Mr. Malvin Traylor is the founder and part owner of Dark Gift Combat, and first in command. His first introduction into martial arts was in the art of KUNG-FU. He started this art at the very young age of 5 years old. Mr. Traylor was very dedicated to continuous learning and at age 12 took on another art known as TAE-KWON-DO. At this time he was training and learning 2 different art forms with completely different systems. At 14 years old and very mature for his age group on this dynamic art he earned his black sash in PALM-YE. At age 16 he had already earned his Jr. Black Belt and at age 18 earned his full Black Belt.

Mr.Traylor began his KICKBOXING training in the early 1980's and has been able to compete and place in numerous tournaments and competitions worldwide. He has over 20 years in kickboxing training and still trains today.

In his quest to be a complete & well rounded martial artist, he also began his training in PROGRESSIVE FIGHTING SYSTEM (JEET KUNE DO / KALI) and BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU. He is now a P.F.S. instructor and is on his way to earning his black belt in B.J.J.

Mr. Traylor is the Co-Founder of the D.G.C.F.S. (DARK GIFT COMBAT FIGHTING SYSTEM), A.R.S.T. (Action Reaction Stress Training), A.C.T. (Accelerated Combative Training), Co-founder of V.E.D.S. (Violent Encounter Defense System), Co-Founder of the R.E.A.C.T. (Rapid Endurance Assertive Combative Training) Co-Founder of A.R.C. (Action Reaction Continuum) and Co-Founder of A.F.T.E.R.S.H.O.C. (Which is the program taught at the AFTC.)

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Mrs. Fabiana Traylor is part owner of Dark Gift Combat and second in command. She has been training in Martial Arts since the age of 15. She earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do in Southern California. She wanted to continue her training in Martial Arts and came across Mr.Traylor's Reality Based Martial Arts school, "TnT Combative Martial Arts" in Southern California. 3 Years later, Mrs.Traylor was able to achieve her Black Belt and is now a Senior Combat Instructor. She has also had training in combat weapons.

Now, with over 10+years of experience, Mrs.Traylor has helped train Home Land Security in Southern California and the 4005th USAH Minimal Care Detachment Unit (250+ personnel) here in Houston, TX on December 8, 2007. She is one of the few women that has trained with and trained S.W.A.T. ,D.E.A., HOME LAND SECURITY and U.S. MILITARY in hand to hand combat.

Mrs. Traylor is the Co-Founder of the D.G.C.F.S. (DARK GIFT COMBAT FIGHTING SYSTEM), V.E.D.S. (Violent Encounter Defense System), Co-Founder of R.E.A.C.T. (Rapid Endurance Assertive Combative Training), and Chief Instructor for the Womens Street Defense program.

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Mr. Nino Castandiello is a D.G.C. Black Belt Phase One Instructor. He has been in the Martial Arts for several years. From 1994--2001, he has achieved Aikido Rank 2nd kyu (Brown belt) at Texas Aikikai Dojo. From 2001-2006 He achieved his 2nd degree brown belt in Nitatsu Ryu Japanese Jujutsu at Houston Jujutsu Academy. He brings much experiance to D.G.C. and is extremely knowledgeable in locks, throws, and falls, and has recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons.

Mr.Castandiello is the co-Founder of V.E.D.S. (Violent Encounter Defense System).

Mr. Sheldon Austin is a D.G.C. Black Belt Phase One Instructor. He has been in Martial Arts for several years and is a black belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate as well as an instructor in Capoeira. he brings a wealth of knowledge to D.G.C. and has recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons. He also plans to open a D.G.C. in North Houston. We look foreward to our future growth and expansion.

Mr. Aaron Shbeeb is a D.G.C. Black Belt Phase One Instructor. He started Martial Arts at 9 yrs old. He took Tae-Kwon-Do and Judo at Park's Judo and Karate in Copley, Ohio. He took that class for two years and then quit, at which time He had a green belt (promoted 3 times) in Tae-Kwon-Do and an orange belt (promoted twice) in Judo. When he was 16, he joined again in the adult Tae-Kwon-Do class at Park's and decided to start over back at white belt. He then attained a rank of brown belt before having to leave for college. In college, he again practice Tae-Kwon-Do on and off, trying out various T.K.D. classes and sports clubs at Ohio State University. After college, he moved to Rochester, Minnesota where He started taking a Hapkido class (that also had some Jiu-Jitsu and judo in the curriculum) at the Martial Arts Fitness Center, Incorporated. He was able get to blue belt (promoted 6 times) before He had to move to Houston, which brings him to DGC and is also now certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons.

Mr. Minh Q. Phan is a D.G.C. Black Belt Phase One Instructor. He started martial training at 14 yrs old in American Tae Kwon Do under Master Stan Denison at the Bellaire West U. Club (founder Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee) Attained the rank of 2nd degree black belt. He also did a Very minor studies in Wing Chun under master Chu, Did Norther Shaolin Fist and Lion Dancing from (Master Guo Wei/God mother to all her students..RIP) for about one year. Basic training in Muy Thai with Kru Pong (trainer of champions in Thailand/funny guy) at 2-1 Gym on Richmond. He is now at D.G.C.F.S. looking to expand his Reality-Based Training and is a welcome addition to our expansion of excellent instructors. He has also recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons.

