Edmund Woo
Instructor

Edmund Woo is an avid lifelong practitioner of the martial arts. Starting as a teenager, Edmund received his black belt after four years of study in the Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan system from Master Billy Hong. Later, as Tae Kwon Do was a predominantly kicking system, Edmund decided to supplement his kicking skills by studying Wing Chun Kung Fu, a rapid punching and trapping style that Bruce Lee made famous.

In his practice of Wing Chun, Edmund studied with many masters including Yip Ching, a kung fu “brother” of Bruce Lee and the son of Bruce Lee’s teacher. After ten years of study in the Wing Chun system, Edmund was awarded his red sash from Master Francis Fong of Atlanta, Georgia. Additional martial arts that Edmund has studied include Western Boxing, Muay Thai Boxing, and Tai Chi.

Edmund spent the last two years studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has received his Blue Belt from Jacare Calvacanti of the Alliance system. Besides the obvious benefits such as self defense and physical exercise, Edmund holds self discipline, perseverance and respect as the highest benefits that he has received from his practice of the martial arts and hopes to pass along these benefits to the students in the children’s class.

Derek Ihnat
Instructor

Derek began his martial arts training in Judo under the legendary Jim “Ronin” Harrison at Sakura Warrior Arts located in Missoula, Montana. After graduating from the University of Montana, he moved back to South Carolina and began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Billy Fletcher and Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti. Derek has competed and placed in many tournaments across the United States.

More recently, Derek graduated from Clemson University with a Masters degree in the Art of Teaching. Derek uses his Jiu-Jitsu and education training to incorporate a martial arts curriculum and a positive atmosphere in which all children can succeed.

“The Alliance Team is something that I have dreamed being a part of! To have access to learn and train under some of the worlds greatest Jiu-Jitsu players and teachers is incredible. It is something I recommend to anyone in this area that is serious about learning BJJ. On any day I can Drive to Atlanta and learn from World Champion Reubens Charles or drive to Charlotte and train with Professor Sucuri, or stay here in Greenville and train with Black Belt Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos - not to mention the high level practice partners each school offers in their respected stable that do not hesitate to help your evolution in jiu-jitsu and make you feel welcomed in the process. Surely, no other BJJ school in the upstate can offer this.”

Derek Ihnat