Daniel Smith
Head Instructor

Hi, my name is Daniel Smith and I am the owner and head instructor at American Martial Arts and Fitness Academy. I started training in martial arts in 1979 with Okinawan Isshin-Ryu Karate, then 4 years later switched over to Okinawan Sanchin-Ryu Karate until around 1986. I then trained in Aikido and American Karate for a short time until 1989 when I began training in Jun Fan/ Jeet Kune Do. It was then that I started researching and training in many different styles of martial arts. I have also spent the last 20 years studying the true science and philosophy of fighting, and physical fitness. I owe my thanks to all my instructors and students that have helped me along the way. And to my wife, Becky for all the support and patience she has given me.

My current ranking is as follows:

Guro Dan Inosanto
Associate Instructor - Jun Fan Gung Fu
Associate Instructor - Filipino Martial Arts
Guro Level One - Maphilindo Silat & Madjapahit Martial Arts

Sifu Larry Hartsell
President of the Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association
Associate Instructor

Ajarn Chai Sirisute
President of the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A.
Full Instructor

Professor Salem Assli
President of the California Association of Boxe Francaise-Savate
Yellow Glove / Initiator Level

Sifu Paul Vunak
President of the Progressive Fighting Systems
Phase One - Associate Level

Julian Loredo
2nd Degree Black Belt in Jeet Kune Do Concepts

Professor Remy Presas - Founder of Modern Arnis
1st Degree Black Belt

Okinawan Karate
1st Degree Black Belt

Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brown Belt

Becky Smith
Instructor in Muay Thai Kickboxing

Simo Becky Smith has been with American Martial Arts and Fitness Academy since 2002. She is currently the highest ranked Muay Thai Student under Khru Smith. She is a member of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA. Becky has put in numerous hours of training with Master Chai to continue her knowledge of the art. She has also trained with World Thai Boxing Champion and founder of the hit reality series "Xtreme Warrior", Omar Akl. Becky Helps Khru Smith regularly during class time, and though she has had to overcome several serious injuries and medical issues, she remains the longest active student to date.

Independent Instructors

Robert Verdell

Robert Verdell has been involved in martial arts for most of his life, studying arts like Judo, Catch Wrestling, Boxing and Kickboxing. He teaches women self-defense classes at Lansing Community College, and works with local police departments on defense training. Robert is a Certified Yoga instructor in Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga, and Russian Movement Therapy. Robert is available for private lesson in MMA, Wrestling, and Women's Self Defense.

Andrew Sinadinos
L.A. Live Wrestling

Hello, my name is Andrew James Sinadinos. Owner of L.A. Live.
I’m an independent instructor here at AMERICAN MARTIAL ARTS & FITNESS ACADEMY. I want to thank Dan, and everybody at American Martial Arts for welcoming me to the facility. I really feel at home here, and I cordially invite you to join me here. Our practice schedule is Monday & Wednesday from 6pm - 8pm.

Here at L.A. Live we have a deep pool of talented instructors! Every one of them has competed on the national, and International stage. We all are extremely seasoned, and we are the very best wrestling technicians you can fin d in this state!
Our focus is on all facets of wrestling for the person who wants to be a STATE, NATIONAL, WORLD, OR OLYMPIC CHAMPION, and cross over wrestling for the seasoned MMA fighter, or MMA enthusiast.

STYLES TAUGHT
GRECO ROMAN / FREESTYLE / FOLK / MMA
CORE COACHING GROUP

Andrew James Sinadinos, style: Fast paced perpetual motion. There’s few in the world known to be as physically aggressive. I’ve heard it said once or twice that I brutalize my competition.

Scott Whitish, Style: extremely methodical non-stop attacker/offence oriented. He is a true technician of the sport, and a great foundational wrestler.

Jerry Dean Trainor, style: Slow motion big explosions, without a doubt, there’s only a handful of wrestlers in the world before or since that can throw a man from any place, any time, any where like this guy can. Bar none!

Pat Kerr, style: Unorthodox. This guy has been known to dislocate his shoulder in the middle of a match just to gain the upper hand on his opponent. True technician, and he is a complete walking, talking, breathing, encyclopedia on the sport.

Contact information: Phone: 517-204-7234 E-mail: aj.sinadinos@yahoo.com

Jeff Kolman - Wing Chun Instructor

Sifu Jeff Kolman has over 22yrs of experience in  martial arts such as Karate, Muay Thai, Kali, Jujitsu, Western Boxing, and 17yrs of experience in Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) Gung Fu (Kung Fu)

Sifu Kolman frequently travels to Hong Kong to receive training in Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) from Grand Master Ip Ching (youngest son of Ip Man) and his Sihing's (Older Gung Fu brothers). Sifu Kolman has been teaching in the East Lansing area since 1996. Classes are taught in a relaxed yet traditional training atmosphere.

Scott VanDerzee - Modern Arnis Instructor

Learn the Filipino art of Modern Arnis with Guro Scott VanDerzee. Guro Scott has trained martial art's for 32 years in many different areas. These include Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate, Bando (Dr. Maung Gyi), Indonesian and Filipino fighting system's. Guro Scott has earned the rank of 4th degree blackbelt in Modern Arnis, 2nd degree blackbelt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate and 1st degree blackbelt Tae Kwon Do. I owe my greatest thanks to Professor Remy A. Presas founder of Modern Arnis. He showed me the way of the flow, strategy, application and many other things I will live by and pass on till' I no longer can.
 

With all this experience and unique ability Guro Scott is able to express and interpret martial arts in a clear and effective way. Easy for the person new to martial arts to begin learning. For the experienced martial artist Modern Arnis will show you how to use what you've been learning. That is GuroScott's specialty application of the technique and theory behind what we train, no matter what style. So, Go With the Flow!