A Special Note: Our instructor profiles and their list of credentials are not intended as "bragging" lists and we are not in the business of collecting credentials or "padding our resumes." But, we feel that you should be able to find out a little more about us before you take time out of your busy schedule to come visit us. Unfortunately, in today's "dog eat dog" world, we feel we are "damned if we do and damned if we don't" when it comes to posting our bios and credentials. There are those that have criticized us for not listing our credentials and, yet, those (sometimes the very same individuals) that have attempted to scrutinize us when we do. Despite the fact that it's potential fodder for those armchair critics, in the end we have decided that it's more important for potential students to have the information available to them.

We would also like to mention that none of our credentials are a result of DVD or "weekend certification courses." All of our professional instructors have years of experience and train for several hours a day.

Clint Bodungen Owner, Chief Instructor of Houston Combat Arts & Street Defense (HCA) HCA Tactical Ninjutsu Instructor (self defense, combatives, CQC, defensive tactics) - Professional, Full-Time Instructor - More than 16 years of martial arts, self defense, and reality based systems experience - 1st Degree Black Belt (Shodan) - Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu/Ninpo), and still actively studying - Actively Studying Kyodai Taru Koto Ninjutsu/Ninpo - Actively Stydying To Shin Do Ninjutsu - Black Belt - D.G.C.F.S. (Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Military Combatives) - Certified Edged Weapons Defensive Tactics Instructor - Raven Tactical Systems - Certified Knife/Counter Knife Combatives Instructor - Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC) - Certified Unarmed Combatives Instructor - Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC) - Certified Extreme Close Quarters Gun/Counter-Gun Combatives, Tactics, and Strategies Instructor -   Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC) - Blue Belt, Kempo Karate/Jujitsu - Hock Hochheim - Certified Filipino Martial Arts Instructor - Hock Hochheim - Certified Pacific Archipelago Combatives Instructor - Hock Hochheim - Certified Apache Knife Apprentice Practitioner (Instructor Candidate) - Ghost Dog System - Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor - International Combatives Self Defense Association (iCSDA) - Certified Combatives Instructor - International Combatives Self Defense Association (iCSDA) - Certified Combat Martial Arts Instructor - International Combatives Self Defense Association (iCSDA) - United States Air Force Veteran - Honorable Discharge - Certified Personal Fitness Trainer - ACE (American Council on Excercise) - Licensed Private Investigator - State of Texas - Licensed Commissioned ("Armed") Security Officer - State of Texas - Licensed Personal Protection Officer ("Bodyguard/Executive Protection Agent) - State of Texas - Plans to attend the police academy and serve as a reserve peace officer

Instructor Bodungen has dedicated much of his adult life (more than 16 years) to the pursuit and study of modern, real-world, methods of self defense that have been proven to be effective on the street or the battlefield. Even though he had studied Taekwondo as a youth, he avoided the sport aspects of the martial arts and continued his pursuit with a single minded purpose, "find methods that will work for real, in our modern day times."

This journey started immediately after high school when he began studying the works, teachings, and philosophies of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who had the same beliefs surrounding "finding the truth in self defense." Around this time (1993), Bodungen also began studying Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu (now known as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu / Ninpo) under the instruction of Shidoshi Speakman in Denver, Colorado. He further extended his search when he joined the United States Air Force (1995), where he studied Aikido Jiu-Jitsu under the instruction of H.J. Ducas. His continued studies would lead him across a variety of other martial arts and instructors including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Tomiki Aikido, Indonesian Pencak Silat, Filipino Martial Arts (Kali, Escrima, Arnis), and Native American Apache Knife Fighting. Has he become a master of each and every one of these systems? No. However, this diverse experience taught him the similarities and differences amongst the many different styles, and lead to a greater understanding of martial arts and fighting systems in general. This insight also proved to be invaluable in the search for systems and techniques that worked most effectively in modern day combat.

"Hybrid practitioners-free thinking experts from several systems-simply produce the best fighters." -Hock Hochheim, Black Belt Hall of Fame 2001

(Bruce Lee also had a similar philosophy about taking aspects from many different systems.)

Eventually, his studies lead him to the modern teachings of Reality Based Martial Arts and self defense from its pioneers such as Hock Hochheim (Scientific Fighting Congress International), Carl Cestari, German Dominguez (Tactical Shokan Combatives - Spain), and Criso Lopez (Spirit Tora Combatives - Spain), and to local (Houston) Reality Based Combatives Instructor Malvin Traylor, owner and founder of Dark Gift Combat Fighting System.

Now, as the Owner and Chief Instructor of Houston Combat Arts & Street Defense, Instructor Bodungen is a professional, full-time instructor. He teaches 6 days a week and when he isn't teaching, he can most likely be found training for several hours every single day. Although he continues to pursue his studies in Ninjutsu (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, To Shin Do Ninjutsu, and Kyodai Taru Koto Ninjutsu), Pacific Archipelago/Filipino Martial Arts, and several other Reality Based Martial Arts, he is currently an active student of only the following (training with them, in person, on at least a semi-regular basis):

• Kaisho German Dominquez - Tactical Shokan Combatives & Kyodai Taru Koto Ninjutsu
• Kaisho Criso Lopez - Spirit Tora Combatives & Kyodai Taru Koto Ninjutsu
• Shidoshi Frank Grimes and Shidoshi Threz Gonzales - Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu
• Hock Hochheim - Scientific Fighting Congress - Close Quarter Combatives, Archipelago/Filipino Martial Arts
• Fernan "Stick Dog" Vargas - Ghost Dog Apache Knife Fighting (Under the direction of Ralph Redfeather)
                                                   - S.A.B.E.R. Edged Weapons Defense Tactics
                                                   - Raven Method Tactical Systems

*NOTE: Although many systems in today's modern world increasingly offer remote/home study courses on DVD, including some of the names mentioned above, Instructor Bodungen makes the effort to train with his instructors, personally, on a regular basis when possible; specifically, Hock Hochheim, even when it means traveling across the country, or even the world, in order to do so.

