Today we’d like to introduce you to Allen Horner.
Hi Allen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began training in Karate and Judo at 11 and Tae Kwon Do at 13. At 16 I started Jiu Jitsu, that was 1979. I opened my first dojo in 1983 and have been teaching Martial Arts continuously since then. I trained in Kenpo Karate for 10 years and fought as a prize fighter for 26 years before retiring from competition in 2013. I teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Chinese Kenpo Karate and Kickboxing in a unified curriculum that is thorough, challenging and fun to learn.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
sometimes you have a location that looks promising but then things don’t work out and you have to be able to gather yourself and move ahead. The major struggles have been with staff development, it’s hard to find someone who wants to sweat every day teaching Martial Arts, but I always find great people. COVID was especially challenging because it’s impossible to teach Jiu Jitsu without human contact, so we had to be very creative and careful, but we stayed open through most of it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I teach self defense in a traditional way with modern techniques and Sports Pyschology. When I was fighting, I was known as a hard hitter, especially to the body. I was ranked #3 in the world as a Kickboxer for 3 years, and was #1 in the world in Point Karate for about 6 years. I was one of the only Martial Athletes to compete in Point Sparring, Kickboxing ,Kata and Weapons and then after 1993, Grappling, in the same tournament. I won State Champion in the Colorado Karate Association 17 years in a row and won 3 or 4 divisions in the black Belt divisions every year. I was known as a fiercely competitive person when I was young, but I am now more known for my teaching ability.
I did go to College and earn 3 Bachelors degrees in 6 years in History, Psychology and Education and I taught ‘At-risk” kids for 10 years at the high school level. This experience refined my teaching techniques and so I more thorough and effective when I teach Martial Arts.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My student ‘s success makes me happy, and all 3 of my sons are advanced Black Belts and College Graduates so that is also a source of happiness. I love gardening and working on my acre of land to produce our own vegetables each year. I also love camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe area with my boys each year. Most of all being in Costa Rica on vacation makes me happy!
Pricing:
- $179/month
- 6 month programs
- Discounts for additional family members
- Discounts for paying in full
- Weekly Private lessons included with each membership.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://EclecticMartialArtsEP.com
- Instagram: Eclectic Martial Arts
