I started grappling as a kid.  Inspired by Nick Bockwinkle, Jesse Ventura and Mad Dog Vashon.  I would wrestle with anyone who gave me half a chance.  I did some formalized wrestling in high school and dabbled in several martial arts.  Then I discovered Judo.  Actually my first real coach called it Jacket Wrestling rather then Judo.  He and the local Judo community did not see eye to eye on most issues;   but he was among the best technical teachers I have ever seen.  His name was John Holms and I trained with him for several years at the University of Minnesota. Coach Holms was an excellent coach and he taught me a slew of techniques that are unknown to even some of the best Judokians. Along with teaching outstanding competition Judo skills; Coach Holms also taught a lot of pragmatic, street savvy self defense orientated skills.
After the University of Minnesota I expanded my skills to include more Jujitsu and started my first club at Hamline University. I then moved to Chicago and coached the small U of C judo club. In Chicago I also studied Tijitsu and Karate. Once back in Minnesota I started working with Adam Rachuy again. Adam and I met at the U of M club and he has been one of the most influential forces on my growth as a grappler. Our styles and approaches differ, but those difference have strengthened both our individual grappling and coaching skills. Adam and I worked together over the last several years as coaches and training partners in various places. In the last few years my focus has changed to more cross training and Catch Wrestling - or grappling without bounds.  This year, 1998 we created Bison Grappling and starting hosting our own Jujitsu tournaments.
Training Philosophy
I believe in what works. I have endeavored to maintain an eclectic style that incorporates the best of Judo, Jujitsu, Sombo, Catch Wrestling  and any thing else that works for me. I put little stock in Katas and avoid unrealistic drills, motions or techniques such as Uchi-Komi. I feel that training needs to be dynamic and reality based. I learn the most when sparring. While techniques can be learned in drills; the intra techniques can only be learned on the mat while sparring. By developing flexibility in my style I feel I can adapt to my opponent and take him out of his game. If he's a thrower, I'll fight him on the mat. A ground fighter I'll look for a throw that gives me a clear advantage. If he's aggressive I'll play for the counter and with a counter fighter I'll use a slew of fake attacks to by pass his defenses and use his commitment to the counter as a weapon against him. Most of all I feel to be successful you must commit. Commitment to training, to technique, to the sport. This means that when you try a throw you go all the way. No hedging. It also means that grappling has to have a priority in your life. If you blow off practice because you don't want to miss 'Friends' your never going to make it. You also have to commit to other avenues of training. Strength, endurance, speed are all parts to the puzzle. That means exercising, watching your diet and getting enough rest.

Coaching Philosophy
I love this sport. There are other sports I enjoy; but nothing comes close to how I feel about grappling. I met my wife through grappling, My best man is also my coaching partner. I plan all my other activities around my grappling. I teach simply for the love of it. I have never made a dime from teaching; yet I consider it my most profitable endeavor. My goal as a coach is to empower my students, to help them improve their skills and to give them some of what this sport have given me. Grappling should be fun, challenging and exciting. No matter if students are learning for competition, self defense or exercise I try to help them reach their goals. I structure training to get students moving right away.
The first night of class I teach students several throws, a couple of submissions and a ground control techniques. From there we go to body awareness, Kinestitics, grappling principles and start piling on the technique. From day one I have students on the mat sparring. Not with each other mind you; but with myself and other instructors, where we allow for success. This way students right from the very beginning experience success. You will note I don't include falling in the early part of a students training career. Falling is an important skill; but it is one that is learned as well being Uke in safe throwing drills as it is hurling your self over in an unrealistic fashion. Eventually all students learn falling; but it is never stressed as much as other techniques. Some might see this as unsafe, but to the contrary I feel it is safer then having students hurl themselves, in uncontrolled rolls that net dubious results. Safety is my number one concern for my students. While I expect there to be pain, bumps, bruises and maybe even a little blood; injury is unacceptable.
Most of all, as a coach I want to help students find their own way. This is an art form, and like any art it lacks meaning, depth and usefulness until the individual make it his/her own. Everyone will do things just a little bit different. Like a master painter I can teach students how to use the brush, mix the colors and frame the subject; but to become an artist they must make the art their own. Students who simply replicate what they have seen never develop their own approach, thus while their techniques maybe perfect it will always be lacking. I do not expect students to copy me. My technique has been honed to match my build, strength, rhythm. Your mind and body have their own way of communicating to each other and no two people are the same in this respect. One hundred people might all do a hip throw the same way. Feet, hands, hip all in the same position. Yet the intra technique, the timing, the entrance, the reason that technique was chosen over any other will all be different. My goal is to help students get to the point when a technique becomes their own; when their own style guides their fighting strategy; when they become an artist.

Scenes from my Wedding