David A. Tester

David A. Tester was born on October 14, 1959 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After Graduating in 1978 from high school, Dave and a few close friends decided to travel to South Dakota to join the Job Corps to learn a trade.

At the young age of 18, Dave found himself in a very rough and challenging environment. The Job Corps was supposed to be a chance to learn a trade, study, and to get a head start on life. At this particular time the Job Corps was more like survival of the fittest. This was the beginning of Dave's martial arts training. He had to start learning different methods of defending himself. The system of martial arts that Dave studied was a combination of punches, kicks, and stick fighting (Street Fighting.)

The Job Corps was such a difficult environment it was hard for Dave to stay focused and to apply himself to his studies. He found himself in many confrontations, which ultimately lead to him being kicked out of the job corps. After the Job Corps, Dave moved back home to Colorado Springs.

To better understand Dave's history of training in the martial arts, it is important to have an understanding of how schools and instructors vary immensely in the arts. There are few instructors that believe in cross training into other martial art systems. Why would an instructor not want to cross train? There are a few reasons they don't. One would be that most instructors in the early 1980's, and still to this day, are very closed- minded. These particular instructors feel very strongly in their art or system of martial arts. This belief comes down from the master instructor to instructor to student influencing their beliefs. They believe their system of martial arts is the best possible self-defense program available, and that no other system can offer anything better for an individual. Some instructors have too much fear, pride or ego to start over in another system. Other instructors are part of large governing organizations or associations that have rules set up pertaining to protecting their style. You can believe that there are politics and money involved in this! The instructors and associations that operate this way are hurting martial artists by not training their students in other aspects in the world of self-defense. It is true that every system of martial arts has strong points, but it is also true that every system has weak points. As Dave began to understand that every system has its advantages, he wanted to broaden his studies of the martial arts.

In 1982 Dave decided to continue his training. He began his lessons in the Korean form of martial arts - Tae Kwon Do. It was at this time that Dave met John Saylor. Dave and John were classmates together and became close friends. Dave started developing really great kicks but had limited hand and self-defense skills. It was in 1983 that Dave started pursuing other forms of training.

In 1983 Dave found an instructor that had a different view on martial arts and self-defense compared to his Tae Kwon Do instructor. This instructor was Master Clark. Dave trained privately with Master Clark in an Japanese form of jitsu. This martial arts system focused more on striking with the hands and joint locks. Dave took lessons with this master while he still was training in the art of Tae Kwon Do.

In 1984 while still training in Tae Kwon Do and with Master Clark, Dave met another martial artist that had something that interested him. This man was Johnny Warren. Mr. Warren was born in Vietnam. Mr. Warren's family developed a system that Mr. Warren later called Ki Do Kwan. Ki Do Kwan had many different influences; Kempo Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Kung Fu. The main focus of Mr. Warren's program was Full Contact Kick Boxing. Johnny Warren was a professional Kickboxer and a BantamWeight Champion. That is what Dave was interested in, more hands and the experience of full contact fighting. Dave also continued to train in Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu and Karate.

In 1985 Dave received his first Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 25. One year later, in 1986, Dave received his Black Belt in Ki Do Kwan. It was also in 1986 that Mr. Warren opened up a Kick Boxing Studio to teach others the Ki Do Kwan system. At this time Dave was Mr. Warren's sparring partner to help him prepare for his kick boxing fights. In 1987 Dave earned his 2nd Degree Black Belt in the art of Ki Do Kwan.

In March of 1988 Dave accepted a new job and had to move to Cincinnati, away from his family, friends, and his instructors.

For the next two years Dave trained on his own, striving to perfect his technique. In 1990 Dave met Master Rick Clark (different Master Clark from before - what a coincidence!) Dave started to train with Master Rick Clark in the art of RyuKyu Kempo Karate and Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do. Dave tested for his 4th Degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate and Tae Kwan Do under Master Clark in 1992.

In 1994 Dave focused more of his training in the art of Shin Gi Tai Jujitsu under his old friend John Saylor. Two years later in 1996 at 36, Dave tested for his 4th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu and in the same year he tested for his 5th Degree Belt in Kempo Karate and Tae Kwon Do under Master Rick Clark earning him the title of Master Dave Tester!

On March 1st. 2003 Dave Tester was awarded his 6th. Degree Black Belt. 

When Dave started training in the martial arts it was for self defense and a hobby. The more that Dave learned the more he learned how much he didn't know. He has always pursued the best methods of training and has always tried to work on his weak areas. He did not start training to run a successful martial arts program or to have hundreds of students. We are very fortunate that through his trials and tribulations he founded the US Martial Arts Academy. Thanks to Dave's hard work, dedication to perfection, and passion for knowledge in the arts, we now have a place to learn multiple systems under one roof.

From all the students and families that you have touched by your guidance, leadership, friendship, and kindness and from all the students and families to come in the future -- Thank You!