Amanda Valenti

First Degree Black Belt CDS

• Amanda started martial arts in the Fall of 2012 at Legends Cheer Academy 2 in Plainfield. Marking 5 years of training between her Initiation Phase and Black Belt
• When she achieved her Black Belt she held the highest score in the history of the school on her Initiation Test: 98 percent. (This is still the record)
• When she was a Red Belt, which marks the halfway point to black belt, she had a challenge match against a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Not only did she beat him, but she also outclassed him. Spectators would be hard pressed to recall him getting a single clean hit on her.
• As a Level 1 Brown Belt she had a kickboxing match against a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Adamson's Karate. The fighter was considered at the time one of the best in the state and competed internationally. She beat him 3 -1 on points.
• She has 2 days training with the late Richard Bustillo who was a grandmaster of Eskrima, Muay Thai, and a first-generation instructor under Bruce Lee
• She has over 100 hours training with the highest ranked active teacher of Jeet Kune Do: Dan Inosanto who is also a first-generation instructor in Jeet Kune Do
• When she achieved her Black Belt, she was one of only two people who had ever managed to complete the School of Self Defense Stick and Knife Fighting Course.
• She has influenced many changes to the curriculum including:
• The refinement of several gun techniques in the Brown and Black Belt Curriculum.
• Introduced the Arm Triangle into CDS. This choke is now a favorite of many of the students.
• She was a crucial part of the development of our empty-handed knife defense.
• She achieved her Black Belt in CDS on October 8th, 2017, under the founder Michael Valenti. She was the first person to receive the rank of Black Belt in the Combative Defense System scoring an incredible 98 percent on her test.

Wesley Stevens

First Degree Black Belt - Kenpo 360

Red Sash - Wing Chun

• Trained with Grand Master Richard Bustillo during semi-annual seminars between the years 2008 and 2011. Wesley continues to hold these teachings dear, especially, "If you can block, then you can hit."
• Wesley trained under Sifu Larry Rice in Asheville, NC from 2013 to 2016, earning a purple belt in Jeet Kune Do and graduating the Sil Lim Tao level of Wing Chun.
• Joined The School of Self Defense in July of 2016 in order to continue training in Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, and Kali after moving to Indianapolis for university.
• As a blue belt in CDS, Wesley had a friendly match with Jonathan Mikels, a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and won via Guillotine.
• Wesley is the fourth person to ever complete the School of Self Defense’s Kali Stick and Knife Fighting course.
• Wesley earned a black sash (Biu Gee level) in Wing Chun on March 12, 2021, under the tutelage of Michael Valenti.
• In September of 2023, Wesley was awarded the rank of Instructor (Red Sash) in Wing Chun. 
• After Achieving a Red Sash in Wing Chun, Wes began to seek a Black Belt in Kenpo 360. Along the way Wesley helped develop and publish the first Kenpo 360 book with the founder Michael Valenti. Wesley also brought several valuable Catch Wrestling techniques into the system stemming from time spent training at the Snake Pit in Wigan England. Wesley was awarded the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo 360 in February of 2025
• Wesley continues to integrate Wing Chun and Kenpo 360 (formally called CDS) with Kali, Judo, Catch wrestling, and bataireacht.
• Wesley makes a point to travel to other schools and attend meetups to train and spar with other martial artists.
• Wesley believes the precept “research your own experience” works best if you are sparring and engaging in gauntlets.