Rod
Jones
CEO
- Chief Executive Officer / Founder
Rank: Senior Instructor
Training: Veteran over 10 years experience
W.I.T.S. Certified
Personal Trainer
Primary
Style: TaeKwonDo and Karate, Wing Chun Kung Fu
Okinawa, Japan Trained:
Shorin Ryu Karate, Gojo Ryu Karate, White Crane Karate, International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Style Taekwondo
US
Trained: All 3 TKD systems ITF, ATA, WTF, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo, Ninpo, Jujitsu, Katsuru,
Hapkido, Boxing, Muay Thai, Aiki-Jujitsu, San Shao, Flowing Fist Self Defense
Other:
US Marine Corps Veteran, 2 Bachelors of Business in Management,
Goals: To
obtain Doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.
Awards:
2000 Virginia Olympic Games 1st Place Kata
2000 Virginia
Olympic Games 2nd Place Fighting
2004
Assembly of the Fighting Arts Open Tournament, Branford, CT 4th Place
2003
Red Dragons Open, Springfield, MA 1st Place Fighting Age 30-35
1990
Okinawa Fight Club Smokers 1st Place Fighting and Forms others
listed below
PERSONAL
Mr. Jones is the Original Founder, President, and Director of Human Resources for JOPAWII. He is also one of our instructors and the website designer. Mr.
Jones is a graduate of Albertus Magnus College, with a Bachelors of Science Degrees in both Human Resources Management
and Business Management Information Systems. Mr. Jones is currently persuing his Masters Degree in Human Resources.
Mr. Jones plans to use his education to elevate JOPAWII
Youth Foundation, Inc. and its members to new heights.
He plans to continue his studies in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as well.
Mr. Jones is also an Honorably Discharged Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He has also been accepted into two
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)Medicine Programs at both Life University in Georgia and the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE
"Mr. Rod", or "Sensei Rod" as the kids call him, first began his training at the age
of 8 learning from friends and family at home. He did not begin structured martial arts training until 1980 when
he began attending Hwang's School of TaeKwonDo in New Haven, CT.
Mr. Jones trained until the age of 15 at Hwang's Taekwondo, learning
various styles of martial arts such as Judo, Hapkido and Taekwondo. At that time all of these styles were mixed together.
After leaving Hwangs Mr. Jones again trained at home with friends and family, and did not return to structured training until
he joined the US Marines. As a Marine Mr. Jones had the opportunity of a lifetime, and that was to train on the
legendary island of Okinawa, Japan, under a few famous Grandmasters of Okinawan Karate. He studied Okinawan, Shorin
Ryu Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, and Okinawan White Crane Karate and his favorite, ITF style Taekwondo.
It was in Okinawa that Mr. Jones developed into an excellent martial artist by training seven days a week and accepting all
competitors challenges.
When Mr. Jones left Okinawa, Japan and returned to the United States he continued
his Karate training at Camp Lejeune, NC under the legendary Hanshi Larry Isaac. While stationed there, he also studied
under Sensei Bill Ferris in Kajukenpo (karate). From Hanshi Larry Isaac Mr. Rod learned another Okinawan style of karate
called Okinawan Kenpo Kobudo, Founded by Grandmaster Seikichi Odo Sensei. Mr. Jones received intense training in self
defense, fighting and kobudo weapons.
After leaving the military
Mr. Rod found himself in Lynchburg, VA under the tutelage of Sensei Teenie Williams in Shorin Ryu / Isshin Ryu karate
and under Sensei Joseph Catlett, the founder of Katsuru. Lynchburg is where Mr. Jones started to teach and mentor inner
city youth while assisting Sensei Williams at the YMCA. Sensei Williams continued to hone Mr. Jones' skill
in the Okinawan arts. Mr. Jones gives credit to Sensei Joseph Catlett and Sensei Teenie Williams for giving
him the inspiration to give back to the community through martial arts as they have done. It is because of their
tireless work ethic that Mr. Jones has himself become a hero for the children of the community.
After several years
in North Carolina and Virginia Mr. Rod returned home to CT and began to once again train in Taekwondo and this is where is
earned is 1st and 2nd degree in ATA, and WTF styles of TaeKwonDo.
Mr. Rod now trains under:
Kyoshi Marcus DeValentino
in Okinawa Kenpo Kobudo.
Aaron Power Wilson Sr,
in TaeKwonDo and Hapkido.
Founder Tyrone Palmer in
the Flowing Fist Self Defense System.
Mr. Jones has won several
tournament awards in fighting, kobudo weapons and kata (forms). Mr. Jones has also trained several tournament champions.
Accomplishments
Candidate for Chiropractic Medicine Doctorate
Masters of Science Degree
Labor Relations
Graduate
Certificate
Human
Resources Management
Bachelors of Science Degree
Human
Resources Management
Bachelors
of Science Degree
Business
Management Information Systems
Associate of Arts Degree
Liberal
Arts / MIS
Associate
of Science Degree
Business
Administration Management
3 -Diploma's in
Human Resources Management
Diploma
Business
Administration
Diploma
Management
Information Systems
W.I.T.S.
Certified Personal Trainer
OTHER
MARTIAL ARTS CONTRIBUTIONS
Action Magazine Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2010
Black Warrior Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2010
Red Dragons Open Karate Tournament First Place Fighting
Assembly of the Fighting Arts Open Tournament Fourth Place Fighting
Virginia Olympic Games Karate Tournament Gold Medalist in Forms
Virginia Olympic Games Karate Tournament Silver Medalist
in Fighting
Okinawa, Japan, Camp Kinser, Bare Knuckle
"Smokers" Fighting Champion
Okinawa, Japan, Camp Hansen, Bare
Knuckle "Smokers" Fighting Champion
Assembly
of Fighting Arts Fighting Spirit Award
Many
other awards not listed
