Guro John Spezzano began his martial arts training with Isshinryu Karate and Judo at thirteen.  Four years later, he moved on to Aikido, studying that for seven years, adding Iaido near the end of that time.  In 1992, John found the Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles where he was introduced to Kali, Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Kickboxing, subsequently becoming a member of the Academy’s kickboxing team.


    During his early years at the Inosanto Academy, Guro John trained like a fighter 25 hours per week. Instruction from world renowned martial arts legend, Guro Dan Inosanto, senior Inosanto Academy instructors Damon Caro and Chad Stahelski, and Boxe Francaise Savate World Champion Nicola Saignac filled his mind and body. Guro John cross trained in the method that made Mr. Inosanto famous and sparred the many world kickboxing champs who came through the Academy—a learning curve without parallel. During this time, Guro John fought some light-contact Savate tournaments and full-contact Muay Thai smokers.  He credits his years training as a fighter for his appreciation of a strong work ethic.


    Guro John has been a staff instructor at the Inosanto Academy since 1995, currently ranked 5th year Senior Associate Instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do Concepts and the Filipino Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto. John is also a certified instructor in Muay Thai under Ajarn Chai Sirisute of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA, and holds the rank of Silver Glove in Boxe Francaise Savate under former Savate world champion Nicola Saignac. Additionally John is certified in both Maphilindo Silat under Guro Dan Inosanto and Walisongo Pencak Silat under Pendekar Steve Benitez. John is also a certified instructor under Sifu Francis Fong and is a very active member of Sifu Fong’s Wing Chun Association of the USA.

INSTRUCTORS

PCMA’s founders and senior instructors bring over 65 years of martial arts training and instruction with them into the classroom. 

GURO JOHN SPEZZANO

GURO MIKE WISE

With over 38 years experience as an instructor, Michael Wise is one of those people who has truly spent a lifetime in the martial arts.  His father was a boxer in the Army Air Corps, the famed Flying Tigers from WW II, and he started Mike in boxing at age ten.  At 13 Mike met a young man who trained Kenpo Karate, they hit it off and spent a day sparring in Mike’s garage.  With no idea what Karate was all about, after a few spinning back kicks Mike was fascinated by the movements and asked his friend to teach him.


Mike studied with him for three years, stopping only because his friend joined the army and was going away to Vietnam.  Neither of them knew it at the time but Mike’s friend would not return from the war.  Before leaving, he took Mike into the school where he had trained and earned his black belt: Ed Parker’s Karate Studio.  Mike was hooked immediately.  He trained at the school for several years.  While Mike trained there his interest in other styles brought him to seek out training in Hung Gar Kung Fu and Choi Lay Fut.  Mike trained in the five animal systems as well as the Korean styles of Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do.


Many years passed and Mike eventually found the world famous Inosanto Academy.  This school was what Mike had looked for all his life.  In 1995 after years of work, Guro Inosanto gave Mike his apprentice instructor certifications in Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do Concepts and the Filipino Martial Arts.  Mike also earned his instructorship in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Chai Sirisute.


In addition to teaching regular weekly classes at the Inosanto Academy, over the years Mike has had his hand in teaching law enforcement and military personnel.  Mike specialized in bladed weapons and was an integral part in devising and establishing the edged weapon defense course for the Los Angeles Police Department.  Mike is the top knife self-defense instructor for the LAPD, of which he is a proud member.  Now for the first time he is offering his street and combat proven system of self-defense to others outside of law enforcement.  The same types of techniques that save the lives of those who patrol the streets are now being offered to you.  This material is used by law enforcement officers to control criminals and save the lives of policemen with minimal knowledge and training time.