iCAT Founders

The iCAT founders include the Legendary Joe Lewis,

and reality martial arts experts Walt Lysak Jr., and Richard Ryan.

JOE LEWIS

Joe Lewis Blog

In his era as a heavyweight World Champion fighter and martial artist, Joe Lewis has done it first and done it best. Of the millions of people who have participated in the martial arts since their inception in the United States in 1948, only a few have had a measurable impact with the general public...and Joe Lewis, the retired World Heavyweight Karate Champion from Wilmington is one of them.

Dubbed the "Muhammed Ali of his sport," Lewis is to Karate what Arnold Schwarzeneger is to body building. In a career that spanned 17 years, he won more titles in his era , set more records and instituted more innovations than anyone in the history of Sport Karate.

Lewis began his training in Okinawa studying with three instructors: Eizo Shimabuku, Kinjo Chinsaku and Seiyu Oyata and he also studied with the late great Bruce Lee. He received his Black Belt in Shorin Ryu and studied several different styles. He never believed in "style" to him they were all the same..."punching and kicking."

Lewis was a member of the first combat unit in Viet Nam, 8th Marine Brigade, 1965. One of the first Americans to teach Hand to Hand Combat in Viet Nam working with Division Recon.

Lewis has been inducted into 13 various Halls of Fame to include the Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Fighter of the year" and "Instructor of the year." His greatest accolade, however, came in 1983 when in a Karate Illustrated survey of America's top fighters, he was chosen by his peers as "The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time." Lewis is best known for being World Champion in 2 separate sports, Karate and Kickboxing, plus being the founding father of Kickboxing in the Western Hemisphere.

Lewis began studying for an acting career in 1970. He starred in 4 action-adventure films, "Jaguar Lives," "Force Five," "Death Cage" and "Mr.X." and appeared in several T.V. series and was the guest on numerous talk shows, such as Joey Bishop, Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore and the Merv Griffin Show.

Since 1984, Lewis has turned his talents and energies to a professional teaching career. Each year he conducts more seminars, in more places throughout the world, than anyone in the business. In 1987, for example, he taught 140 seminars in 80 cities in 8 countries, in addition to making personal appearances at tournaments and other martial arts functions and charity benefits.

Currently, Lewis' research has led to his producing over 25 one of a kind instructional video tapes. He remains active, playing characters in film projects and writing for several martial arts publications world wide. An article he wrote concerning self-defense for older Americans appeared in the January 29, 1995, issue of Parade, the world's largest magazine. A second article on choosing a martial arts program for children appeared in Parade, June 30, 1996.

Recently, Lewis has won 2 North Carolina Governors' awards for his efforts in crime prevention. He is the first legitimate world champion to be awarded the 10th degree Black Belt; symbolically, it was Lewis' "Ph.D." in martial arts. Lewis is the only fighter who has won the U.S. national championships 4 times, the internationals 3 times and one of only two men, the other being Mike Stone, who has won all three. Lewis and Troy Dorsey are the only two men to have won World Karate Championships and World Kickboxing Championships.

In 1985 American Karate considered Joe Lewis "a Living Legend" and in 1986 Black Belt voted him "Instructor of the Year." Joe Lewis is without a doubt the most respected name in American Martial Arts.

Richard Ryan
Founder of Dynamic Combat™

Richard Ryan comes from a long line of gifted athletes. The men in his family were all wrestlers and his grandfather was a champion boxer and police captain who taught defensive tactics for the FBI. As a boy Richard was a shy and lanky kid who suffered from asthma. Determined to overcome his deficiencies he became interested in wrestling at the age of eight. Under the influence of his grandfather he also became fascinated with police tactics and began the study of boxing a short time later.

At the age of thirteen he walked into a Karate school and watched a sparring class. Although he had seen martial arts in movies and television he had never actually seen them live, in action. Interested, Ryan sat through the first part of the class confident that he could compete with the lower belt students using the boxing and wrestling skills. Then two experienced black belt squared off to fight and began to exchange kicks to the head. As he watched them use their legs, Ryan knew that he had to learn this new type of fighting as he had learned to use his hands.

