Shihan Steve Phillips
Shihan Steve Phillips was born in 1971 in New Jersey. He started training in the martial arts at the age of 10 and has trained under several great masters to include Howard Moore, Phil Maldonato, John Austino Sr., Ric Pascetta, and Grand Master Peter Urban. In 1989, Shihan graduated high school and joined the U.S. Army as a Military Police Soldier. During his military service he traveled overseas and continued training and teaching fellow soldiers in the martial arts.
Upon returning from military service, Shihan reunited with Kyoshi John Austino Sr. and continued his training. Shihan along with Kyoshi John Austino Jr. started competing heavily in the Delaware Valley tournament scene. Both Black Belts were highly respected and succesful competitors. Shihan has competed locally and nationally in tournaments. At the rank of First Degree Black Belt, Shihan competed in New York Cities "All Goju Invitational Tournament" and dominated his division by taking First Place in Fighting and Kata (Forms). He has also taken many other first place trophies in both Fighting, Forms, and Weapons Divisions. At the Rank of Second Degree Black Belt Shihan was giving well named Masters of all styles a run for their money. Shihan also was listed as one of the best heavy weight fighters for the U.M.A.R.A Tournament organization. In 1993 he was awarded the Black Belt of the year award from Kyoshi John Austino Sr.
In 1994, Shihan opened his first karate school in Woodbury, New Jersey. He soon expanded and moved to a bigger facility in the Gibbstown area where he continued to grow his school. Shihan then had a transfer from his employer and turned the daily operations of the school to one of his Black Belt assistants. While away Shihan studied Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, and Kali. Shihan eventually was transferred back to the area and continued training until he relocated to Conway, South Carolina in 2002.
Shihan then went to work for the Sheriff's Department and was also deployed to Iraq with his Military Police Unit. Upon returning from Iraq, Shihan went to the police academy and opened Fighting Tigers Martial Arts Academy in Conway, South Carolina. He currently works as a police officer for a local agency and continues to train in the martial arts. He was a South Carolina Academy Certified Defensive Tactics and Ground Defense Instrucor for his department. He has been cerified in the P.P.C.T (Pressure Point Control Tactics), Handcuffing, Spontaneous Knife Defense, and Weapons Disarming. He was also cerified by ASP to teach their Expandable Baton System. In 2005, Shihan received his Sixth Degree Black Belt in American (Urban) Goju under Kyoshi John Austino Sr. Also in 2005, Shihan started training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Black Belt representative Jay Dennis. At the age of 34, Shihan entered his first Jiu-Jitsu competition and received a Bronze Medal in his first competition. He competed as the oldest person in his division. He has competed in Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, & Cage Fighting Events. He has helped martial artists of all disciplines to excell. He was the head coach of the Fighting Tigers Cage Fighting Team and has trained many of your local mixed martial arts fighters. Since then Shihan has received his Purple Belt under Jay Dennis/Relson Gracie. He continues to spread his vast knowledge of martial arts.
Now at the age of 40, Shihan has trained in the martial arts for 30 years. He continues to pass the knowledge that he has received over the years on to his students. He believes that the student should become better than the teacher and will continue to teach the martial arts to the next generation so they can carry on the spirit of the martial arts for generations to come!
Shihan Steve Phillips
Shihan Steve Phillips was born in 1971 in New Jersey. He started training in the martial arts at the age of 10 and has trained under several great masters to include Howard Moore, Phil Maldonato, John Austino Sr., Ric Pascetta, and Grand Master Peter Urban. In 1989, Shihan graduated high school and joined the U.S. Army as a Military Police Soldier. During his military service he traveled overseas and continued training and teaching fellow soldiers in the martial arts.
Upon returning from military service, Shihan reunited with Kyoshi John Austino Sr. and continued his training. Shihan along with Kyoshi John Austino Jr. started competing heavily in the Delaware Valley tournament scene. Both Black Belts were highly respected and succesful competitors. Shihan has competed locally and nationally in tournaments. At the rank of First Degree Black Belt, Shihan competed in New York Cities "All Goju Invitational Tournament" and dominated his division by taking First Place in Fighting and Kata (Forms). He has also taken many other first place trophies in both Fighting, Forms, and Weapons Divisions. At the Rank of Second Degree Black Belt Shihan was giving well named Masters of all styles a run for their money. Shihan also was listed as one of the best heavy weight fighters for the U.M.A.R.A Tournament organization. In 1993 he was awarded the Black Belt of the year award from Kyoshi John Austino Sr.
In 1994, Shihan opened his first karate school in Woodbury, New Jersey. He soon expanded and moved to a bigger facility in the Gibbstown area where he continued to grow his school. Shihan then had a transfer from his employer and turned the daily operations of the school to one of his Black Belt assistants. While away Shihan studied Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, and Kali. Shihan eventually was transferred back to the area and continued training until he relocated to Conway, South Carolina in 2002.
Shihan then went to work for the Sheriff's Department and was also deployed to Iraq with his Military Police Unit. Upon returning from Iraq, Shihan went to the police academy and opened Fighting Tigers Martial Arts Academy in Conway, South Carolina. He currently works as a police officer for a local agency and continues to train in the martial arts. He was a South Carolina Academy Certified Defensive Tactics and Ground Defense Instrucor for his department. He has been cerified in the P.P.C.T (Pressure Point Control Tactics), Handcuffing, Spontaneous Knife Defense, and Weapons Disarming. He was also cerified by ASP to teach their Expandable Baton System. In 2005, Shihan received his Sixth Degree Black Belt in American (Urban) Goju under Kyoshi John Austino Sr. Also in 2005, Shihan started training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Black Belt representative Jay Dennis. At the age of 34, Shihan entered his first Jiu-Jitsu competition and received a Bronze Medal in his first competition. He competed as the oldest person in his division. He has competed in Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, & Cage Fighting Events. He has helped martial artists of all disciplines to excell. He was the head coach of the Fighting Tigers Cage Fighting Team and has trained many of your local mixed martial arts fighters. Since then Shihan has received his Purple Belt under Jay Dennis/Relson Gracie. He continues to spread his vast knowledge of martial arts.
Now at the age of 40, Shihan has trained in the martial arts for 30 years. He continues to pass the knowledge that he has received over the years on to his students. He believes that the student should become better than the teacher and will continue to teach the martial arts to the next generation so they can carry on the spirit of the martial arts for generations to come!