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Going to be moving to Iowa City, I was wondering who might be out there to train with?
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Dean Lessei is an associate instructor in kali under guro Dan. He's located in Dubuque, IA (about 45 mins to an hr away) and teaches out of the Dubuque Martial Arts Group. Hope this helps. -
Thanks, I already had emailed him. Hoping there was somebody closer, but 45 isn't that bad.Comment
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Arts in Iowa
As a state, Iowa is a barren wasteland in regards to quality schools of the styles you want. The only oasis, fortunately, is Iowa City, whose major university brings a cultural diversity observable in the arts. That said, many of these arts are taught temporarily. Silat, Kali, Jun Fan, Muay Thai, and more have all come and gone along with the ever fluctuating student body. I’ve jumped aboard when and where possible. A boxing club pops up—I sign up. An Arnis instructor moved away shortly after I began with him. For the single year he was there, I latch onto a kickboxing instructor who trained with Balicki and Inosanto. But they all eventually left the city, as did I after a decade.
The good news is that there are a few mainstays and they are ideal. The first is Bruce Heppner-Elgin, a really great guy once certified under Inosanto. Bruce teaches JKD, Kali, and grappling (including CSW) twice a week out of a gym—and he’s cheap! To contact him, call 319-321-3447 or try filmmakerbruce@hotmail.com.
Another guy with incredible material is Leland Belding, who is ranked high under Hock Hochheim and teaches both Pacific Archipelago Combatives and well-organized hand-to-hand levels. He can be reached at 319-351-6628 or mbelding@mecresults.com.
Teaching the same stuff, especially the Filipino material, is Darren Bogner just a half hour up the road. Call him at 319-851-4224 or email CDBogner@NetIns.net.
Closer is Kojokan, formerly Jade Tiger Dojo, where Dan Coglan (319-665-8107) did some kickboxing and stickfighting arts but has changed his focus towards Aikido and swordfighting.
45 minutes west is Cedar Valley Defensive Arts, doing TKD, Hapkido, Self-Defense and Arnis (on Mondays). I know nothing of them except their website is http://cvd-arts.com/xoops/
An hour east is the informal Midwest Martial Arts Group, where different instructors teach at the same time in a church’s rec hall. On Tuesday and Thursday, Ric Velando (563-289–3548) does Modern Arnis while Gary Schroeder (563-570–2998) works MMA, in particular Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu.
Personally, I loved what Dean Lessei taught but didn’t care for the man. Grappling used to be his strength but he now spotlights competitive kickboxing. And the distance to his school is more like 100 minutes, not 45 minutes.
There is also guy who taught privates in Kenpo and Kali out of his basement in Iowa City. He called his ‘school’ Fighting Arts Associates, but I’ll only give out his name in a PM because he doesn’t advertise.
Hope that helps,
MattComment
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Arts in Iowa
As a state, Iowa is a barren wasteland in regards to quality schools of the styles you want. The only oasis, fortunately, is Iowa City, whose major university brings a cultural diversity observable in the arts. That said, many of these arts are taught temporarily. Silat, Kali, Jun Fan, Muay Thai, and more have all come and gone along with the ever fluctuating student body. I’ve jumped aboard when and where possible. A boxing club pops up—I sign up. An Arnis instructor moved away shortly after I began with him. For the single year he was there, I latch onto a kickboxing instructor who trained with Balicki and Inosanto. But they all eventually left the city, as did I after a decade.
The good news is that there are a few mainstays and they are ideal. The first is Bruce Heppner-Elgin, a really great guy once certified under Inosanto. Bruce teaches JKD, Kali, and grappling (including CSW) twice a week out of a gym—and he’s cheap! To contact him, call 319-321-3447 or try filmmakerbruce@hotmail.com.
Another guy with incredible material is Leland Belding, who is ranked high under Hock Hochheim and teaches both Pacific Archipelago Combatives and well-organized hand-to-hand levels. He can be reached at 319-351-6628 or mbelding@mecresults.com.
Teaching the same stuff, especially the Filipino material, is Darren Bogner just a half hour up the road. Call him at 319-851-4224 or email CDBogner@NetIns.net.
Closer is Kojokan, formerly Jade Tiger Dojo, where Dan Coglan (319-665-8107) did some kickboxing and stickfighting arts but has changed his focus towards Aikido and swordfighting.
45 minutes west is Cedar Valley Defensive Arts, doing TKD, Hapkido, Self-Defense and Arnis (on Mondays). I know nothing of them except their website is http://cvd-arts.com/xoops/
An hour east is the informal Midwest Martial Arts Group, where different instructors teach at the same time in a church’s rec hall. On Tuesday and Thursday, Ric Velando (563-289–3548) does Modern Arnis while Gary Schroeder (563-570–2998) works MMA, in particular Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu.
Personally, I loved what Dean Lessei taught but didn’t care for the man. Grappling used to be his strength but he now spotlights competitive kickboxing. And the distance to his school is more like 100 minutes, not 45 minutes.
