Martial Arts Academy of Billings Instructors

Very seldom in the Martial Arts World do you find such a high ranking and cohesive partnership with result oriented instructors who all have the same goal in mind;  to create a modern high quality, energetic  school while encouraging  traditional values with emphasis on personal development for the students. 

 Here is a very brief description of our Owners and Instructors.

There are ten advanced black belt instructors, most with more than 20 years of experience in the martial arts.

Dave Allen
4th Dan Taekwondo
3rd Dan Judo

Owner/Instructor

Mr. Allen began his Martial Arts Career in 1994 in Taekwondo and expanded into Judo and Hapkido soon after joining with Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara.   He is our Head Judo Instructor and travels as a National Judo Referee.    He is also the Tournament Announcer for Major USA Judo events including the US Open, the Junior Scholastic Championships, the US Olympic Trials and local tournaments.  Dave has owned the Auto Brokers of Montana  Auto Dealership and AA&A Auto Rental companies  for over 22 years.  He is co-commissioner of the Big Sky State Games Taekwondo/Judo competition.

Specialties:

• National Judo Referee
• Certified Junior Olympic coach

Eve Allen
4th Dan Taekwondo
2nd Dan Judo

Owner/Instructor

Mrs. Allen began her Martial Arts training in 1994 in the art of Taekwondo.  Her training under Grand Master Fujiwara expanded to include the art of judo and hapkido. She instructs in both Taekwondo and judo and enjoys attending workshops to broaden her knowledge of these arts.  She has worked in the legal field for many years as a secretary and paralegal, and is currently employed as a Judicial Assistant for U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull.  Eve heads up the Woman's Self Defense curriculum at the school and serves as co-commissioner for the Big Sky State Games for Taekwondo and Judo competitions.

 Specialties:

• Certified Junior Olympic coach
• Women's Self Defense

Master Curtis Ferrin
5th Dan Taekwondo 

Master Ferrin has trained and studied Taekwondo, Judo and Hapkido under Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara since 1982.  A Billings native he began a career as an R.N. at the Billings Clinic in 1989.  Currently, he is a Certified Medical Surgical R.N. and an Admission Discharge and Transfer nurse.  He also serves as a Certified Crisis Prevention instructor for the hospital with advanced certification in applied physical training.

Master Ed Thompson
5th Dan Taekwondo

Owner/Instructor

Master Thompson has studied the arts of Taekwondo, Hapkido and Judo for well over 30 years and was owner/ instructor of a Martial Arts school in Belgrade before moving to Billings. Master Thompson has a 

dynamic and expansive career, with diverse knowledge encompassed in firefighting since 1984. Master Thompson has the ability to facilitate group collaboration and mind-share, efficiently manage change in brining out the best in ones-self.

Specialties:

• Certified Junior Olympic coach

Stacy Thompson
2nd Dan Taekwondo 

Owner/Instructor

Mrs. Thompson has been involved in Martial Arts for nearly 25 years and was an owner /instructor of a Martial Arts school school in Belgrade before moving with her husband Ed to Billings.  She is an RN and has experience in Neo-Natal Care, Management in Clinical Nursing Administration and Emergency Nurse Application.  Stacy teams up with Dru and Eve to teach our highly successful  Women’s Self Defense workshops. 

Master Kirt Wagner
5th Dan Taekwondo

Owner/Instructor

Master Wagner has trained in Taekwondo for over 30 years and has received training in Judo and Hapkido.  Kirt has studied principles of fitness and muscular structure and how it applies to Taekwondo.  An avid outdoorsman and former Mountain Bike Competitor, he currently is Vice President of Investments at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney where his career has spanned over 25 years. 

Specialties:

• Certified Junior Olympic coach

Master Dru Wagner
5th Dan Taekwondo

Owner/Instructor

Master Wagner (Married to Master Kirt Wagner for 20 years) began her martial arts training about 25 years ago under Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara.  She not only has extensive knowledge in Poomse and Sport Taekwondo, but is also one of our Women’s Self Defense Instructors.  She is a commercial Graphic Design Artist and plays the flute with the Billings Symphony while raising their talented daughter Eliana.

3rd Dan Taekwondo
1st Brown Ikkyu Judo
Blue Belt Behring Brazilian Jujitsu

Specialties:

• Director of Pre-School 4 & 5 year olds Little Dragons Program
• Instructor for Beginner - Intermediate 6 - 12 year old
• Women's Self Defense