FIMA Features

Grandmaster Jeff Smith Grandmaster Jeff Smith, a 10th Degree Black Belt Master in Tae Kwon Do, has devoted over 40 years to the martial arts. He currently has two karate centers in Northern Virginia and travels worldwide officiating at tournaments, teaching and conducting seminars. He is one of the most successful examples of translating the…

Grandmaster Jeff Smith Grandmaster Jeff Smith, a 10th Degree Black Belt Master in Tae Kwon Do, has devoted over 40 years to the martial arts. He currently has two karate centers in Northern Virginia and travels worldwide officiating at tournaments, teaching and conducting seminars. He is one of the most successful examples of translating the…

Joe Corley is an American karate and kickboxing competitor, instructor, broadcaster and promoter who helped achieve the success of the Professional Karate Association and the early establishment of professional karate in the United States. Joe Corley began studying Tang Soo Do at age 16. At 19 he earned his black belt and opened his first…

Benny “The Jet” Urquidez  For five decades the legendary Benny “The Jet” Urquidez has been a moving force in the martial arts. A 6 time world champion in 5 weight class divisions, Urquidez pioneered full contact fighting in the United States. Undefeated throughout his 27 year professional fighting career, he catapulted to world prominence and…

Guy Rafaeli was in military intelligence unit 504 recon, mainly based in Lebanon for 5 years and continued as a reserve until 2006. He specialized in CQB, Krav Maga, pistol, knife, and baton, and he was a Krav Maga instructor in the IDF. Guy has a 3rd Dan Black Belt with Dennis survival Jiu Jitsu, and a…

ALABAMA – DAVID “LD” THOMAS: David “LD” Thomas is the FIMA Representative for the State of Alabama, as well as the only FIMA Black Belt or Instructor in the state. LD began his martial arts career in Taekwondo at the age of 9 and went on to finish second in the U.S. Open Martial Arts…

Mark Winn is our Krav Maga Representative in Virginia. He has been practicing martial arts over 30 years and has a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Krav Maga. He has trained under our FIMA Representatives Masters Bruce and David Rubinberg at FEKS Martial Arts Center. He is the chief instructor and owner at Winning Warrior…

Christian Garippa is our FIMA Representative for the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas area, and has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years. The majority of his training has been in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Christian has Black Belts in Krav Maga, and also in BJJ under Master Carlos Machado. Other martial arts that he…

Shonie Carter – Mr. International Mr. International – none other than Shonie Carter. Shonie was born in Chicago, Illinois and is a renowned fighter and martial artist. Shonie started as a wrestler back in high school and then added Judo and Jujutsu. He was an All-American Wrestler and won state titles in Judo while in…

Shonie Carter – Mr. International Mr. International – none other than Shonie Carter. Shonie was born in Chicago, Illinois and is a renowned fighter and martial artist. Shonie started as a wrestler back in high school and then added Judo and Jujutsu. He was an All-American Wrestler and won state titles in Judo while in…