From then on he became captivated by the martial arts. As a teenager he studied Tae Kwon-do and Chinese Kenpo eventually earned his first Black Belt. A few years later after seeing a Bruce Lee movie, he sought out and began the study of Wing Chun Gung Fu, the same martial art Lee had studied as a young man in Hong Kong. Ryan took to Wing Chun like it was made for him, soon surpassing all his instructors in knowledge and skill. In just over two years he had learned the entire Wing Chun system, achieved a full instructorship and was awarded a third degree black sash (third degree black belt) and had become the youngest instructor in the history of the Arizona Gung Fu Academy.

Reality Testing

Around that time Sifu Ryan also started training in full contact kickboxing. Seeking to expose himself to as many types of fighters and styles as possible, he formed a hard core sparring association called the Gladiator Club. The club advertised that Sifu Ryan would fight anyone and everyone who would be willing to get into the ring with him. Over the next three years he successfully logged hundreds of matches, taking on all comers. Ryan calls this experience “his personal reality check” because of the many diverse opponents and situations he was forced to confront. The initial years of the Gladiator club found him facing martial artists from many diverse schools, boxers, kick boxers and grapplers. And as he puts it “more than his share of drunks and whackos.” Not everyone came with sportsman-like intentions. Although most fought within the rules, Sifu Ryan often found himself facing opponents who did not play fair. Many of these matches deteriorated into real fights with the gloves coming off and blood spilled. Regardless, Sifu Ryan never lost a fight, retiring undefeated from the experience in 1984 when he finally shut down the Gladiator Club to pursue a higher martial arts education. 

However, these encounters had a considerable effect on him. Having to face so many different opponents and styles in extreme situations changed his outlook on real fighting and marked the origin of what was to eventually become a new martial art. As a result of numerous street fights during this period and the Gladiator Club experience, Ryan began to explore new and better methods often taking what he learned and improving on it through endless hours of practice and sparring.

It was at this point that Ryan began to face an internal conflict. He had been a loyal practitioner of traditional arts like Wing Chun Gung Fu but found that much of what he was taught did not translate to the real world or the ring. Several unique experiences followed that lead to Ryan’s break from traditional styles and set him on the path to develop his own art form.

Birth of an Art

While still teaching a modified version of Wing Chun Gung Fu, Sifu Ryan came to the realization that the truth of combat must lay outside the confines of any of the systems he had previously studied. None of his formal training had prepared him for the brutality and diversity that he had experienced in the street or the ring. Disturbed by this realization he suddenly stopped all his formal training, closed down a successful school and moved to a small customized training facility connected to his home. He had decided that in order to evolve he needed to be able to fully devote himself to his own personal study and development. Thus began his pursuit of new and better fighting methods a journey that led him to study a diverse range of both hand-to-hand and weapons combat arts. Over the next five years of his life he devoted himself with incredible intensity to his personal quest – to discover the core realities of interpersonal combat and become the best martial artist he could be.
Ryan broke all ties with the past and the traditional styles he had studied and threw himself full force into the examination of every art he could come in contact and amassed one of the most impressive libraries of books on the combative arts. He survived financially by keeping only enough students to pay the bills and turning all others away.

This angered many who knew him and held fast to the belief that their own arts had all the answers. When they heard that Sifu Ryan was teaching a new system of his own design, some of these people sought to shut him down. Like some cliché Kung Fu movie they sent their representatives to try to humiliate him and force him to close his doors. These people would call under the pretense of wanting to become a student, but when they showed up their intentions were obvious. They would never come alone. Often dressed in full Gung Fu uniforms they would inevitably challenge him to a match with result being that if Sifu Ryan lost he would be forced to stop teaching. For the first year after closing his formal academy, Sifu Ryan fought and defeated every challenger sending them away bruised and bloodied. After enough of them were sent packing the word got out and the threats stopped.

Angered and disillusioned, Ryan formally renounced all rank and titles and severed his connection with all traditional arts of the time and proceeded to throw himself into his personal quest. Over the next half decade Ryan trained incessantly sometimes for more than eight hours a day, working out, sparring, drilling, writing and researching anything that could help him improve and understand the realities of combat. He looks back on this time as "his time in the Shaolin Temple," because of his self imposed monk-like existence. Influenced by Mohammed Ali, Ed Parker, Bruce Lee, and others, Ryan started keeping journals chronicling every step of his journey – which number more than seventy volumes at the time of this writing.

