At our schools, you will find a staff of certified and professional instructors ready to help you achieve your full potential in a friendly, courteous, and positive manner. Our instructors receive the latest training in teaching skills and self-defense techniques. They have spent many years devoted to training in the martial arts and other defensive tactics and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.
Kevin Brown (Chief Instructor)
Kevin has been training in martial arts since 1991. He began teaching in 1998 and earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in November of 2000. Since earning his Black Belt, Kevin helped to open a school in Newnan, GA and helped to grow the school to over 200 students. Kevin taught at the Newnan location until opening his own martial arts studio in Griffin, GA in 2007.
Kevin currently holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Style Karate and a 1st Degree Black Belt in Israeli Krav Maga. Kevin is certified by the Board of Regents of the Black Belt Schools of America as a Black Belt Schools International Instructor. His instructing experience includes American Style Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Women’s Self-Defense, Haganah, Krav Maga, weapons defense, Kardio Kick Boxing, and firearms. Kevin is trained and experienced in teaching both empty handed self-defense as well as firearms and other improvised weapons.
Jim Brown (Director)
As Director, Jim is in charge of much of the business operation of Championship Martial Arts (“CMA”).. He has an undergraduate business degree in finance, and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from VA Tech.
With over 30 years in the business world, many as an independent businessman, Jim has the experience to run a dependable and safe operation. He also has significant leadership experience having been vice president of two large financial institutions.
Integrity and values are of utmost importance to Jim. He served as an Elder in his Presbyterian church and remains active in that church. He believes we should serve our community, and offers the opportunity for our students to become involved in various service projects.
Jim has trained in American Style Karate and Krav Maga. He earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in Israeli Krav Maga on August 6, 2016. This demonstrates that no one is ever too old to be involved in martial arts. As both Director and instructor, Jim brings a unique perspective to CMA and EDT. From a business point, Jim is responsible for ensuring a vibrant, healthy school, capable of sustaining a long-term, positive influence in your student’s life. As a martial arts student and instructor, Jim is able to empathize with the other students and develop programs with that viewpoint in mind.
Jesse Pressley (Instructor)
Jesse’s love of sports began at the age of five in Little League Baseball where he played for ten years. He has also played Upwards basketball, Youth league soccer, and wrestled for two and 1/2 years at The Compound Training Center under Coaches Cliff Fretwell and Roper. He has been a student of Krav Maga for nearly one year and has advanced to Level 2 Practitioner. He began as a student of Jujitsu at the same time and has become an instructor to the beginners classes. He enjoys the training he receives and teaching others what he has learned in martial arts and in defensive tactics. His goal is to continue training and advancing to the black belt levels and beyond in both. While pursuing a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and working part time, he enjoys the time he spends learning and teaching at Elite Defense Tactics.