Instructors

Jeff Davidson has taught martial arts in Michigan since 1985. He opened his first school in suburban Detroit at age 16 and began traveling to Southeast Asia in 1987 to study Kali and Silat. He leads Detroit Kali Silat.

Davidson studied Pekiti-Tirsia Kali with Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. and Guro Doug Marcaida, and Kali De Leon with Ama Guro Jun de Leon. He has also studied Silat Kuntau Tekpi from Kedah and traveled to Nigeria and Benin to study Yoruba martial arts.

He has taught seminars internationally and lectured on Southeast Asian martial culture at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Western Michigan University, and Marygrove College.

Danuloff began training in judo in Huntington Woods and later studied boxing and kickboxing. He became Davidson’s student at King Dragon Martial Arts in Farmington Hills in 1999, earned the title of Guro in 2008, and went on to teach alongside Davidson at seminars. The academy remembers him as a dedicated student, instructor, and father.

Renico served in the U.S. Army, including with the 101st Airborne Division and 5th Special Forces Group, and went on to work in law enforcement. He earned the rank of Guro in 2010 and taught specialized classes for academy members.

Hammoud studied aikido and earned a black belt in Isshinryu karate under Sensei Bob Cooley of Detroit before studying Kali and Silat with Davidson. A former Mr. Michigan and longtime competitive bodybuilder, he served as a senior instructor at the academy.