Head Kenpo Instructor
Sensei Larry Acaya
The Kenpo Karate Program is taught by Sensei Larry Acaya. Mr. Acaya started his martial arts training in Kajukenbo under the Charles Gaylord system. He earned his Shodan Black Belt in Kosho Ryu Kenpo under Sensei Jason Cortez by Soke Mitose. Sensei Acaya is a great instructor who always focuses on quality. One of his favorite sayings is as follows:
"A black belt was a white belt who never gave up".
When not teaching, Sensei Larry enjoys spending time with his family, cross training in other martial art systems, fishing and tending to his yard. He is a highly skilled martial artist with a big heart. Sensei Larry currently provides private instruction from children to adults.
"A black belt was a white belt who never gave up".
When not teaching, Sensei Larry enjoys spending time with his family, cross training in other martial art systems, fishing and tending to his yard. He is a highly skilled martial artist with a big heart. Sensei Larry currently provides private instruction from children to adults.
Head Eskrima Instructor
Guro Mike Cardenas
Currently hold the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt (Master Instructor), which I was awarded on June 14th, 2014, by Grand Master Arthur Gonzalez and witnessed and signed by Professor James Muro, GM Vincent Cabales and GM Michael Giron. It is under the twenty year tutelage of GM Gonzalez that I was able to learn effective offensive and defensive combative concepts rather than typical systematic techniques found elsewhere. It is through these concepts applied to my additional martial training that I have utilized to further develop responsive movements to numerous assault scenarios. I have crossed trained with organizations such as the Kilohana Martial Arts Association and Jujitsu of America. I am currently employed as a Work Planning Engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. I have attempted to mesh my years of martial arts training and my formal academic background to develop quality instruction and self empowering workshops that will continue to serve and benefit law bidding citizens and students become part of the Black Wolf DeCuerdas Eskrima Club which I founded in March of 2019, after formally separating from GM Art Gonzales, MACE and IDEA. More information about me can be found under the About DeCuerdas tab.
VEAMA Academy Black Belt Instructor
VEA MAA Junior ROTC Representative
Mr. Travis Pond
Travis Pond has been involved with martial arts since he was a child. He has taken Okinawan karate, Muay Thai kick boxing, Judo, and Choy Li Fut kung fu. He was also a two time state champion in Greco-roman wrestling as well as a Golden Gloves boxing champion. During his eight year tour in the U.S. Marine Corps, he also learned advanced hand to hand combat techniques in addition to continuing his boxing career with the MCB Camp Pendleton Boxing team. Throughout Travis' experience with martial arts, he always sought the most complete system both in technique as well as in application. He has finally found that system in Decuerdas Eskrima. Travis has found Eskrima to be a simple, practical, and highly effective self defense system. In comparison to all the other martial arts systems he has practiced, Eskrima is the easiest to learn, with immediate applications that are easy to visualize and utilize. Guro Mike's teaching style also focuses on the practical application of each technique which greatly increases the effectiveness of this art. Travis has a vested interest in this art as well as the VEA Martial Arts Academy Organization. Mr. Pond is a great asset to the DeCuerdas family and the entire VEA Martial Arts Academy. Guro Travis Pond is currently ranked as a 2nd Degree Black Belt in DeCuerdas Eskrima under Guro Mike Cardenas and teaches privately in Modesto CA.
Education:
BA Organizational Management, In Conccentration: Engineering Studies, Ashford University
MBA, Ashford University
Education:
BA Organizational Management, In Conccentration: Engineering Studies, Ashford University
MBA, Ashford University
VEAMA Academy Black Belt Instructor
Robert May is the Senior Black Belt at the VEA Martial Arts Academy and is currently working on obtaining his third degree black belt under Master Mike Cardenas. He is a strong addition to our school and enjoys helping others and see them advance in their training. Guro Robert is currently ranked as a 2nd Degree Black Belt under Guro Mike Cardenas.
Adjunct Eskrima Instructors
Guro Justin Hensley
I started my FMA in Serrada in the early 90’s which was very fun. My primary style is DeCuerdas Diestro Eskrima as taught by GM Arthur Gonzalez, but I have been exposed to, and still practice many other styles.
I currently hold the rank of Second Degree Black Belt (Guro), which I was awarded on September 11, 2010 by Grand Master Arthur Gonzalez.
Guro Justin is an avid Bass fisherman and when he is not training, working, or spending time with his family, he can be found fishing the Delta.
I currently hold the rank of Second Degree Black Belt (Guro), which I was awarded on September 11, 2010 by Grand Master Arthur Gonzalez.
Guro Justin is an avid Bass fisherman and when he is not training, working, or spending time with his family, he can be found fishing the Delta.
Guro Jimmy Blevins
Guro Jimmy Blevins is a Master Instructor under GM Art Gonzalez he brings a unique blend of DeCuerdas blended with a mixture of his previous martial art experience. "I studied nearly 2 years in Pencak Silat Mande Muda under Guro Phil Matedne , who was a jagabaya instructor in that system. It was during this time that I was also first introduced to Cabales Serrada Escrima and Giron Bahala Na Arnis by Guro Matedne. In the tradition of a true Decuerdas man, I welcome cross training with practitioners from any discipline to foster camaraderie as well as to make myself a more well-rounded martial artist and individual. I personally believe that any individual who values their life and the lives of their loved ones, has a duty to learn how to defend themselves as an intrinsic need for self-preservation. Those who train to control their primal instincts and reaction will have a greater ability to eliminate a threat, without eliminating an individual. Around the winter of 2002, I walked into a class of Tenio Decuerdas Escrima under the instruction of GM Art Gonzales, and have been training with the school ever since."
Adjunct VEAMA Academy Instructor
Sifu Jim Mirador
Sifu Jim Mirador holds rankings in Kajukenbo and Eskrima. As an adjunct instructor Sifu Jim works with students and works on their understanding of their techniques.
