Shihan Ross Briggs, 7th Dan
When only a child of eight, Shihan Briggs began his study of the martial arts with Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in 1965 at the YMCA in Reno, Nevada. When his instructor moved from the area in 1968 the young student switched to the art of Fencing, and joined a recreational department class known as the Silver Blades. From the study of foil and epee’ Shihan Briggs learned the importance of speed in attacking and retreating, blocking, and the simple parry.
Inspired by Tom Briggs, the Shihan’s older brother who had briefly trained in Tae Kwon Do in Korea, the fifteen year old Ross Briggs searched his hometown for a teacher of the kicking arts. At the local YWCA he found Alexander Archie. In exchange for assisting the Sensei as his assistant with a Judo/Jujitsu program on Saturdays, Sensei Archie offered the young Ross free Karate training.
Great-Grandmaster Archie became and to this day, continues to be Shihan Briggs’ mentor, older brother, and best friend. Under the tutelage of Hanshi Archie, Shihan Briggs and many others under his guidance were exposed to multiple systems and instructors throughout the United States, including Professor Wally Jay, Small Circle Jujitsu, Great-Grandmaster Steven Muhammad and Great-Grandmaster the Reverend Doctor Donnie Williams of the Black Karate Federation (BKF), Byong Yong Yu, of Byong Yu Tae Kwon Do, and many others.
In 1974, with the blessing of GGM Archie, Master Briggs and Leon Robles opened the Moo Duk Kwon Tae Kwon Do Kwoon in Reno, Nevada for Master Byong Yong Yu. Rising to the rank of Sam Dan (3rd Dan), he became the 2nd Sa Bum Nim (instructor) for the system’s dojang in that city.
In 1975 Master Briggs assisted Dave McNeill, Soke of Goju Shorei Systems, and Professor Joe Walker of the Kifaru Jitsu System, with the opening of the Academy of Martial Arts, Shudokan Karate Dojo in Sparks, Nevada. The school and system continued to operate for many years as the Goju Shorei Dojo at various locations throughout the Reno/Sparks area.
Between 1977 and 1980 Shihan Briggs served with the United States Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division as a Military Police Officer (Abn). Upon his return to the Reno area, Sergeant Briggs joined Company C of the 820th Engineer Battalion, and was assigned as the Communications Chief. He ended his tour with the Military in 1983.
Shihan Briggs continued to train with multiple instructors, and taught from his home dojo referred to as the “Tamariba”, or “gathering place”.
In 1984 Shihan Briggs was appointed Secretary of the American Teacher’s Association of Martial Arts (ATAMA). Shihan Briggs has also been a long-time member of the American Jujitsu Institute (AJI).
In 2006 Shihan Briggs succeeded Master Ken Mammen as the Director of Goju Shorei Karate.
Between 2006 and 2009 Shihan Briggs promoted the Silver State Open Martial Arts Tournaments held annually in Reno, Nevada. These events were extremely popular, and well attended.
In June of 2018 the American Teachers Association of Martial Arts recognized Shihan Briggs as a Professor of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.
For forty-three years, from 1980 to 2018 Shihan Briggs had been employed in the Gaming / Hospitality Industry. Shihan Briggs was an executive in this field, specializing in areas of safety and security. His expertise in the design of video surveillance systems has been utilized throughout North and South America, and he has assisted both State and Federal agencies throughout the U.S. in the creation of written internal control systems. In 2018 Shihan Briggs retired from the Gaming Industry in order to teach the Martial Arts full time. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife of over thirty years, Bobbie."
Shihan Ross D. Briggs
Shichidan / 7th Dan, Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
Rokudan / 6th Dan, Goju Shorei Karate
Sam Dan / 3rd Dan, Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do
Contact info:
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- phone
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