There is also guy who taught privates in Kenpo and Kali out of his basement in Iowa City. He called his ‘school’ Fighting Arts Associates, but I’ll only give out his name in a PM because he doesn’t advertise.
Hope that helps,
MattComment
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oops
Oops, first time posting on this board. I don't know why it posted twice.
MattComment
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I second the recommendation to Dean Lessei ...best of luck brother.Comment
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I'm out of Independence, IA myself so I only get the training out of the local recreation center. I may be moving to Dubuque so the information provided here will be of some help. Thank you.Comment
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I'm 39 y/o and I've know Dean since I was 13. He's an awesome martial artist, great father and nice person overall. I guess opinions are like a-holes, everyone has one, right?Comment
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I also recommend Dean Lessei. He's a great martial artist and he will without a doubt help you progress.
TimComment
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"Personally, I loved what Dean Lessei taught but didn’t care for the man. Grappling used to be his strength but he now spotlights competitive kickboxing. And the distance to his school is more like 100 minutes, not 45 minutes."
Mr. Stick Boxer (Matt),
I am not sure who you are, or if I have ever met or even trained you. You are entitled to your opinion this is for sure. However, you are welcome to come and train with us at my gym anytime. Perhaps your opinion would change. It seems you really do not know anything about me or my gym. Muay Thai and Competitive kickboxing is a major part of our program at the Dubuque Martial Arts Group, but it is not all we do. Jeet Kune Do, Kali and Grappling are also alive and well at D.M.A.G.Comment
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Aaron and Prince Vegita,
If you are interested in checking out my gym you are more than welcome. Feel free to e-mail me for more information. My background is as follows. There are many great martial artists out there. I hope you find a place to train that fits your needs. Good luck in your quest.
Thank You
Dean
Associate Instructor Jeet Kune Do & Kali from Guro Dan Inosanto
Full Instructor Muay Thai from Ajarn Surachai Sirisute
Full Instructor Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling from the Late Sifu Larry Hartsell
Instructor Level 1 Jeet Kune Do Concepts & Kali from Sifu Rick Faye
Black Belt Instructor Level 10 from Tim Mousel
Brown Belt Judo from Yodan Terry Smith
Brown Belt Tae Kwon Do Lee Merrick
International Kickboxing Federation Muay Thai Advisory Board & Certified Official
Thaiboxing Association of the USA state of Iowa Director
Thaiboxing Association Sanctioning Authority Board of directors & certified official
World Escrima Kali & Arnis Federation certified official
Owner and chief instructor Dubuque Martial Arts Group 1990-Present
Head Coach Team Singto Muay Thai Kickboxing 1994-PresentComment
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Forgive my phrasing...
For the record, I would LOVE to train with Dean Lessei. I'd be lucky to gain a fraction of his knowledge and skill. Short of Rick Faye and maybe a couple people I can’t even think of around Chicago, he’s the number one guy in the heartland.
I only had a couple trial classes over a decade ago with Mr. Lessei. That certainly does not give me any right to say anything negative about him or his school, so please, forgive me for sounding critical. Earning minimum wage at the time and driving two hours each way to get to his school, regular training there was not a possibility. I used to work out with a former student of his, a guy who had only a couple months’ worth of experience under Mr. Lessei, and I soaked up every kick, defense, lock, and deflection. That student was nevertheless a cocky jerk who only put down his past teacher, along with everyone else.
I live literally a thousand miles away now but would love to visit his gym again someday. The material is exactly what I’m interested in and the mix is also ideal in my mind. Mr. Lessei once gave me a handout on his school listing sample level requirements, and I still use that as my guideline in what little training I do any more. His curriculum, in fact, is to what I compare all other schools.
MattComment
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You have my attention Mr. Lessei. I will be contacting you via email for further discussion. Thank you for the background information as well.Comment
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"I only had a couple trial classes over a decade ago with Mr. Lessei."
"I used to work out with a former student of his, a guy who had only a couple months’ worth of experience under Mr. Lessei, and I soaked up every kick, defense, lock, and deflection. That student was nevertheless a cocky jerk who only put down his past teacher, along with everyone else."
Stickboxer Matt,
I appreciate your response, thank you. You stated you trained with me over a decade ago and traveled 2 hours to train and then trained with a former student of limited experience. I am curious as to who you both are and where you traveled from to train with me. Feel free to e-mail me.
I have had many students in my 20 years as a martial arts instructor. I have had students commute from the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Springville, Iowa City, Epworth, Maquoketa, Ames and Des Moines in Iowa and also Platteville, Prairie du Chien and Madison in Wisconsin. I am sure I am forgetting a few of the places people have made the trip from to train at my gym. Anyway, I guess my point is that I welcome people to come and train at my gym. Forgive me if I can't remember you or the "guy" you trained with that only had a couple months experience.
Thank you for the kind words and I forgive the misunderstanding. Take Care and keep training.
JAH Bless
DeanComment
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