephan began training under Kru Sitha "Ood" Phongphibool in Pittsburgh at the US Muay Thai Academy. When Kru Ood left Pittsburgh, Stephan has also trained under Kru Matee "Dragon Leg" Jedeepitak. "Kru Ood laid the foundation, while Kru Matee further refined and enhanced it with his mastery," according to Stephan. He has also trained with many other fighters to broaden his knowledge. Stephan often trains and fights in Thailand too, training at Sanchai Sor Kingstar's Camp, Jitti Gym, Sasiprapa, Sor Vorapin and Fairtex Bangplee. His nickname "Pisand" means "great" or "vast."

Mark DeLuca
Mark "Jaipetch" DeLuca is one of the head instructors for Khaay Muay Sit-Kangmongkorn, Pittsburgh Muay Thai.. Mark started training Muay Thai in April 2000 at the United States Muay Thai Academy under Kru Sitha “Ood” Phongphibool, where he met Stephen Strotmeyer. At this point he wanted to learn as much about the art of Muay Thai as possible and trained until the fall of 2001 before taking some time off. Mark resumed training in February 2004 with a specific interest in fighting under the teachings of Stephen Strotmeyer. Mark knew Stephan was taught the correct way and had first-hand idea of authentic Muay Thai.

Now fighting as an A class fighter in the 63.5 kg weight division, Mark have had some great opportunities to travel because of the sport. He has fought in Canada. Mark has also been to Scotland twice, once in 2005 and again in 2007. Highlights include:
• USKBA United States Muay Thai Champion (63.5 kg)
• Patong Stadium Superfight Winner
• IFMA World Championship A class competitor (63.5 kg) 2007

In the summer of 2007, Mark traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to live and train at JittiGym for 1 month. Throughout his stay at Jittis, he was pushed to his limits and beyond both physically and mentally. Mark fought at the end of my 4-week stay at Patong Stadium in Phuket, where he became the winner of an international superfight against a Thai boxer named Petkrabi. He was lucky enough to make it back to Thailand later that same year to train with the legend, Sanchai Sor Kingstar in preparation for the 2007 IFMA World Championships.

Notable opponents include Baurzhan Narimanov (Kazakhstan), Petkrabi (Thailand), Nate Smandych (Canada), John Cullen (Scotland) Chike Lindsay-Ajeudua (USA), and Omar Ahmed (USA). Mark is also an USMTA Certified Instructor. His Thai nickname, given to him by Matee Jedeepitak, is "Jaipetch," which is translated as "Diamond Heart"

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Don Kaecher – Personal Training Tactics
Don began training in Martial Arts at the age of 12. He trained in many different styles from Fire Dragon Kung Fu to Tang So Do Karate. During that time, Don was exposed to Bruce Lee and learning about his teachings. Just like any young Martial Artist, he wanted to be like Bruce. Don started his journey to learn Martial Arts and become the best fighter and trainer that he could be.

Don was first exposed to Mixed Martial Arts when he started training at Practical Fighting Concepts in Pittsburgh under Eric Hibler. There, Don learned a lot about what was expected to become a Mixed Martial Artist.
At that time the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was just beginning and soon became a dream of Don’s to fight in. He started trained his body and mind extremely hard in hopes of someday getting the chance to fight in the cage.

Don’s first real competition was grappling in 1996, and a year later had his first Muay Thai fight at the Palace Inn in Monroeville. He won both of them and now felt he was then ready to fight in the cage. Don finally got his chance to fight in the cage at World Extreme Fighting 6 (WEF) in 1999. He first opponent was Josh Rafferty, a student of former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin. Don won a tough fight by tap out due to knee strikes to the body and head.

Since 1999 Don has fought in nine professional cage fights and held the 145lb Intercontinental Flyweight Championship title in Reality Super Fighting. Currently his professional fighting record is 8-1 with his only loss to Hermes Franca, former UFC 155lb title contender and WEC 155lb champion. Currently Don still competes in MMA, submission grappling and boxing. He won Golden Gloves Boxing in 2005 and the Kumite Classic in Pittsburgh in 2003 through 2007. Don tried out for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 but despite not making it had a good learning experience. He also competed in the Gracie Nationals in Columbus, Ohio for the past 7 years.

Don has been teaching Mixed Martial Arts for the past 12 years and started Personal Training Tactics, Pittsburgh’s premier MMA School.
Don has trained with and is a certified instructor under Erik Paulson of CSW (Combat Submission Wrestling) in Los Angeles, CA. Erik Paulson was the first American to win the World Shooto Light-Heavyweight Title in Japan, defending his title 5 years straight. Don also trained with legendary instructor Guru Dan Inosanto.

With Mixed Martial Arts rapidly evolving, Don continues to stay on top of the sport by expanding his expert knowledge with the help of boxing coaches, wrestling coaches, books, training videos, seminars and thru his many students. He pushes his mind and body to the extreme daily… and if you train with him, he will bring out the champion and the best in you.

Life is the ultimate journey. Only you can decide when the journey ends.

Real Martial Arts... Real Coaching... Real Results