Jeff Kim
- Brazilian JiuJitsu – Instructor
Jeff Kim began his martial arts training in the Art of Kyuki-Do in the mid-1970’s at Kim’s Black Belt Academy in Elgin under his father, Ken Ok Hyung Kim, a martial arts pioneer who founded Kim’s Black Belt Academy in 1968. Jeff began training in Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 1995 under Greg Nelson (Pedro Sauer Black Belt) at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. Jeff began training in Kali and Muay Thai Kickboxing with Rick Faye of the Minnesota Kali Group in 1994. Rick Faye is a Full Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto and a Senior Instructor under Ajarn Chai Sirisute, the founder, and president of the Thai Boxing Association of the United States. After returning to Elgin in December 2000, Jeff resumed his training in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Adam Miller, Jeff Curran and Matt Strack (all Pedro Sauer black belts) and was eventually awarded his blue, purple and brown belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu from Professor Jeff Curran. On June 25, 2016, Jeff was awarded his black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Professor Adam Miller. Jeff is also a Nidan in AKF Judo, a 7th Degree Black Belt in Kyuki-Do Martial Arts, and a Certified Instructor from Gracie University under Ryron & Rener Gracie.
Ian began training Muay Thai in 2000 at Linxx Academy in Virginia Beach VA under Frank Cucci. Over the years Ian has fought on a local, national, and international level to achieve winning the Venum Victory World Series 4 man tournament in Panama City Panama in 2015, WKA US National Muay Thai Championship, IKF Regional Kickboxing Championship, and competed in GLORY World Series Kickboxing events. As a competitor and coach, Ian has amassed training from around the country and trained in Thailand. He has coached and cornered fighters from the local level to leading organizations such as GLORY Kickboxing, Bellator, WEC, and UFC. In 2008 at the age of 23 Ian received his Full Instructor certification under the Thai Boxing Association of the USA headed by Ajarn Chai Sirisute, he was the youngest and fastest in the world to achieve this level of certification. As a Combative Instructor, Ian is a certified Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 Instructor and has previously assisted in the development of Combative training program for classified U.S. Military units to prepare personnel for deployment into various combat zones. In addition, he developed and instructed defensive tactics training programs for local and federal law enforcement units. A move to Illinois in August of 2012 lead him to head the Muay Thai program at Team Curran MMA until the beginning of 2014 when Fusion Fitness MMA became his home.
Mr. Wells’s martial arts background stems from his time served in the United States Marine Corps (1990-1993). In addition to military hand-to-hand combat training, he studied Tang Soo Do with Master Thompson (a student of Chuck Norris) in South Carolina. Shortly after being discharged from the Marines, Mr. Wells discovered Brazilian JiuJitsu, which he quickly fell in love with. Mr. Wells began his BJJ training under the guidance and professional tutelage of Mr. Adam Miller during the summer of 1996. Later that year, he became a student of Jeff Curran. In 1997, Mr. Wells began training under Master Bergwerf (8th dan Ju-Jitsu-United States Judo Association), became a member of the USJA and eventually earned a certificate as a certified instructor of USJA’s Tori Ryu Jiu-jitsu. He also trained in Judo under Grand Master Ok Hyung Kim (8th dan Judo) from 1997 to 1999. Presently, Mr. Wells holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in AKF JuiJitsu and Tori Ryu Jiu-jitsu, a 2nd-degree black belt in Hapkido, and a Sankyu in AKF Judo. He was 1st place winner in his division at the 2000 Midwest JiuJitsu Championship, as well as, silver and bronze medals at the NAGA Championships. Mr. Wells is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Mike Horn began his martial arts training in traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate in 1993, and earned his 1st degree black belt under Shihan Ed Kuras at Western Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs in 1998. He trained, competed and taught classes during college and graduate school, before moving to the Chicago suburbs to teach and train with Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs, under Shihan John DiPasquale. Mike competed in numerous tournaments and competitions at the local, state and national level where he became a 2 time Illinois State Champion in Kata (forms) & Kumite (sparring) and a Gold Medalist (Kata) and Silver Medalist (Kumite) at the U.S. National Championships. In 2003, Mike changed careers from finance to secondary education and earned his 2nd degree black belt under Shojiro Sugiyama. After moving again to become a full-time teacher, Mike began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2006. On December 2, 2017, Mike was awarded his black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Professor Adam Miller (Black Belt under Pedro Sauer & Jeff Curran). Mike continues to be a valuable instructor to both the Adults and Kids here at Fusion Fitness MMA.