User:Bill Pavlik

Bill Pavlik is the owner and head instructor of the School of Balance Martial Arts. Bill's path in the martial arts was never one in search for colored belts, ranks or certificates. It is however a path in search of knowledge and "Balance". Balance between tradition and reality in the martial arts. Bill was born and raised in Atlantic City, NJ. During his martial arts journey Bill has wandered outside of the dojo for some more realistic experiences. Bill worked as a bouncer for many years back in the late 80's through the 90's in urban Night Clubs and Gentlemen's Clubs including the world famous Doll House, and Delilah's Den in Atlantic City, and Philadelphia. Bill was also contracted by the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) to teach them Hand to Hand combat and weapons defense. He taught these DEA divisions, as well as other elite law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and civilians, one of the Navy SEAL fighting systems developed for SEAL team Six. These experiences were shaped by a long and arduous journey where Bill was searching for "Balance". Bill Pavlik has trained in dozens of styles and systems of martial arts in search of the proper balance between tradition and reality.

In 1979 his journey began in the styles of Kickboxing and Karate, in which he trained diligently for 10 years. In 1989, Bill's love for traditional arts and the Japanese culture lead him to extensively research Aikido and Aiki-jujutsu. He was very fortunate to have meet and trained under long time friend and Aikido Master Howard Bifson (Mr Biff). Mr Biff opened Bill's eye's to many other arts in addition to Aikido, such Jeet Kune Do, Arnis, Kali, Aiki-jujutsu, and a wide spectrum of grappling arts. After the closing of Biff's Aikido school Bill trained at the Stockton College Aikido club with Sensei Shelby Broughton, as well Vineland Aikikai Aikido Judo Club under Sensei PeteTamagni. In 1996 Bill's friend and former class mate Robert Hamilton opened the Tetsu Kemuri Aikido Dojo and Bill continued to train there for several years. Bill started researching and training the mother art of Aikido, Aiki-jitsu. Training under 7th Dan Aiki-Jitsu Master R.J. Oak in the ultra hard style and bone breaking art of the Samurai.

In 1991, Bill discovered the art of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do Concepts. Bill would spend almost 20 yrs training and teaching Progressive Fighting Systems Jeet Kune Do (PFS). PFS was developed by Paul Vunak and Tom Cruse, who then taught this system to Navy SEAL team six in Virginia.. Vunak and Cruse also taught Bill The Filipino Martial Arts perpetuated by Guro Dan Inosanto known as Inosanto/LaCoste Kali which is grounded in elements of the respected systems of John LaCoste (Kali), Antonio Illustrisimo (Illustrisimo Kali), Floro Villabrille (Villabrille Kali System), Leo Giron (Bahala Na Escrima), Angel Cabales (Serrada Escrima), Lucky Lucaylucay (Kali Escrima), Leo Gaje (Pekiti Tirsia), Max Sarmiento (Cadena De Mano), and EdgarSulite (Lameco Eskrima).

In early 1994 Bill became a student of Filipino Martial Arts Professor, Remy Presas, founder of Modern Arnis. Bill became a close friend and personal student to the Professor and trained with Professor Presas until his passing in 2001. Bill also has extensive training in the Filipino Martial art of Kombatan Arnis, founder by Grandmaster Ernesto Presas, the younger brother of Professor Remy. Kombatan is one of the most complete fighting arts of the Philippines. Bill continued his training with the Filipino martial arts seeking out Grandmaster Ising Atillo, founder of Atillo Balantawak Arnis Escrima System. Grandmaster Atillo was the most combative off all the Filipino masters Bill would train with to date. In Bill's own words "Grandmaster Atillo changed my whole outlook on weapon use, GM Atillo made me Deadly"

In 1995 Bill hosted long time friend and Dog Brother founder Marc Denny for their 1st Ever Dog Brothers East Coast stickfighting seminar. Bill would continue teaching and fighting with Dog Brothers Kali for the several years, competing in over 150 full contact stick fights. Bill went on to win three full contact eight man stick fighting tournaments between 1996 and 2000. Since the winning of the 2000 tournament Bill retired from fighting after being seriously injured. Bill now teaches the concepts and methods of stickfighting and trains others for full contact fighting.

In 1997 Bill went to the Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Miami Fl to train with Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion and UFC veteran Marcus Conan Silveira and the Calrson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team. The Gracie's are the best in the business when it comes to ground fighting, Bill owns a ton of gratitude to Carlson Gracie and Conan Silveria for there incredible ground breaking teachings and training methods.

In 2003 Bill became a student of the Yamabushi Kai Jujutsu school in the Bronx training Daito ryu Aikijujutsu and Yamabusbi Jujutsu under 10th Dan Grandmaster Miguel Ibarra and continues to train under the tutelage of Grandmaster Ibarra today. Bill trains personally one on one with Hanshi Ibarra on a weekly basis. Bill teaches the Yamabushi kai Daito ryu Aiijujutsu system in group classes as well as private lessons. It is a very effective, street practical approach to this traditional Japanese martial art.

Through the years Bill has sought and trained with some of the most prolific masters and fighters in martial arts and as a result his personal style is a "Balanced"fusion of some very respectable styles. Bill Pavlik will never stop training as a student, and will always continue to adapt and grow to perfect his training and teaching methods to balance out tradition and reality.

www.balancema.com