Sifu Greg Medford started training in 1979 with Tony Hill. Then Buddy Boothe under Dennis Laycock in Phoenix, AZ. Mr. Laycock was trained under the Tracy brothers of Chinese Kenpo and American Kenpo lineage. He was also part of the Yudansha in Shotokan Karate from the lineage of Nakayama and Dave Roberts, as well as Chung Doo Kwan Tae Kwon Do through Mr. Roberts. Mr. Laycock was always ready to work-out and loved fighting anyone who cared to put forth an effort. He is truly a gentleman martial artist and of the old school of “Iron Worker” Karate men that came out of Texas in the 60’s and 70’s. We are friends to this day.

After earning blackbelt rankings in Kenpo, Shotokan and Tae Kwon Do, Mr. Medford trained with Dennis Connatser and next under Stephen LaBounty. Finally Greg found his Kenpo teacher and is happy to be training under Richard “Huk” Planas to this day. Mr. Medford is very indebted to all of the good men who helped him become the person he is today.

Greg is a full-time professional Martial Arts instructor. He is also a retired professional airshow stunt pilot and importer of exotic ex-military aircraft. Greg loved performing at military sponsored airshows as recruitment tools for the U.S. Military. He writes daily and has been published several times in local, regional and national magazines and journals. Greg plays the guitar almost daily and loves to break out into song when guests stay at his home. He has a passion for life, and a zeal for country that few can imagine…when not at the school you could find him doing anything from building a high performance aircraft engine, sneaking up on 1000 yards with a .308, putting a wing on an airplane, reading Plato, studying aerodynamics, or rebuilding his WWII fighter he plans on racing at the Reno International Air Races.

Mr. Medford is a native of Phoenix, attended high school and college in Massachusetts and college in Pennsylvania as well. Greg earned a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and is an FAA certified flight instructor in single, multi and instrument rated aircraft, and holds a current surface-level, Level 1 Aerobatic Competency Evaluation Card for airshows. Greg is also AZ-Post certified in advanced sniper/ counter sniper operations and tactics.

Greg is a devoted husband & father and everything takes a backseat to the raising of his and Amy’s children Roxanne and Jack…

Amy Medford

2nd Degree Black Belt (March 2008)

One of eight children, Amy and her family moved a total of 8 times throughout her childhood. Born in South Bend, Indiana, she then moved to Minnesota, North Carolina, Arizona, New Jersey, Illinois, and back to New Jersey.
From there, Amy went to study at Iowa State University (her parents’ alma mater), and finished earning her Bachelors in Art History at Arizona State University. After college and various career related travels Amy landed back in Arizona, where her parents are now retired. Within 2 months of returning to Arizona, Amy met the Sifu, and 21/2 months later were married.

It was after Greg & Amy met in November of 1997, that Amy began her journey in the martial arts. She soon realized that working with Greg was going to be the most challenging and rewarding pursuits of her life. Parallel to her training in Kenpo, Amy started teaching some of the kickboxing classes that Greg had been teaching. It didn’t take long for Amy to take over the kickboxing program, teaching 5 classes a week. Approximately a year later, Amy began teaching in the children’s classes, which soon became her program as well.

Six years later, Amy now heads both the Women’s Kickboxing and the Children’s programs and holds a black belt in American Kenpo. She is very intense in her own physical training & application and extremely detail-oriented in her form, which helps her to inspire other adults, young women and children to really push themselves.

On a daily basis, you will see her down at the Academy excitedly guiding the kids in the Freshman classes through basics & fundamentals and working with the Sophomore students to refine their technique and improve their application skills. During the adult Kenpo classes, she’s always on the mat, whether training herself or assisting the Sifu in teaching the different ranks. And whether she’s teaching or not, she is almost always working out in the Kickboxing classes. Watch out if she’s teaching, though… because if you’re there, she wants your 100%, and that is definitely what she gives!

Denise Nojaim

1st Degree Black Belt

Although Denise is junior in seniority among the higher ranking students her abilities more than make up for her time training. Denise is an extremely articulate and thoughtful Martial Artist and it shows in her instruction. Denise also is a lead instructor in the Women’s Kick Boxing program here at the Academy. Denise professionally works for Land America as an executive assistant and office manager. During Arizona’s economic contraction and the adjusting of home values and sales, Denise has been glad to get on the mat and leave the torment of the mortgage industry behind her. As the smallest Black Belt at the Academy Denise hangs and bangs with the big boys, so look out when you train with her. Big power in a small package.

Colin McGrath

1st Degree Black Belt

Colin has been with the Academy for years and is a great Kenpoist. He has some of the fastest kicks in the school and has a wonderful spirit for fighting and for instruction, which is a rare blend. Colin spends his professional life in public service as a fireman and EMT. We are blessed by his love for the Academy and the craft we practice. Colin brings passion, honesty, sincerity and a humanity to the Academy that is a rare thing today.

