Chris Hesse
Chris began training and later teaching martial arts in North Carolina in the 1980s. He began training in Aiki-Jitsu and Ki Aikido, which was being taught to law enforcement, military personnel, and civilians. Chris has never given up his desire to train all three of these groups, which he continues to do today.
Chris has held instructor ranks directly under Guro Dan Inosanto in Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts since 2010. He continues to train with Guro Inosanto as he has for well over a decade, having spent hundreds of hours in seminars and instructor camps.
After training with Grandmaster Bobby Tabimina and hosting him in his home, Chris received an instructor (feeder) rank in Tabimina Balintawak. He also spent more than five years studying Shaolin Kung Fu in the traditional method and achieved a red sash with red tassel for his efforts and injuries. Chris has also trained in the Wing Chun system of Kung Fu and practices the art of combat shooting on multiple platforms with Warrior Development Group head instructor Mike Dees.
To perpetuate his ongoing “white belt” mentality, Chris is training in Yang style Taiji Quan and Bagua, through which he is continually reminded of his need for humility, patience, and willingness to fail to open oneself to greater learning.
Jeff Patterson
Born and raised in St. Louis, Jeff began his martial arts training over 30 years ago. He is a certified instructor in Tae Kwon Do under Robert Biggs. He also holds the rank of Sho-Dan in Isshin-ryu Karate (Okinawan style) under Sensei Brian Little. Jeff is a certified instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto in the arts of Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do, the Filipino Martial Arts, and Maphilindo Silat and the Majapahit Martial Arts. He also holds an Associate Instructor rank in Pencak Silat Mande Muda / Halo-Halo Silat under Guru Roy Hagan. He maintains his instructorships by attending multiple Inosanto training seminars every year and training weekly with Guru Hagan.
“My primary objective is to continue to improve and grow as a martial artist,” Jeff says. “Secondarily, it is my intention to share my experience and knowledge with fellow martial artists.” Jeff enjoys training with students during class and truly excels at helping students refine their skills through one-on-one instruction.
He married his wife Rachel in 1993. They have two children, a daughter (Macy) and a son (Alex), all of whom train at ACG.
Eric Alexander
After a brief exposure to Tae Kwon Do in college, Eric’s martial arts journey began in earnest in 2004. “Martial arts didn’t come easily to me and this journey has been long and, at times, frustrating,” Eric says. “However, learning about myself through these arts over the years has been the most rewarding journey of my life. I’m proud to be a founding member of STLMAA and ACG. These arts have enriched my life over the years and sharing them with others brings me a great deal of joy and personal satisfaction.”
Eric began training with Guro Dan Inosanto in 2004. He currently holds instructor ranks directly under Guro Inosanto in the Filipino Martial Arts, Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do, and Maphilindo Silat and the Majapahit Martial Arts. He remains active in the Inosanto International Martial Arts Instructor Association by traveling across the country to train directly with Guro Inosanto. In addition, Eric holds an Associate Instructor rank under Guru Roy Hagan in Pencak Silat Mande Muda / Halo-Halo Silat.
Eric is a pharmacist by profession and works as a consultant and medical writer for a health care solutions company. He and his wife Julia, who is also an ACG student, were married in 2009 and have two children.
Matt Stumpf
Matt has over three decades of martial arts training in multiple disciplines, including over 1800 hours with the legendary Dan Inosanto. He has trained state and national champions, and in addition to teaching group classes, he provides private lessons in person and through online instruction. Matt uses underlying martial arts principles in teaching adaptive physical education to special needs youth to improve motor skills and coordination. Matt has a Masters in Criminal Justice Studies, and worked in community and residential corrections in Missouri for five years. He also has a Specialist in Education Administration with a certificate in Special Education Leadership.
“My personal goal in teaching is to challenge my students both physically and mentally. Every obstacle you overcome in training teaches you a little more about yourself. I enjoy watching others achieve their goals as they continue to train in the martial arts.”
Matt has been a guest featuring his martial arts experience on several podcasts:
TEDx Talk at UCLA
The Inside Insights Podcast
Martial Arts Lifestyle Magazine
Certifications:
Under Tuhon/Guro/Sifu Dan Inosanto:
Senior Associate Instructor Kali Filipino Martial Arts
Senior Associate Instructor Lee Jun Fun Gung Fu / Jeet Kun Do
Level 2 Maphilindo Silat and Madjapahit Martial Arts
Under Professor JW Wright: Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gracie Humaita
Bujinkan Budo Taijitsu: 4th Degree Black Belt
Kukkiwon Taekwondo: 1ST Degree Black Belt
Kevin Cannon
Kevin began his martial arts training in 1996 under Sifu Patrick Gartin, who was an instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do in Sifu Tim Tackett’s lineage. As a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where Sifu Gartin was a professor, Kevin “volunteered” to act as an attacker for a women’s self-defense class. After being thrown around hundreds of times in the class, he started regular training with Sifu Gartin and continued to train with him for the next two years.
After some training in other arts, Kevin’s training became more focused and serious when he began training in these arts in 2003. During this time, Kevin also began training in Serrada Eskrima under Guro Erol Weber, and later under Pangulong Guro Chuck Cadell III, eventually earning instructorship in Cadell/Cabales Serrada Eskrima.
Kevin is very proud to hold instructor certifications directly from Guro Inosanto in the Filipino Martial Arts, Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do, and Maphilindo Silat and the Majapahit Martial Arts as well as an Associate Instructor rank in Pencak Silat Mande Muda / Halo-Halo Silat under Guru Roy Hagan. He continues to develop his skills by attending at least five seminars with Guro Inosanto each year and training weekly with Guru Hagan. He continues to incorporate new skills by regularly training in Wing Chun Kung Fu with Sifu Dennis Moreland.
Jay Repaso
Jay’s love for the martial arts began in 1974 at the young age of 7 when an older cousin took him to a screening of “Enter the Dragon” at a Quezon City, Philippines movie theater. That’s when Jay first learned of and came to idolize Sijo Bruce Lee.
Raised in Sullivan, Missouri, Jay trained briefly in Tae Kwon Do in grade school and high school. While attending law school in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1989, he was first exposed to the teaching methods of Guro Dan Inosanto when he began training with the late Sifu Terry Gibson, one of Guro Inosanto’s senior instructors. Jay trained with Sifu Gibson for approximately 2 years.
While living in St. Joseph, Michigan, Jay began training in in Ryu Kyu Kempo Tomari-Te under Sensei Edwin A. Emrich, an instructor under George Dillman of Dillman Karate International, earning the rank of 2nd Kyu Brown Belt in 2007. In 2008, after moving to St. Louis and beginning his search for a Dillman Karate-affiliated school, Jay renewed his training in the Filipino Martial Arts, Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do. Jay holds an Associate Instructor rank in the Filipino Martial Arts, an Apprentice Instructor rank in Maphilindo Silat, and senior-level rank in Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do. In 2017, he was recommended for promotion and accepted as an instructor in the Filipino Martial Arts and Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do under Guro Dan Inosanto.
Jay and his wife Tammy were married in 1999. They have six children – 2 girls (Katie and Lilly) and 4 boys (Ben, Ethan, Liam, and Lucas).