Stoops Family Martial Arts Organizational Structure

Dr. Bryan Stoops is a professional martial artist and educator based in New York City. Bryan has over fifteen years of experience as a professional educator, as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in education. Bryan wrote his master’s thesis on the topic of using the philosophy of Jeet Kune Do to make K-12 classroom teachers functional, and has spoken at UCLA on the same topic.

As a martial artist, Bryan serves his students with the following credentials:

• Senior Associate Instructor in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto
• Guro Level One in Maphilindo Silat under Guro Dan Inosanto
• Tuhon, 1st Hagdan in Pekiti Tirsia Kali under Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje
• Full Dog Brother “Guide Dog” since 2008 and Dog Brothers Martial Arts Instructor under Punong Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny
• Full Instructor/Black Sash in Wing Chun under Sifu Francis Fong
• Associate Instructor in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Chai Sirisute
• Yellow Glove in Savate under Professor Nic Saignac
• Module One Instructor in Applied Eskrima Balintawak under Master Virgil Cavada
• Full Instructorship from the Jun Fan JKD Grappling Association
• Certified Associate of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute of Seattle from Sifu Andy Kimura under the supervision of Sigung Taky Kimura
• Official Representative of Guru Tharyana Sastranegara in the art, history, and style of Silat Sunda Buhun

On the subject of Bryan’s practice, Sifu Francis Fong shared the following:

“I highly recommend my student Bryan Stoops, one of my instructors in the Wing Chun Association of the USA.  When I met Bryan, he was already an accomplished and skilled practitioner of the Filipino Martial Arts, Jun Fan Gung Fu and Silat under Guro Dan Inosanto and in Muay Thai under Ajarn Chai Sirisute.  Bryan exhibits excellent discipline, respect, professionalism and skill.  He actively pursues continual education in all of the arts by traveling to train personally with all of his instructors.  Anyone taking his classes, whether they are young or old, beginners or advanced level students, will benefit from Bryan’s knowledge and insight.”

– Sifu Francis Fong

Organizational Definitions: Rank in martial arts is a responsibility. Just like in college, the degree is not the sole motivating factor, but to say the degree "doesn't matter" is an oversimplification. Therefore, let's define exactly what each rank means explicitly.

Full Instructor: Full Instructorships are earned approximately three to four years after promotion to Associate Instructor. Full Instructors have the authority to promote individuals to Apprentice Instructor in the art(s) in which the Full Instructorship was earned. Full Instructorships require approximately a decade to twelve years of study to earn. Equivalent to approximately a 4th or 5th degree black belt.

Associate Instructor: Associate Instructorships are earned approximately three to four years after promotion to Apprentice Instructor. Associate Instructors are experienced martial artists and experienced teachers. Associate Instructors should be finding an individual identity within each area of certification as an instructor, a technician, and a fighter. Associate Instructor is the proper level to define one's own identity within an art or within multiple arts. Associate Instructorships require anywhere from between six to eight years to earn. Equivalent to approximately a 2nd or 3rd degree black belt.

Apprentice Instructor: Apprentice Instructorships are earned via successful completion of the Apprentice Instructor's Examination. Most individuals can complete a curricular progression in between three to four years of dedicated study. Apprentice Instructors are beginning the journey of becoming an excellent instructor who serves the needs of his/her students. Equivalent to approximately a 1st degree black belt.

 Phase Instructor: Phase Instructors have completed all of the levels of curriculum that make up that Phase, as well as having completed Trainer Certification (see below) for that Phase. Phase Instructorships allow aspiring Apprentice Instructor candidates to start teaching/leading a training group while he/she keeps working his/her way through the curriculum. There is no more effective way to learn something than to teach it, so Phase Instructors are encouraged to teach while working through the curriculum for themselves.

 Certified Trainer: Certified Trainers complete an intense weekend of over ten hours of technique training, training on best practices in teaching martial arts, and training on teaching martial arts ethically. Certified Trainers complete many uncounted hours preparing for the Trainer Certification weekends. Upon successful completion of the curricular levels making up a Phase, Certified Trainers in good standing are promoted to Phase Instructors. Certified Trainers are authorized to start a training group and even test students for ranking while working through the curriculum. Again, there is no more effective way to learn something than to teach it. Even university student teachers get teaching time, so the Certified Trainer experience  offers a structured pathway for individuals who want to teach martial arts, but don't know where to start.

Note: Below is the most up-to-date listing of Dr. Bryan Stoops' certified Instructors & Trainers. The only financial requirement asked of any student studying any of Dr. Bryan Stoops' curricular progressions with any of the individuals below is a Curriculum Only Level Membership in Bryan's Online Martial Arts Learning Community. Monthly Memberships are only $19.99 a month; click HERE for a monthly membership. Annual Memberships are only $187 a year; click HERE for an annual membership