Gig Harbor Kickboxing & MMA

David Bird Guro David Bird began his martial arts studies in 1966 at a Judo school in Key West, Florida. Mr. Bird moved to Dallas, Texas in 1969 and began his study of Tae Kwon Do. Mr. Bird, after relocating to Seattle, Washington, received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 1977. In 1979 Mr. Bird moved to Tacoma, Washington where he met Master Brocka and began his Arnis training. Guro Bird trained intensively with Master Brocka until 1984. Guro Bird has also trained with the Presas brothers, and the Filipino National Arnis Team. Through much of the 1990's Guro Bird trained with and sponsored seminars with Sifu Richard Bustillo. Sifu Bustillo is a former student of Bruce Lee and a training partner of Dan Inosanto.For more information on Remy Presas, please visit www.modernarnis.com. For more information on Sifu Richard Bustillo, please visit www.imbacademy.com.Guro Bird's certifications are:1977 black belt Tae Kwon Do, 1983 1st Antas Red Philippine Combat Arnis, 1983 1st Dan Shotokan Karate, 1989 5th Dan Shotokan Karate. Guro Bird competed heavily in tournaments from 1983 to 1990, taking titles in weapons, kumite, and forms. He also was featured in numerous martial arts magazines from 1984 to 1990.From 1995 to 2000 Mr. Bird owned and operated the Tae-Sho Kickboxing-Arnis-Submission gym in Tacoma. Mr. Bird not only taught Arnis, but incorporated into his unique style Boxing, Kickboxing and Grappling skills. During this time, he was not only a teacher, but a coach to many amateur and professional fighters.------------------------------Jimmy Thompson - Mixed Martial Arts Trainer - I started training martial arts at the age of 6 in Tacoma. I hold a black belt in American Freestyle Karate. I started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1997, when I went to college at The University of Washington, and have continued to train in many different grappling forms ever since. I fought my first Mixed Martial Arts fight in 1999 and have studied under some of the top names in MMA throughout the years. I also fought my first Kickboxing match in 1999 and have continued to train throughout the years in boxing and kickboxing. I have a particular passion for Mixed Martial Arts since I see it as the ultimate form of competition! That’s why I still actively compete! Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport in America and constantly evolving. As a trainer I feel it is my obligation to continue to learn so, I still travel and train in different parts of the country to train with some of the best trainers/fighters in the country. I also believe that it is my duty to understand a fighters strengths and weaknesses so we can build off of those strengths and develop those weaknesses. I started training fighters about two and half years ago and have had a very good success rate. So far I have trained local MMA champions and others to undefeated records. once a student has tapped my 23+ years of experience, I will be the first to find trainers and partners better equipped to further develop you as a fighter! I have seen far too many fighters talents dwarfed by trainers who claim that they know “nearly everything”, it’s just something that I simply do not believe in. I believe class should be hard, fun training! I don’t see any reason to train somewhere that you leave saying “Man, this is no fun at all!”. So, leave your ego at the door and come on in and have some fun!