I was born and raised in New York City. I began running track/cross country when I was 14. Then at the age of 17, I began training in the martial arts. I found a school on Long Island that taught a little of everything; Kung Fu, Thaiboxing (Muay Thai), Kali, shootwrestling, Kenpo, and at the core of it all was western boxing. We learned how to use the different styles when we needed to, but everything we did started from a boxing range or stance. After a few months, I realized I liked boxing more than anything.

    Then the day came to get in the ring and spar. Mind you, I didn't have to, this was totally voluntary. I walked up those steps into the ring, looked out at the other students and knew this is what I wanted to do. Then the bell rang. BAM! Reality hit me like a two by four across my face. I got my a-s kicked! On top of that, my punches were soft and my defense was lacking. But I kept going back. Some weeks later I had to spar a competitor... He kicked my butt from one corner to the other. My defense at the time was to let my head block all the punches, which is something we were taught to avoid. When I was done, I walked out the ring and my trainer turned to me and said, "You got some set of balls." That was the biggest compliment I had ever received up to that point in my life. And it made me want to do it more. Eventually my offense improved and footwork improved, but I still had no head movement.

    Not too long after I turned 20, my trainer agreed to train me for the amateurs, for the Golden Gloves. Less than a month after that, I was living on the farm lands of Pennsylvania. No gym, no boxing, no anything. Why? Because I didn't have my own place; was still living with the folks when they decided to relocate and I couldn't afford to stay in New York City on my own. But I kept working out in the basement in Pennsylvania. I kept watching fights on tape and reviewing everything I learned. I noticed my movement was better, my punches were more crisp, but I had given up on the idea of competing.

    Then my girlfriend found a gym about an hour away in Wilkes-Barre. I was working in a factory at the time, 12 hour shifts from 6 PM to 6 AM. I would drive to the gym, work out for about an hour and a half with a trainer, while a friend, Amy (her vehicle), slept in the car. After the work out, we drove an hour home. Sleep for a few hours and went back to work. That was my routine. Then my first sparring session in years took place at the new gym and my sparring partner couldn't land a punch. He was so impressed with my defense. As was everyone who sparred me after that.

    So eventually I started competing and guess what? I won the Western Pennsylvania Golden Gloves. I am now a USA Boxing certified coach. Today, I enjoy teaching boxing fitness classes, working one-on-one with clients, working on video editing projects (amateur), and on this website.