Our Instructors

Sifu Dave Ferreira
Evolutionary Martial Arts owner/founder and Chief Instructor
 

Sifu Dave (wearing all black with hand raised) after winning a Full Contact Stick Fighting match.
Jersey City, NJ October 2003

 Biography Summary

• Black Belt, Full Instructor- 4 Range Combat- under Mr. Dan Pagan
• Black Belt, Instructor- IMAF Fighting Systems- under Sifu/Guru Don Edwards
• Apprentice Instructor- Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do/ Doce Pares Eskrima-under Sifu/Guru Richard Bustillo
• Purple Belt - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Instructor- F.I.G.H.T/Haganah- Under F.I.G.H.T founder, Mike Lee Kanarek  
• Instructor - I.T.K. Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting - Under F.I.G.H.T. & I.T.K. founder, Mike  Lee Kanarek
• Certified Agent- Kid's Safe Network 

Detailed Background

Sifu Dave has an extensive Martial Arts background with over 20 years of experience in many different fighting styles and systems. Dave Began his study of the Martial Arts at age 7 in the arts of  Kenpo Karate and Jiu Jitsu and briefly in Goju Ryu Karate. After high school he studied and trained in; Aikido in which he served a two year apprenticeship, Combative Tae Kwon Do in which he was an assistant instructor, the eclectic art of  4 Range Combat in which he is a Black Belt and Full Instructor, Aiki Jiu Jitsu, Vee Arnis Jitsu, Brazilian American Jiu Jitsu and Arnis. Sifu Dave is a certified Apprentice Instructor in Jeet Kune Do, a Black Belt in Doce Pares Eskrima, a Black Belt in IMAF Fighting Systems, a Purple Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has trained extensively in; Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing and F.I.G.H.T/Haganah, Fierce Israeli Hand to Hand Tactics in which he is an Instructor. Dave is also an I.T.K., Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting Instructor and is trained in Israeli Combat Shooting (ICS) - 1000.

Sifu Dave has been teaching Martial Arts for over 18 years and has worked extensively with children. As a senior in high school Sifu Dave taught Pre School and has been trained in childhood development and education. He has taught and trained people of all walks of life including law enforcement, military and security personnel, actors, dancers, musicians, athletes, adults and children with physical limitations and developmental limitations. Dave has also conducted and instructed many self defense and safety seminars and workshops for women, children, Girls Scout and Brownie Troops and college students. From 2000 to 2003 Dave owned and operated Army of One Personal Fitness, a personal training studio in Hoboken NJ which offered private Martial Arts instruction and fitness training.

Sifu Dave continues to train with his instructors and coaches in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and Muay Thai Kickboxing every week. As an instructor of the Martial Arts Dave feels and lives by the philosophy that it is most important to be a student first and always.

Dave has also trained and continues to train in Martial Arts seminars and workshops throughout the U.S.

Sifu Dave is also a very accomplished competitive Full Contact Stick Fighting Champion holding an undefeated record for 2 years and was team captain of Team IMAF of Livingston NJ. As part of his undefeated record Dave held the title of East Coast Champion in Single and Double stick fighting. Before capturing his undefeated record Dave placed 3rd in the U.S. Nationals in both single and double stick. He has competed and placed successfully in many Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments with many first and second place wins in various weight classes dating as far back as the mid 1990's and he competed in New York's first Mixed Martial Arts event, The North East Combat Arts Festival in 1997.

In addition to his regular training, Sifu Dave has trained with some of the top Martial Arts instructors in the world through extensive seminar and private training. These are just some of the instructors he’s trained with:

• Jeet Kune Do: Sifu/Guru Don Edwards,Sifu/Guru Richard Bustillo, Sifu Ted Wong, Sifu Chris Kent, Sifu/Guru Dan Inosanto.
• Muay Thai: Master Ace Ramirez, Kru Vut Kanmarek, Walt “ Sleeper” Michaelowski, Metee “ Dragonleg”, Sifu/Guru Richard Bustillo, Sifu/Guru Dan Inosanto, Master Toddy.
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:  Royce Gracie, Fabio Clemente, Roberto Traven, Fabio Vanelli, Jean Jacques Machado,Dave Adiv, Royler Gracie,Fernando "Cabeca" Sarmento, David Meyer, Parrumphina, Marcos Santos, Marcel Ferreira, Master Ricardo Liborio,Rigan Machado, Andre " Gigueto" Soares.
• Doce Pares Eskrima:  Master Don Edwards,Master Dong Cuesta, Grandmaster Cacoy Canete, Diony Canete, Grandmaster Richard Bustillo.
• Filipino Martial Arts: Guru Dan Inosanto,Master Remy Presas, Guru Ron Balicki.
• Shootwrestling: Sensei Erik Paulson, Sensei Ron Balicki.
• Judo: Judo Gene Lebell, Gokor Chivichyan.
• Sambo: Judo Gene Lebell, Gokor Chivichyan.
• Shamrock Fighting Systems: Frank Shamrock.
• Haganah/F.I.G.H.T.: Mike Lee Kanarek.
• Krav Maga: Amir Perets,Bas Rutten.
• San Shou: Cung Le.
• Aikido: Sensei Rick Stickles, Sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada, Sensei Donovan Waite, Sensei Bruce Bookman,Sensei Claire Keller.

•      Red/Black Belt, Instructor- Evolutionary Martial Arts Systems under Sifu/Guru Dave Ferreira
•       Blue Belt-Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Shihan Johnny Guerrero
•    Instructor Haganah/F.I.G.H.T.  under Mike Lee Kanarek