Instructors
Ryan “C-Guard Dog” Gruhn
(Head Instructor / Owner – Central PA Mixed Martial Arts, LLC)
Muay Thai, Boxing, MMA, Women’s Kickboxing, Reality Based MMA, Youth Martial Arts
Certifications:
Ryan Gruhn has been studying the combat arts for over a decade starting his training in 1993. In this time he has achieved instructor status in five different martial arts; Muay Thai, Filipino Martial Arts / Dog Brothers, Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do, and Boxing. He is the head instructor at Central PA Mixed Martial Arts teaching the Muay Thai, Boxing, MMA, Women’s Kickboxing, Reality Based MMA, and Youth Martial Arts classes.
He is the Central PA representative for the Thai Boxing Association and is the only certified Muay Thai instructor in the area. Ryan is the founder and head instructor for “Youth Martial Arts”, a system of multiple styles catered to children and young adults.
Ryan is a certified coach with USA Boxing, a certified instructor in Jeet Kune Do & Filipino Martial Arts under Sifu Kevin Seaman, associate instructor in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute, and a “Teacher” in Dog Brothers under Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny and member of the tribe receiving the Candidate name of “Guard Dog” in 2009. Ryan’s main instructor as a child into his teen years was Sifu Bill Gebhardt, owner of the State College Martial Arts Academy.
Ryan is currently a purple belt under Shawn Williams in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has competed in numerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments placing in the majority of tournaments he has attended.
Competitive Rankings:
Competitively Ryan has been fighting in Real Contact Stick Fighting events since 2005. With over twenty fights to his name he has ended a number of fights by submission, KO and TKO. Ryan fights in the Dog Brothers ~ “Gathering of the Pack” on a biannual basis in Los Angeles, California and has fought at the following gatherings:
November 2005
November 2006 – Received “Dog”
November 2007
April 2008 (Tribal Gathering)
April 2009 (Tribal Gathering)
September 2009 – “Received “C-Guard Dog”
Dog Brother’s Gatherings are known for being a true “Mixed” Martial Arts event where there are no rules or weight classes. Gruhn has been known to fight up to four times in one day at Gatherings and has led a number of other fighters to Dog Brothers gatherings.
Student Achievements:
Ryan corners fighters in Boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Real Contact Stick Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts on a regular basis. He has led a number of fighters to successful competitive carriers in their respective style producing multiple Golden Gloves State Champions and title holders in Boxing, Muay Thai and MMA. Ryan has also led multiple fighters to the Dog Brothers Gatherings some of which earning the title of “Dog.”
View what people are saying about Ryan’s classes – Testimonials
Mike Fusco
Submission Wrestling
Mike has an impressive MMA record of 7-2 and has been fighting in MMA, Shoot Wrestling and NHB events since the late 90’s. The majority of his wins are by submission in the first round!
Mike was awarded Level II coach certification from the legendary Erik Paulson in March of 2005 and has been training in Combat Submission Wrestling since the late 90’s. He is known as the pioneer of MMA fighting and Submission Wrestling in Central PA as he was the first MMA fighter out of our area. Mike is also a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Shawn Williams.
“Kru” Alex Brown
Muay Thai & Boxing – Level III
Alex has over three years of experience studying the arts of Muay Thai and Boxing under Khun Khru Gruhn. He is a Level III instructor under Khru Gruhn and the Thai Boxing Association of America under Ajarn Chai.
Alex has been an asset to the gym not only teaching the fundamentals of Boxing and Muay Thai but also being in the corner of many of the gyms fighters. He has cornered multiple Muay Thai and Boxing events including Golden Gloves Tournaments and has attended multiple seminars with Ajarn Chai.
Alex currently assists Khun Khru Gruhn in the Muay Thai, Boxing and Women’s Kickboxing classes. He is known for his ability to relay information to all student levels from beginners to advanced fighters with a methodical and systematic approach.
Dave Light
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Dave Light has been a devout martial artist in State College for 10 years and has been teaching since he graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Kinesiology in 2005. Known for his summer training excursions around the country, he has been fortunate enough to train with some of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) instructors in the country for several months at a time. He is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In California, his primary BJJ instructors have been World Champion, Garth Taylor, and one of the first non-Brazilians to earn a BJJ black belt, David Meyer. In Las Vegas, Dave trained under the same grappling coaches that the top UFC fighters go to train; Marc Laimon of Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu and John Lewis of Nova Uniao. From ’06-’09, he trained in State College with De La Riva BJJ brown belt, Jeff Rockwell.
Dave has an extensive background in Japanese jujitsu, several styles of yoga, judo, boxing, kickboxing, capoeira, aikido, and wrestling. By participating in extensive seminar circuits all over California, Thailand, and Mexico, he has trained with over 50 black belts in all different styles of martial arts.
Rick “Bull” Bolinsky
Head Wrestling Coach
Coach Bolinsky has been wrestling for over 27 years. His personal philosophy is the greatest strength, is strength of will. A PIAA undefeated State Champion 1996. He has achieved All-America Status in Football, Wrestling and Strength. A standout 2 sport varsity letter winner for Penn State in Football (NOSEGUARD) and Wrestling (HWT) all while earning a Masters Degree in Health Education.
A student of the combat arts for over 13 years BULL has studied Jun Fan/JKD concepts earning the rank of red sash, Muay Thai, and Combat Submission Wrestling.
BULL has competed in multiple no-gi grappling events and has achieved great success, and continues to hone his competitive spirit. Coach Bolinsky is also a certified strength and conditioning coach, most recently working as an assistant strength coach for Penn State Football.
Shane Finn
Muay Thai & Boxing – Level I
Shane is an active fighter in both amateur boxing and full rules Muay Thai. With a cumulative record of 3-0 he has shown his ability to apply the skills he has leaned in class during his fights in the ring. In March 2009 Shane won the Golden Gloves State Championships in his respective weight class and experience level only to fight the next weekend in a full rules Muay Thai event winning one of the most dominating and technical fights of the night.
Shane has been studying Muay Thai and Boxing under Kru Gruhn for three years and has achieved his Level I instructorship under the Thai Boxing Association of America headed by Ajarn Chai.
Shane is an assistant instructor in Women’s Kickboxing, Boxing and Muay Thai and is an active student in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“Dog” Mike Norrell
Reality Based Mixed Martial Arts – Kali (FMA Assistant Instructor)
“Dog” Mike is an assistant instructor under Guro Gruhn in the Filipino Martial Arts (Kali / Escrima / Silat / Arnis) and brings over four years of experience to the table. He is an active fighter and has fought at multiple Dog Brothers ~ Gatherings and has an impressive 8 fights under his belt.
Mike has displayed the variety of Filipino Martial Arts in his fights by blending all ranges; stick, clinch, empty hand striking, grappling, etc. In April 2009 Mike fought in the Dog Brothers Tribal Gathering and caught the eye of the council of elders who promoted Mike to “Dog.”
Mike currently assists in the Reality Based MMA class and is an active student in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing and Muay Thai.
Nora Martin:
Youth Martial Arts (YMA Assistant Instructor)
Nora has been training in Boxing and Muay Thai for over five years. She is an active student in the Women’s Kickboxing, Boxing and Muay Thai programs and assists in Youth Martial Arts. Nora won the 2009 Golden Glove State Championships in the 187 lb. division and is a certified “Assistant Instructor” under Ryan Gruhn in Youth Martial Arts. Nora’s bright personality and being known as one of the hardest hitters in the gym have made her a main staple of Central PA Mixed Martial Arts. Nora is currently studying as an undergrad at Penn State University.
Bio’s Coming Soon:
Jake Sibel