Scott Ward
HCA Jeet Kune Do Concepts Instructor
HCA Pacific Archipelago Combatives (PAC) / Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) Instructor
HCA Military Hand to Hand & CQC / Street Self Defense Instructor

- Certified Full Instructor - Progressive Fighting Systems (P.F.S.) - Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Kali
- Certified Level 3 Knife/Counter Knife Combatives Instructor - Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC)
- Certified Unarmed Combatives Level 3 - Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC)
- Former Houston Chapter Leader of the Guardian Angels

Instructor Ward began his martial arts training at the age of 19 where he jumped around from style to style for about a year until he found kung fu. He trained in Northern Praying Mantis (Tong Long Chuan) and Northern Shaolin Kung Fu under Sifu John Palacios. Instructor Ward's training continued under Sifu Palacios for 3 years at which time he wished to broaden his understanding of Chinese martial arts by studying a Southern Shaolin System. This search led him to Master Jeff Webb, head of the North American Wing Tsun association. After about 3 years of Wing Tsun, a book Instructor Ward read written by Paul Vunak changed his views on combat and caused him to seek out Joe Soliz of Progressive Fighting Systems. He has been with Joe nearly 8 years now and hopes to train with him for many years to come.

Instructor Ward has been with the Guardian Angels for 3 years, and was the Chapter Leader until early 2009 when he resigned due to time constraints.

Doug Vaughn
Elite Martial Arts and HCA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor

- Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Graduated with Honors from Control Data Institute as Certified Electronics and Computer Technition

In Doug's classes each person will get their fair share of individualized attention. You can really tell his love for the art because his class is packed with energy and a lot of fun. Each student will understand a move if it takes him all day because of his patience. Doug passes on his love of the sport to his 2 daughters that train with him at Elite Mixed Martial Arts as well.

David Sobieski
HCA Military Hand to Hand & CQC/Street Self Defense Instructor
HCA Combat Conditioning Instructor

- Certified Unarmed Combatives Level 1 - Scientific Fighting Congress (SFC)
- Licensed Private Investigator - State of Texas
- Licensed Commissioned Security Officer - State of Texas
- Licensed Personal Protection Officer ("Bodyguard/Executive Protection Agent) - State of Texas
- Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
- Criminal Justice Major - Houston Community College

(Bio Coming Soon)

Ramon Diaz
Wing Chun Kung Fu Instructor
Tai Chi Instructor

(Credentials and Bio Coming Soon)

Kelly Smith
Pencak Silat Instructor

(Credentials and Bio Coming Soon)

Achim Fassbender
Yoga Instructor

Achim’s affiliation with Yoga started many years ago. But it wasn’t called Yoga back then some 34 odd years ago, it was and still is called gymnastics. Yes, 34 years of international, competitive gymnastics back Achim’s experience with the body and movement in very artistic fashion. Several years of collaboration/ association with famed coach Bela Karolyi brought Achim to Houston. This was 17 years ago.

Achim is convinced that Yoga and Gymnastics are relatives, Yoga being the grandparent, and Gymnastics being one of the grand-children. In Achim’s case, after more than 30 years of coaching Gymnastics, the grand parent had the power to pull the grand child back to its roots. “All this: do more, higher, faster, better, more differently got to me. Hardly a moment of satisfaction”. Once achieved, on to the next impossible trick. It’s easy to get equally caught up in Yoga, learning one ‘trick’ (asana) after another, not realizing that the same competitive drive is at work that you so gladly would like to get rid off, albeit not admitting this publicly. Instead of on to the next posture, Achim likes to stay with one asana and allows time to examine it thoroughly. No hyper, technical analysis in words, but a patient awaiting for some- thing to happen, for something to feel, to change, because THIS is for sure going to happen. If you only wait long enough! The one thing we all can be sure of is CHANGE!                 

The  Buddha’s teachings on impermanence have a significant impact on Achim’s  view and his ways of teaching Yoga or anything life related for that matter. Yes, many people will agree that there is constant change. Big deal! But in their way of living they do not exemplify this truth. They rather try dearly to stay and look young forever, defying the natural laws of physical change. Attachment or clinging to the past, to youth, to beauty, to habits and more. Attachment to pleasant matters/ things is one of the major causes for our suffering. Our mind/ matter relationship MATTERS! It shows up in our practice. If not conscious of it, it will develop haphazardly and non-realistically. Achim’s intent is to help people find methods/ techniques to create a healthy mind/ matter relationship and to distance themselves away from the various attachments, to help them learn how to observe and obey the body, and how to channel some healthy energy through your body system.