Jake is the owner and founder of South Side Muay Thai studio. He has studied martial arts for over 43 years, served in the US Special Operations for 22 years, and continues to live by the warrior creed since his retirement. During one of many combat injury convalescences’, Jake started studying with Master Garcia of Garcia Muay Thai. It was here that Jake discovered a passion for teaching and instilling into others the strength, patience, humility, resilience, and confidence that he feels honored to have achieved through practicing Muay Thai.

The South Side Muay Thai studio is named after a fallen comrade, and the wall above the door is dedicated to the fallen with whom Jake has served. Their stories are embedded within Jake’s teachings, and within the space itself.

Jake was asked to list some or all of his accomplishments and accolades for this post. He responded, “I am a quiet professional, it’s about what I am doing today that matters, not the past. I’m a big believer in ‘it’s what I’m doing now’, not what I used to do. This promotes forward progress. I still remember the past fondly, I just don’t live in it.”