Kyoshi DePalma started teaching the martial arts for his instructor in 1981 and went on to open his own school under his instructor’s guidance in 1986. He had 4 schools in CT before selling them to the managers and heading out to AZ in 1991 to open schools there. In AZ he oversees 8 locations that are either owned by him or franchised to his students. Over his many years of being involved not with just his schools but the Martial Arts industry, Kyoshi has spoken for many of the leading Martial Art Companies such as EFC, MAIA, NAPMA, UP, MAUI and others. Currently Kyoshi spends his time running his schools and the MA1st Company where he gets to talk with and personally coach school owners worldwide. If you wish to speak with a Martial Artist who has had and still has successful schools and loves to share, then Kyoshi F. DePalma is the person you need to know.

Kyoshi DePalma spent time with the USMC and currently spends his time overseeing his schools, head instructor training, Pro indoor football team NAZWranglers and personally working with school owners worldwide through MA1st coaching. His 37 years of owning and operating multiple locations has given him the experience to help others achieve their goals. He specializes in staff development, business systems and family time.

A 5th Degree Black Belt, Master Robin DePalma has been in the Martial Arts Industry for 26 years. She is currently the corporate manager of the organization, 8 locations. She oversees manager training, marketing, business systems, pro-shops, event planning and statistics of each location.

Ron Sell has been practicing martial arts since 1979 at the age of 7, taught by his parents, Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell. At the age of 19 he opened his first martial arts school, 2nd location at 23, third location at 29. After selling his three schools, he moved to Tampa Florida to start a new martial arts school, and started inventing one of the top martial arts software in the United States, RainMaker. After leaving RainMaker in 2015, Master Ron Sell went back to working with thousands of school owners, helping them grow their membership, learn how to be a better instructor and grow their income. In 2018 he launched Spark Minds Software, a all-in-one martial arts software for true martial arts school owners and instructors. Ron lives in Tamps, Florida, with his 5 kids and wife Jennifer.

Cris Rodriguez

Business Track

With 29 years of Martial Arts Experience and 22 years of Teaching Experience, Professor Cris Rodriguez is a 1st Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, 3rd Degree TKD Black Belt, 
 and Co-Owns Gracie PAC MMA, a BJJ & MMA School in Tampa, Florida, with her wife Stephanie.She has been obsessed with Internet Marketing for the past 10 years and is the Founder 
 of Grow Pro Agency, a Digital Marketing Agency for Martial Arts Academies with over 270 clients. As a Partner in Marketing with Schools, their core focus is to help school owners
 gain the freedom they want in their business. She is also the Digital Marketing Consultant for the Martial Arts Industry Association and runs her own Mastermind Program called
 “The A Team”. She is a best selling author of the book “The Best Known Dojo” and hosts the “7 Figure CEO” Podcast. She earned her Elementary Education Degree from the University
 of South Florida which has helped her to become an expert in Children’s Jiu Jitsu Training & Development. Cris lives in Tampa, Florida with Stephanie and their three sons Darion, Nate, & Cruz.

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Chris Nott Family Knowledge Action LLC (FKA)

Instructor Track

Chris Nott is the CEO of Family Knowledge Action and founder of the STX program. He is the Master Kali Instructor at FKA Martial Arts in Margate, Florida. Chris is passionate about learning, training, teaching and developing his students to become the very best versions of themselves. He has been teaching and training martial arts for over forty years. Guro Chris has taught all over the USA, Australia and; the UK. He holds the rank of Black Celt in Jeet Kune Do, is a certified combat fitness coach and Haganah FIGHT instructor and currently ranked as Lakan Gure in Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Chris is an active member of the Pekiti Tirsia Kali World Federation. "To be a great teacher you must constantly strive to be an even greater student".

8th Dan Bushi Ban, has lived the martial arts life as a student, teacher, competitor, and school owner for over 42 years. Style influences: Bushi Ban, TaeKwondo and Wado Ryu Karate, He also Studied Aikido, & various meditation and personal development systems. Master Kazi competed at World Championships in both Taekwondo and Karate. His educational background (Double masters) and vast work experience offer many lessons for the Martial arts industry. Settled in Nasa Country, Clear Lake-Texas, he runs 3 successful schools

Presentation Schedule

Bachelor in fitness economics • Business manager • Marketing manager • Sales & service manager • Sports & fitness administrator • Quality manager • Human resources manager martial arts several organizations • State recognized sports teacher • 5th degree black belt karate, krav maga • black belt kickboxing & kung fu • State approved instructor: military – police combat and tactics • 2-time world champion weapons (ISKA) • national champion point fighting

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With over 40 years in executive marketing with Six Flags Theme Parks and NASA’s premier visitor center, Roger Bornstein has worked with many of the biggest ”powerhouse” brands in the country, including Walmart, Lucasfilm/Star Wars, Coca Cola, Time Warner and Pokémon. Bornstein’s session will convince you that marketing like a “Caveman” will take your business to a new level.

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Kyoshi Maczuga has taught corporate self-defense programs for fortune 500 companies like Entech, Freedom One Financial, and Compuware Corporations. He has trained and managed security teams all over metro Detroit at various nightclubs and has performed as a personal bodyguard both armed and unarmed.

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Derek Morris is the owner of The Hidden Dojo in Lancaster, California where he teaches Japanese Jujutsu and Swordsmanship. Derek is fluent in Japanese which has allowed him to forge strong relationships with some of Japans most famous martial arts masters. He travels to Japan twice a year to continue training and also give students the opportunity to go along and experience the Japanese culture for themselves. He is passionate about personal development and dedicated his life to the process of self-mastery and teaching it in a straight forward and enjoyable way so all may reach more of their infinite potential.

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Grand Master Zulfi Ahmed

Business Track

Grand Master Zulfi Ahmed is the designer and developer of the Bushi Ban system. Grand Master Ahmed has over 30 years of martial arts experience and has won over 300 martial arts awards including the 1993 NBL World Traditional Weapons title, and the 1992 USKA Open Forms World Title, and has also been inducted into eleven different martial arts halls of fame.

Presentation Schedule

Stephen Stewart

Instructor Track

Stephen started training in the martial arts at the age of four and continued all the way through to his black belt. Although he took an extended break during his teen years, the lessons he learned from karate had a lasting impression on the growth and development of his life. He graduated at the top of his class from Arizona State University in 2012, with a Bachelors degree in both Biology and Sociology. After working for AMC Theatres for several years to support his way through school, his karate past came full circle when Kyoshi DePalma offered him the opportunity to start training again and begin teaching classes. This was the chance of a lifetime, and as fate would have it, he was presented with another opportunity in 2013 to take over the Power Ranch location. For him, it’s hard to imagine life without martial arts. And after almost four years of running the Power Ranch school, he wouldn’t have it any other way. His location earned “Karate School of the Year” in 2015, and in 2017, Power Ranch grew to its highest active count ever! He is grateful for these amazing honors, but what he cherishes most is the pride that his students bring him each and every day. The karate school is his second home, and it would never be the same without its Power Ranchers!

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Jeff Barley

Business Track

Senior Master, 6th Dan, Bushi Ban International • Executive Director and Chief Instructor, BBI Pearland, Texas location • 15+ years Martial Arts Operations Management Experience • Expert in After School Martial Arts Childcare, all day Summer Camp, and Day Camp planning, marketing, and operations • Formerly 20+ years Research, Development, and Management in Petrochemical Industry • Sometime Triathlete, Adventure/Challenge Race participant

Presentation Schedule