Dan Zemel

1st Degree Black Belt

Danny is an interesting addition to the Academy instructor cadre. Dan is intensely into Kenpo and fighting in general so brings real zeal and passion to the mat. He is an existentialist at heart so very reflective on the moral, ethical, motivational underpinnings of training in the martial arts. He is the kind of student who picks up on subtle humor in class, wants to get it right, and doesn’t mind getting punched in the face (well, he does a little bit).

Dan is a scrappy competitor as well as lover of application and “real-world” scenarios. Listening to him teach one finds a series of replays of class acquired wisdom blended with his own unique philosophical outlook. Dan plays to win and it shows in his Kenpo. Professionally Dan is an insurance claims adjuster so we think he sometimes comes to class to relieve himself of work related stress! Thanks for everything Dan!

Gary Smith

1st Degree Black Belt

Gary has been with us for over 7 years now and is a great addition to the instructor ranks. He loved the school so much he even tricked his wife Denise into coming in to train! Garry is the founding partner of Smith & Craven Law firm here in Phoenix so acts as our in-house counsel from time to time. We love his great sense of humor and very detailed understanding of Kenpo concepts. Gary adds a mature, articulate, and patient tenor to everything he does. We are honored to have him here at the Academy.

Bill Lauterbach

1st Degree Black Belt

Bill is a rock of dedication and a fine example of how to balance warriorship and the gentleness required of family life. Bill inspires all of us with his great positive outlook on life and Kenpo training. As a martial artist Bill is a Tiger for sure. His wrestling background coupled with submission skills makes him a world-class fighter on the ground. No exaggeration. Tough men half his age can’t keep up. Bills upright skills are nothing to sneeze at either. Bill achieved a Brown Belt with internationally renowned 1st generation Kenpoist Frank Trejo many years ago before starting over again with us.

Bill served in the United States Navy before entering the fast paced “start-up” corporate sales world. When not in class he can be found traveling to points unknown of the globe putting together some sales deal or bow hunting Prong Horn Antelope in the bush. His relationships with his daughters are an inspiration to both Greg & Amy, and the Academy is blessed to hold his family’s faith.

Jim Kilroy

Jim is one our longest training students at the Academy. He has a background in wrestling and loves to fight. Jim travels lots of miles to see us each week and we are always the better for it. He is married with three small children (one set of twins!) and still makes it to class, so there should be NO excuses from anyone else if he can make it!

Jim is nearing his Black Belt test and considering the demands of his family and position at HP, he is way ahead of most. Jim has an amazing patience and maturity in training that is not only a pleasure as a student but also a gift as a teacher. We look forward to our future service to and friendship with Mr. Kilroy.

Darin Ford

2nd Degree Black Belt

Darin was the Academy’s first Black Belt. His kicking is phenomenal and his control has always been a strong point. Darin has a near photographic memory for Kenpo and is a walking dictionary of technical information. If there is such a thing as a natural at the arts then Darin embodies the definition. Darin is a husband and currently serving our nation in the United States Air Force as a navigator in C-130 aircraft throughout the Middle East.

Darin was the first student of Mr. Medford’s to earn a black belt from white to black and is the longest and most senior student training with Mr. Medford. He is a fine addition to the Yudansha of teachers worldwide. His generosity on the mat, grace in motion, and thoughtful approach to Kenpo is dearly missed. We wish him the very best of luck on his missions and throughout his service and hope for his speedy return to train with us again.

Erin Lauterbach

1st Degree Black Belt

Erin is great young female leader in the school. She brings clarity, patience, and some of the best kicks in the Academy to the mat every time she either trains or instructs. Erin trains with her father Bill Here at the Academy and has a relationship with her dad that we all admire. Erin attends University currently so is on sabbatical from active daily training at the Academy. She is a great example for girls and women alike and look out, girls with dads as tough as hers know how to hit!

Eric Brown

1st Degree Black Belt

Eric is a very talented Martial Artist. He is one of the most elusive fighters you’ll ever work with and his intensity is hard to beat. Eric is husband and father and currently serving in the United States Air Force flying the F-15 Strike Eagle. Although he left the school as a senior Brown belt, his spirit reverberates here to this day and you’ll hear his name mentioned after particularly hard fighting classes. Eric is a consummate warrior and the best our country has to offer. We wish him all the best in serving our country and look forward to the time he graces our mat again to workout.

Nathan Kohlerman

1st Degree Black Belt

(Junior rank until graduation from high school)

Nathan has been training with us since he way 5 years old. Nathan attends Horizon High School. He is patient, articulate, and skilled beyond his years and a strong asset to any Kenpo group. He also will be absolutely no fun to fight in the next couple of years. Thanks for all your loyalty over the years Nathan.