Mr. Clint Bodungen is a D.G.C. Black Belt Phase One Instructor, part owner of Dark Gift Combat and owner of the A.F.T.C (Advanced Field Training Center). He has dedicated much of his life to the study of martial arts and close quarter combat. Even though he had studied Tae Kwon Do as a youth, he avoided much of the sport and cultural aspects of the martial arts and concentrated on the pursuit of reality-based martial arts with a single minded purpose, "find a method that will work for real." This journey started immediately after high school when he quickly discovered that proper self defense training includes preparing the body and the mind. As a result, he began to train in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (Modern Day Ninjutsu) and also studied the works, teachings, and philosophies of martial arts legends like Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. He further extended his search when he joined the United States Air Force, where he became certified in Close Quarter Tactics and also earned his Purple Belt (promoted 8 times, 4 away from Black Belt) in Aikido Jiu-Jitsu under the instruction of the infamous Mr. H.J. Ducas. Upon separating from the Air Force, his continued studies would eventually lead him across a variety of other martial arts including, Tomiki Aikido, Indonesian Pencak Silat, Philipino Kali, Israeli Krav Maga, and the WWII combative teachings of self defense legend, the late Mr. Carl Cestari. Mr.Bodungen is now a certified instructor with the Self Defense Company under the instruction of Sensei Damian Ross and is honored to expand his journey as an apprentice instructor with Dark Gift Combat Fighting System. Mr. Bodungen will, very soon, be earning his Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and is also currently studying Tekkenryu Jujutsu. He has recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons. D.G.C.F.S. welcomes Mr. Bodungen to our deep pool of Instructors.

Mr. Bodungen manages most aspects of business and marketing and is Co-Founder of A.R.C. (Action Reaction Continuum) as well as Co-Founder of A.F.T.E.R.S.H.O.C. (Which is the program taught at the AFTC.)

Mr. Michael Angelo Morales A.K.A. "FIT II FIGHT Mike" is an Apprentice Instructor and a 26 year veteran of Martial Arts. He has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and has studied Hap Ki Do, Wing Chun, Filipino Fighting Arts, Saviano's White Tiger Kenpo, Jeet Kune Do, Submission Grappling, Western Boxing, and Muay Thai. His Reality-Based Martial Arts and combat training are from United States Marine Corps L.I.N.E. (Linear Involuntary Neurological override Engagement), and is an Assistant Instructor for The Self Defense Company. Mr. Morales has been an ACE Certified Physical Fitness Trainer and Certified Fitness Nutritionist since 1997. Mr. Morales is a Co-Founder of R.E.A.C.T. (Rapid Endurance Assertive Combative Training). Mr. Morales brings a wealth of knowledge to D.G.C. as a Physical Fitness Coach and Certified Nutritionist and plans to offer Fitness and Nutrition Services to current and future D.G.C.F.S. students. Mr. Morales is now an Apprentice Instructor here at D.G.C. and has recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons.

Mr. Morales is the owner of Fit 2 Fight. Check out his website www.FIT-II-FIGHT.COM

Mr. Ronald Honore' is a Blue Belt level 1 Apprentice Instructor. He has prior training in Tae Kwon Do in his native birthplace of New Orleans, La. Mr. Honore' has been a student since the school began and is eager to achieve Full Instrutor or Master Combat Instructor. He's a Certified Personal Trainer of NASM-CPT, a national accredited organization. He will also receive certifications in CES (Corrective Exerise Spectialist) and PES (Performance Enhancement Specialist) in the near furture. He currently plans to offer Fitness and Nutrition Services to current and furture D.G.C.F.S. students. Finally, Mr Honore's vision is to open a D.G.C.F.S. here in Houston or Possibly in New Orleans,La. Mr. Honore is also a Co-Founder of R.E.A.C.T. (Rapid Endurance Assertive Combative Training) and has recently been certified as an assistant instructor in the S.A.B.E.R. Method for Tactical Edged Weapons.

Mr. Ledgister is an Apprentice Instructor and an Operator for an independant contractor overseas. He has completed several courses including: HIGH THREAT PROTECTION OPERATIONS Course, PROTECTIVE SERVICES "Operator's Training Course", COUNTER AMBUSHES Course, SHOOTING FORM VEHICLES Course, Advanced Instructor certification for EXPANDABLE POLICE BATONS, Level 1 S.W.A.T. Course, W.M.D. "weapons of mass destruction" installation preparedness responder awareness, LAW ENFORCEMENT DRIVER TRAINING, INTER-SERVICE NON-LETHAL INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR Course, CROWD DYNAMICS/CROWD CONTROL, STRAIT BATON TACTICS, DEFENSIVE TACTICS, MILITARY OPERATION OTHER THAN WAR Course, TACTICAL CONSIDERATION Course, BARRIERS & PHYSICAL SECURITY, and (OC) SPRAY Level 1. Mr. Ledgister is now an Apprentice Instructor with Dark Gift Combat Fighting System. He is looking forward to becoming a full MASTER COMBAT INSTRUCTOR with D.G.C.F.S. We welcome Mr. Ledgister to our deep pool of Apprentice instructors.