Kru Blake
    In 1985 I started my martial arts training at the age of 12. I studied Tae kwon do and Shuri-ryu under my uncle Master Fabiano. Bored with learning Kata and getting disqualified from points turnaments for excessive contact, I realized that type of Martial Arts was not for me and i began a personal search for a real fighting art.
    After watching every Bruce Lee, Kung-Fu, Karata, and tough guy movie, I was still dissatified. Then I stumbled acrossed American rules Full contact kickboxing on E.S.P.N. and knew that was what i wanted to do. Unfortunatly because of the lack of any kickboxing schools in the midwest and some bad life experences I didnt get a chance to formally train until I ended up in California and found Javier Mendez's school and the A.K.A. (American kickboxing Academy).
   There I quickly fell in love with the real fighting. Then meeting some of the early UFC fighters like, Paul Yarlens, Frank Shamrock, and Bryan Johnston. I learn there were somethings that worked bether then others. Then one day I went to the gym and tehre were some visitors, Former Muay Thai Heavyweight World Champ Jean Claude Leuyer  and a couple of tiny little guys from Thailand that I swear nearly split the heavybags in two when they kicked them. After that i couldnt study anything but Muay Thai.
   Unfortunatly life dealt a couple more hard blows and my time at A.K.A was short and I moved back to the midwest. Shortly after moving back God Blessed me and introduced me to a 130lb Cuban named Raul LLopis, a kickboxing and Muay Thai Champion and Master (Kru). Raul took me under his wing and showed me how to fight and how to be a champion. We quickly became like family and for the next four years he was my mentor and my  Kru. He made me push myself. He thought me that a great fighter is like a great sword it is not born it is made through much sweat, hard work, self sacrafice and pain. He is the biggest reason i am the fighter I am today. Thank you my Brother.