Qualifications

• Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under 3rd degree Jean Jacques Machado black belt Todd Nathanson
• Certified Self-Defense Instructor in Defendo CORE
• Defendo Battleschool Certified by Regimental Sergeant Major Bill Wolfe
• Other Martial arts experience include Submission Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Sikaran, and Kung-fu
• Certified CPR-A & First Aid
• Graduate of University of Manitoba (Bachelor of Arts)

Achievements and Highlights

• 2010 Las Vegas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships Senior Lightweight Gold Medallist
• 2010 Las Vegas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships Senior Open weight Bronze Medallist
• 2006 Western Canadian Martial Arts Challenge Submission Grappling Lightweight Gold Medallist
• 2005 Western Canadian Martial Arts Challenge Submission Grappling Light Middleweight Silver Medallist
• Active participation as a teenager in track, football, baseball, and traditional martial arts.
• Former Manitoba provincial record holder and 3 time provincial long jump champion
• Won numerous Manitoba provincial track and field awards in the 100 meters, long jump, and 4 x 100 meters

Raz's Fitness Philosophy

Presently, Raz spends the majority of his time teaching his popular Women's Cardio Kickboxing Boot Camp and 40+ Executive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Vancouver and Burnaby. The clients enjoy his personal style of training and the variety of drills offered in his class. Most importantly, they have found it a fun and motivating way to commit to a healthy lifestyle by incorporating at least three hours of an intense workout into their schedule every week.

Raz enjoys helping people achieve their highest goals in fitness and health. After spending many years in the corporate world, he understands the stress and increasing demands placed on employees. People today are asked to work longer and contribute more to their organizations. Compounded with family life and managing tasks outside of work, people have little time left to hit the local gym. With this in mind, Raz decided he would specialize in personal mixed martial arts / self-defense training for busy people. Whether you already have a home gym set-up, a spare room, or your office, Raz will create programming to help you achieve your fitness goals.

The Influence of Mixed Martial Arts

Raz's introduction to the martial arts came at an early age studying the art of Sil-Lum Kung Fu, and Sikaran. With the emergence of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the increasing popularity of mixed martial arts in 1993, Raz began to seek out fighting systems that emphasized realistic self-defense training.

From there, he began a rigorous training schedule in Defendo, a military close quarter combat system taught by Wolfes Self Defense under the guidance of Dennis Wolfe. Dennis also introduced Raz to the art of kickboxing and submission grappling. In 2003, he completed the Defendo Battleschool program and was certified by Regimental Sergeant Major Bill Wolfe. Raz was truly honoured to receive this certification as it was referred by Black Belt magazine as "Two Days of the Toughest Training on Earth"!

Raz also trains passionately in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and currently holds the rank of purple belt awarded by his instructors Todd and Jared Nathanson of the Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Other notable instructors involved in his development are Jean Jacques Machado, Brian Johnson of Northwest Jiu-Jitsu, and one of the first individuals to bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Canada in the early 90's, Sylvio Behring black belt Bob McRoberts. Raz also honed his boxing skills under former World Champion Tony Pep and BASX Training owner Robert Caird.

Raz continues to maintain a rigorous training schedule, but finds time to share his experience with beginners. He previously taught Introduction to Freestyle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at BASX boxing in North Vancouver and continues to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay thai during his spare time.