Dell Sharpe

I started Martial Arts in the early 80s and trained in Tae Kwon Do. At the time I was only in it for the actual art itself. I was young and had no idea where I wanted to go in life. I trained in Tae Kwon Do for years on and off and only reached the level of Red Tip Black. Even though I was offered the rank of black belt many times I did not feel worthy or ready for it for many reasons. And it was just not where I wanted to end my training. I guess Master Bruce Lee said it best never tie oneself to 1 style or discipline. To do so means to limit yourself. I very soon became a mentor to Kids Coaching Baseball and Football and quickly found out today’s youth lack the mental discipline Martial Arts can have on your life. I meet and started training under Master Issah Reid founder of IKKA Kickboxing, Karate and started learning Tai Chi.  Master Reid was very humble and well rounder martial artist and was the South East Martial artist Kickboxer of the year in 2008. Through Master Reid I met The Great Grand Master Pappasan . The Founder of WOMA ( World Organization of Mixed Martial Arts )and became his personal student in the system he founded Kojido Jitsu the system he taught in Paja Dojo which consist of Kodakan Judo, Mas Oyamas , Kyokushinkai, Goju karate and Morei Ushibas Akido and I try to carry on his legacy and Training in my Dojo today. In December 2011 I was Nominated and Honored by the American Federation of Martial Arts and Inducted into the Hall of Fame but the greatest Honor was yet to come in March 2012.  By him I was given one of the greatest honors a Martial Artist can receive. I was named the Soke Di to Kojido Jitsu. GrandMaster Pappasan passed away in December 2012 but I will keep his Tradition and name alive in My Dojo to honor him. Through GrandMaster Pappasan I have had the pleasure of meeting and training with in my humble opinion some of the best Martial Artist in the world today. Like Kaiso Steven Hatfield,  Shifu Edgar Livingston , Grandmaster Michael McGann, Renshi Kevin Bergquist. All of which have been great mentors.  And it’s in their honor I carry on the tradition of helping and training with others, like Shihan Ed Brizzolara, Kyoshi Bret Gordon, Renshi Rolando Fernandez, Master Terry Bibbins. And all of which have had a profound influence on helping me create and name the system I have been working on all these years. Kobura Ryu Bujutsu is American, Japanese system that is very street based in its approach. And a Self Defense System that works well in the real world. And I have only begun to scratch the surface on what this system can and will become. In my humble opinion I train with some of the best Masters in the world ,  And like a river flows all that knowledge trickles down all the way to the lowest White Belt in my Dojo. Cobra-Tai was founded in 2010 in my garage with 4 students and has grown to over 30 members Kobura Ryu Bujutsu was founded in 2012 and is a fully recognized system by WOMA and the Ryu Sakura Do Karate Federation. In 2013 I was inducted into the U.S.A Martial Arts Hall Of Fame. I was once told by my mentor GrandMaster Pappasan I can look at you on the mat and see what kind of martial artist you are but when I look at your students on that same mat.  I can tell what kind of Sensei you are and I just realized what he was saying as we progress in rank it’s not what we do that defines us but more what we pass on that really defines our Legacy. “The Belt Doesn’t Define the Man It’s the Man That Defines the Belt” Oooss !!!