SENSEI ERNIE BOGGS
Ernie Boggs started his martial arts training in 1970 at a YMCA
in St. Albans, West Virginia. Under the guidance of karate master,
Bob Long and later the influence of jujitsu legend, Professor
Wally Jay and martial arts great, Graciela Casillas the creation
of a champion and martial arts visionary was complete. From traditional
martial arts training at the local YMCA to point tournaments
(before sparring pads were invented), to body guarding and under
ground fighting, to magazine covers and changing martial arts
competition around the world, Ernie Boggs has evolved into one
of the worlds most influential martial artist today.
Boggs is a four-time Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee and
considered one of the greatest sport jujitsu players of all
time. He was the first American to become World Champion
in that sport as well as the only person to receive the AAU
Jujitsu All-American Award. He has also competed on the national & international circuit,
excelling in traditional karate and professional kickboxing. Since
retiring from competition, Boggs has utilized his 35 yrs of martial
arts experience & skill in coaching the USA Sport Jujitsu Team.
As coach of Team USA, he has produced more national & world
champions in his sport than any other coach in the world. In his
commitment and desire to promote Sport Jujitsu throughout the world,
he has been instrumental in establishing the International Sport
Jujitsu Association (ISJA). He has served as ISJA chairman, and
is considered the world's leading authority on Sport Jujitsu. As
a matter of fact, he is even credited for coining the term “Sport
Jujitsu.”
Mr. Boggs created the very first piece of sparring equipment designed
specifically for mixed martial arts competition. His sport jujitsu
glove looks similar to a boxing glove while the hand is closed
but when it is open the fingers are free to permit grappling.
He produced the first video series ever on sport
jujitsu with Pioneer Interstate (Tiger Claw) and has another 7-tape
video series, “Sport Jujitsu from the Ring to the Street” available
through Unique Publications.
Boggs is a founding member of the United States
Sport Jujitsu Association (USSJA) and is credited for promoting
the very first mixed martial arts competition (sport jujitsu) on
an organized level in the United States. He wrote the rulebook
for the ISJA that more than 25 countries now follow as the official
guidelines of sport jujitsu competition.
He also hosted the 1996 ISJA Sport Jujitsu World Championships
bringing 17 countries together in South Charleston, West Virginia.
With over 1,200 competitors sport jujitsu competition had finally
arrived as a legitimate international sport. At this event it was
proven that sport jujitsu is the most realistic means of testing
your martial arts fighting skill in a safe manner. Over 5,000 matches
and no (zero) serious injuries is a very good safety record for
any sport. Through the training & guidance of Ernie Boggs,
the USA Team came away with the Gold Medal in team competition
for the very first time.
As a martial artist, Boggs has traveled
around the world teaching, competing and training in more than
24 countries. Mr. Boggs also specializes in teaching Defensive
Tactics and Combatives for law enforcement as well as the United
States military. As a certified defensive tactics expert, Boggs
is world renowned for his close quarter weapon disarms and retention.
He has worked with members of police agencies across the country
as well as in Argentina and South Africa.
When he is not traveling
conducting seminars or coaching Team USA, Boggs is teaching at
his dojo, Boggs/Casillas Defensive Arts Institute (BCI) in Nitro,
West Virginia. BCI has become world renowned for producing some
of the most well rounded martial artist on the planet. BCI is
affiliated with schools in more than 20 countries and has students
on five continents.
Boggs’ passion is working with kids, especially
at-risk-youth. He has worked with kids from many different backgrounds
ranging from the rich & famous to potential gang bangers. Although
he believes poverty plays a huge roll in creating at-risk-youth,
he also believes just because a kid may be rich doesn’t mean
he can’t be an at-risk-youth.
His program, “Problem – Solution – Change” has
made significant gains in enriching the
lives of at-risk-youth who may have other
wise become lost to today’s
society.
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