INSTRUCTORS OF ELITE DEFENSE SYSTEMS
Instructor: Kevin Gallagher
Rockford Instructor
To Contact: kevin@EliteJKD.com or (815) 885-4758
In the early 1990s Mr. Gallagher began studying JKD under the instruction of Sifu Rick Manente at Connecticut Martial Arts, after several years of working intensively in Jun Fan Gung Fu he left Sifu Manente and moved to Illinois. In 2005 Mr. Gallagher found Elite Defense Systems and Sifu Numrich and has been training ever since. Mr. Gallagher’s patience and dedication to the student’s growth is shown over and over with EDS’s students.
Assistant Instructor: Paul Ingram
Bloomingdale and Rockford Instructor
To Contact: paul@EliteJKD.com or (630) 837-7565
Mr. Ingram's martial arts journey began at a young age through the park district of his home town, then moving on to Taekwondo where he competed in about a dozen tournaments. In High school he was introduced to The Filipino Martial Arts through a friend's uncle, who studied and taught in the Philippines. Mr. Ingram found himself progressing more in search for a real self-defense type of art. Coming into EDS felt like coming home for him, as he explains it. Mr. Ingram’s ability to teach both the youth and adult students at EDS shows what promise he has as a future instructor.
Assistant: Mike Soper
Bloomingdale Instructor
To Contact: (630) 837-7565
Mr. Soper’s Martial Arts experience began when he was in High School at regional boxing tournaments and since has earned black belt and instructor ranks in Kosho Ryu Kenpo, Shaolin Kenpo, and Mo So Chi Kenpo styles of Karate, as well as Judo. Training at EDS since 2004, he currently is an assistant instructor and graduate student, as well as a member of the CATT Team. Competing in the Heavy Weight Division at the NAGA tournaments in 2008, he earned both silver and bronze medals. “Studying JKD, Filipino martial Arts and the intense street fighting self defense methods at EDS has opened up endless learning possibilities as I continue to evolve in my Martial Arts experience and my life”, he states.
Assistant Instructor: Pete Juska
Bloomingdate Assistant
To Contact: pete@EliteJKD.com or (630) 837-7565
Mr. Juska has been involved in the martial arts since 1996, and at EDS for 7 years. For over a decade Mr. Juska has trained several different martial arts styles. Beginning with studying the art of Hapkido, he quickly learned the importance of not being one dimensional. With backgrounds in boxing, kickboxing, judo and penjak silat, not to mention his years of JKD training makes Mr. Juska very well rounded and skillful.
Assistant Instructor: Tim Hill
Bloomingdale Assistant
To Contact:(630) 837-7565
Mr. Hill was introduced to JKD through Sifu Matt years ago. Over the years he has attended most seminars as well as many classes and has successfully worked his way up from a beginner. He enjoys learning the practical street aspects at Elite Defense Systems. The work outs not only relieve stress, but you learn while working out. EDS work-outs have kept Mr. Hill feeling incredibly young and energetic for his age.
Assistant: Noah Ballard
Bloomingdale Assistant
To Contact: noah@EliteJKD.com or (630) 837-7565
Noah Ballard was born and raised in Stafford, VA where he trained under a police officer, Jim Nida. Noah moved to the Chicago area a few years ago and began training with EDS which has taken his skill level and confidence to the next level.
Noah is currently enrolled in Olivet Nazarene University as a Sophamore and is studying Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement, a minor in Military Affairs, and is currently Terrorism Prevention certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
Mr. Ballard hopes to have a career in Law Enforcement in specifically field operations.
Assistant: Levi Ballard
Bloomingdale Assistant
To Contact: (630) 837-7565
Levi Ballard is our youngest student on the instructor's track. He was born and raised in Stafford, VA till he was 12 years old when his family moved. In 2002 both Noah and Levi Ballard started studying in an art called Yoroi Kamisama where they were just under the level of black belt. Levi shows great potential in one day becoming an instructor.
Assistant: John "JT" Terranova
Rockford Assistant
To Contact: (630) 837-7565
Mr. Terranova began his martial arts training years ago in the field of boxing. However, in looking for a true street defense art he came upon Elite Defense Systems and through Sifu Matt Numrich was introduced to Jeet Kune Do.
As student at EDS for nearly 3 years, he is currently completing EDS’ Advanced level while also a member of the school’s C.A.T.T team. His journey in the Way of the Intercepting Fist has led to learning in life - “Moving, be like water. Still, be like a mirror”, is his favorite Bruce Lee quote.
Assistant Instructor: Glenn Suacillo
Assistant Instructor
To Contact: glenn@EliteJKD.com or (630) 837-7565
Dr. Suacillo has been training in martial arts since the age of twelve, really out of necessity/survival being that he was a not very athletic child and got picked on quite a bit. It truly helped him early on to gain confidence and physical improvement.
Dr. Suacillo started out training in a modified form of northern Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. I then trained for eight years in Shorin Ryu style of Karate, earning a second degree black belt. At the same time that I was training in Shorin Ryu, he was involved with the Guardian Angels in Chicago for a short time, giving me much needed practical street fighting experience.
In 1995 he started my residency and also got married and started a family. He finished his residency in 2000, moved back to Chicago, found EDS and claims he is now receiving the best training he has ever received in his entire martial arts experience. Dr. Suacillo was the first student to reach the level of Graduate Student at Elite Defense Systems.
Instructor: Chad Grider
Grappling Coach
To Contact: chad@EliteJKD.com or (815) 315-2690
Mr. Grider has been training with EDS since early 2004 and is currently an Assistant Instructor at the Rockford location. He competed at the 2005 NAGA tournament in Cicero, IL in the Super Heavyweight division and received a Bronze medal at the 2005 Chicago Combat Championships in the Heavyweight division. He continues to evolve as a martial arts practitioner and instructor under Sifu Numrich.