All Ways as Means

During this time Ryan also began to integrate firearms training into his repertoire. Following his new belief in a more total approach to combat, Ryan stepped out of the confines of his hand-to-hand and traditional weapons combat training and began training in all forms of combative firearms. He mastered the handgun, long-gun, shotgun and assault rifle and become an expert marksman and firearms instructor at the U.S. Marksmanship Academy and eventually the world famous Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. At Gunsite he became the first instructor ever to design and teach edged weapons and alternative force tactics at a school which until then was solely focused on firearms training.

These experiences eventually led to interest in Ryan’s programs by law enforcement and government agencies. Ryan would go on to develop innovative programs for S.W.A.T. and special ops teams, and pioneer the development of reality-based integrated force tactics for civilians and law enforcement. This led him to become the author the vast majority of the Arizona Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (AZPOST) Defense Tactics Law Enforcement Training Manual, currently in use by every law enforcement agency in the state of Arizona – an accomplishment that is unparalleled nationwide. 

Pioneering Reality-based Fighting

The intensity of Ryan’s personal quest allowed him to cram 20 years of research and development into a five-year period, which resulted in the birth of the core system that would eventually become the art of Dynamic Combat™. The irony is that Ryan never set out to create a new martial art. His system was originally just a way for him to keep track of what he had learned and developed. But as more and more people came in contact with his art, his student base grew and grew. Regardless, Ryan felt that the quest was the important thing and avoided the spotlight in his early years in favor of further completing his person journey.

Today, Ryan has emerged as one of the earliest pioneers of the reality fighting arts having spent decades in the study of the sciences of physics and kinesiology with the sole intention of developing new and better fighting methods. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of reality combat and understanding of the science behind the arts. He earned a reputation as an innovator and advocate of the scientific approach to fighting – a reputation that is with him to this day.

Richard Ryan is regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on reality-based combat martial arts, self-defense and tactical weapons training. His programs represent a lifetime of research and development, with the singular focus on practical application in real-life situations. His methods are characterized by their realism, effectiveness and the ease at which they can be learned and applied.

About Dynamic Combat™

The Dynamic Combat™ Method (D.C.M.) is the innovative, exceedingly effective reality-based martial art that Ryan invented and refined over the past several decades. It forms the foundation for all his teaching. A comprehensive personal survival system, Dynamic Combat™ addresses all aspects of violent confrontations including in-depth study of all forms of hand-to-hand and weapons combat. Dynamic Combat™ is unique because unlike other arts it is designed from the ground up and based on the correct application of physics and biomechanics. Moreover, its core techniques are designed around the ability to deal with the worst that combat has to offer. Dynamic Combat™ is the martial art of the worst-case scenario, designed to help its practitioner survive the most extreme situations and opponents.

A gifted athlete, artist, inventor and prolific writer, Ryan’s exceptional teaching skills have been appreciated by his many longtime students, law enforcement and government agencies, and thousands of people who have attended his very popular seminars over the years. His dedicated and meticulous search for the fundamental truths of self-defense is an integral part of providing insight into an area of human experience that is often shrouded in mystery and misconception. The success of his programs can be attributed to a lifetime of cutting-edge innovations and his scientific approach to the use of force and individual personal safety. His seminars, presentations, books and videos are brutally honest, direct and highly enlightening, and continue to provide answers for those touched by violence or in the line of fire.

Ryan is the owner and publisher of Real Combat Online (RCO Magazine) a unique online publication that focuses exclusively on proliferation of reality-based fighting arts. His company, Ryan Defense Systems, Inc., offers a wide variety of services to the public, government and law enforcement agencies.

Walt Lysak, Jr.

Walt Lysak, Jr. is a world renowned martial arts master, a published author, a hall of fame member, event promoter, a pioneer in both MMA and Reality Martial Arts (RMA)

His testimonials come from the best of the best in the martial arts world including

Joe Lewis, Frank Shamrock, Tony Blauer, Maurice Smith, Matt Furey, Robert Bussey, Mike De Pasquale Jr.,Members of the Green Beret's, S.W.A.T., DEA, and other leaders in the industry.

He has been a featured teacher and presenter at the worlds best martial arts training camps and events including;

• “Karate College”

• "Martial Arts University”

• “Joe Lewis Fighting Systems Research Conference”

• “American Grappling Summit I, II, III”

• "iCAT National Conference I, II,III"

• “Black Belt Magazines Martial Arts Festival” I & II,

• “Action Martial Arts Trade Show”,

• “Dragonfest”,

• “U.S.A Pankration Athlima National Conference”,

• “Martial Arts Leaders Summit”,

• And many more.

