Instructors
Ryan Fiorenzi is the owner and founder of East West Martial Arts. A Machado 2nd black belt, the first black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the highest ranked in the state of Michigan, black belt in Kung Fu and training in numerous disciplines with over 25 years experience. Author of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training Volume 1: Basic Principles For Success, and of the informational website: www.TheBJJWay.com. He is also a contributor to BJJ Legends Magazine.
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John Toth is a black belt under Phil Migliarese and the 2011 IBJJF No Gi Brown Belt World Champion. John made his pro debut on the pro grappling circuit at the Grappler’s Quest All-Star Pro Challenge in 2008 where he won the Heavyweight division. In 2009, he took third place at the same tournament. In 2010, he took 2nd in the no gi World Championships. In addition, John has competed in and won many other pro and amateur tournaments across the country. He has beaten numerous elite black belts, UFC vets, and ADCC vets in competition.
Never satisfied with learning from one person, John has traveled across the globe to learn and train from the best. These include Rick and Phil Migliarese, Marcelo Garcia, Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, Shinya Aoki, Clark Gracie, Alfredo Barum, Yuki Nakai, and Josh Griffith.
John is one of the most sought out BJJ instructors in Michigan. He is the BJJ coach to some of Michigan’s best mma fighters and is available for private lessons.
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Daron Cruickshank is East West’s MMA Instructor, will be on season 15 of the Ultimate Fighter.
Daron has extensive martial arts background. Trained by his father Dean Cruickshank from an early age, Daron went on to wrestle at Olivet College. He was a four time National Qualifier and one time National Runner Up. He is the current Ringside MMA Lightweight Champion is now the Xtreme Cagefighting Welterweight Champion, with a 10-2 record.
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Cody James Stamann is an mma instructor at East West and has amatuer MMA record of 18-1,a professional MMA Record of 1-0, and an amatuer boxing record 9-0.
He is a professional mma fighter specializing in kickboxing and wrestling. He began wrestling at the age 14 and wrestled through high school and competed one year at GVSU. Through high school he boxed, winning the golden gloves tournement in 2008. He started MMA fighting at the age of 18 and over 2 years he earned an 18-1 record also recording 5 amatuer titles. He turned pro in November 2011 where I won via TKO in 3:47. He am currently preparing for fights in Bellator and Instinct.
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Kristi Kapla is the Program Director for East West and Head Aerobic Kickboxing Instructor. She is a Machado blue belt East West blue belt.
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Eric Pearch is an East West black belt and Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with an undefeated Judo and MMA record. Visit the MMA Class page and the Judo page to see some of his early matches. He is the creator of Couch 2 Cage, a popular MMA blog.
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Johnny Glover was ranked 7th in the world by the WBO and he’s a three time golden gloves champion. His amateur career includes 65 straight wins including 22 consecutive knockouts. He’s sparred Hector Camacho, Greg Coverson, and Floyd Mayweather. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Daniel Levine is a dual green arm-band Muay Thai fighter, ranked by Lumpinee champions Saekson Janjira and Matee Jedeepitak. He was a rotating trainer at Saekson Janjira Muay Thai, and Siam Star Muay Thai, in Dallas. He is trained in both Dutch style Muay Thai as well as traditional Muay Thai from Thailand.
In addition, Daniel trained with K1 Maxx dutch-style thai fighter Remy Bonnel, and Argentinian World Kickboxing Champ Diego DeVerra in Miami, Fl.
While in high school Daniel trained American Kickboxing under champion Ken Levy, and American Kenpo under a local Black Belt. Daniel began martial arts training at 7 yrs of age, doing Tae Kwon Do under the famous Kim family in Ohio. He is certified in personal training (ASPCA), dietary supplementation (BTFO), martial arts (USEMA), CPR, and Group Fitness (BTFO).
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Sharon Schleif is the highest ranked female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in Michigan, and an East West black belt. She is the Head Instructor for our Women Only Program, and a certified Body Combat Instructor.
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Ted Tripp the 2009 Can American Black belt Champion, and holder of numerous titles in Judo. He is a 3rd degree black belt. Visit the Judo page to see one of Ted’s matches.
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Jamie Murphy is an East West black belt, brown belt in Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a former triathlete.
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John Hadeer is a brown belt in Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; amateur boxer and Mixed Martial Arts trainer of King of the Cage fighters. He is one of the Boxing Instructors at East West.
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Craig Funk brings his years of experience as a combat athlete to functional strength training. Wrestling in high school, followed by competing and coaching as an MMA fighter -Craig has real world experience in the combat arts. He is a Certified Kettlebell Trainer by the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation (IKFF), and has undergone further training in Functional Strength Training, Integrated Kettlebell Training, and TRX/Suspension Training.
Kettlebell training will improve your overall fitness, you will be building muscles from the inside out and will develop core strength that you never had before. You will be learning all the proper techniques of lifting, from the foundational move of the swing, to the advanced moves of the jerk and snatch. Come and see what a great workout you’ll be getting!