He has starred in more than 40 Instructional DVD videos, and has author of several books on self defense and martial arts

He has been featured in top martial arts magazines including;

• Black Belt Magazine

• Karate International Magazine

• Grandmaster magazine

• MA Training Magazine

• Ring Sports Magazine

• Knock-Out magazine

• Napma DVD

• And many other International Martial Arts Publications.

Other special recognition includes

• Ground Combat Advisor To Joe Lewis Fighting Systems

• Certified SOF Combatives Instructor to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group “The Green Beret’s”

• TDI Firearms Certified - Handgun I, II, & III

Although Walt Lysak is renown for his knowledge in reality based martial arts he is also a pioneer in the New England area for MMA and Submission Style Fighting. He was there at the beginning as a VIP Guest in November 1993 at Mc Nichols Sports Arena Octagon Side at the first ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). He was also a key figure in the early development and growth of other quality MMA and Submission Grappling Organizations. Even though he focuses on street real training, his love and support of MMA has never died. He held a string successful events called the "American Grappling summit" in the "90's" which featured Champions from the UFC and other major events. He also is a strong advocate on how valuable MMA training is in order to develop street real skills. He is one of the most knowledgeable coaches and technicians anywhere.

• National Coach of Olympic Pankration (Along with Ken Shamrock, Bart Vale, Keith Hackney, Sheldon Marr, Dan Severn, Maurice Smith and others)

• Coach of many Champion submission grappling and MMA fighters,

• Coach of more than 40 fighters nationally rated in the Top Ten

• Co - Coach of the 1999 NAGA National Submission Grappling Championship Team

• Coach of the 2000 World Submission Championship Kids & Teen Team Champions

• Has judged, refereed, cornered, coached and promoted championship MMA fights across the USA and abroad (at events such as the UFC, IFC, WEF, MASS Destruction, Reality Super Fighting, and Many more)

Martial Arts Awards

• 8th Degree Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu (Under Grandmaster Walt Lysak, Sr., Grandmaster Silverio Guerra, Grandmaster Ken Haughland)

• 7th Degree Black belt in Pankration (International Federation of Pankration Black belt council)

• 6th Dan American Kickboxing (Under Grandmaster Joe Lewis "World Champion and Living Legend")

• Also holds Black belts in Ninjutsu (Master James Rosenbach) Karate, Cerebral Self Defense Coach, Stun & Run & Chu Fen Do Instructor (Under Tony Blauer), Holds various intructor levels and high ranks in R.B.W.I. (Robert Bussey), Arnis (Remy Presas), has a thorough background in boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling

• Sento Method Founder (10th Dan from UMAHOF / Sokeship council) & iCAT Co-Founder (with Joe Lewis & Rich Ryan)

Specialized Training

• Certified Nutrition Trainer

• Certified Fitness Trainer

• Certified Massage Therapist

• Graduate of the School of Biblical Evangelism WOTM

• First Aid / CPR Certified American Heart Association

Special Honors and Awards Of Recognition
(From other martial arts organizations)

• “Martial Arts Master of the Year 2003" Universal Martial Arts Hall Of Fame

• "10th Degree Black belt Awarded by Supreme Soke Ship Council 2003"

• “Grandmaster of the year in Self Defense 2004” UMAHOF Hall of Fame

• “Reality Martial Arts Founder of the Year 2004” USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame

• "Given the title of Soke / Founder of System Award by UMAHOF Grandmasters Board of Advisors"

• “Legion of Honor 2004” Official Karate Magazine Hall Of Fame

• “Samurai Award 2005, 2006, 2007” International Federation of Jiu Jitsuans

• “Outstanding Contribution to Self Defense 2005” Greek Self Defense Organization

• “Tactical Instructor Of The Year 2006” World Head of Family Sokeship Council

• “Grandmaster of the year in Jiu Jitsu 2006” US Martial Art Hall of Fame

• “Samurai Award 2006” International Federation of Jiu Jitsuans

• “Professor of the Martial Arts 2006” Supreme Sokeship Council

• “Outstanding accomplishments as a Grandmaster 2007” Action Martial Arts Magazine / HOF