Guro Jim's Biography

Hello, my name is Guro James Hogue but everyone just calls me Guro Jim. I started in the martial arts in March, 1975 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania when I was only 5 years old. My first teacher was Master David Santiago, which lived next door to me in the Holiday Inn trailer park. Master Santiago first learned his family’s
art of Filipino Kuntao, and then move to Indonesia. While in Indonesia he trained in Silat which he later would combine with his family’s art. The system that was taught to me was called Cimande Kuntao, or Cimande Chaun Fa .
Master Santiago's Cimande Silat is a combination Cimande, Sera, CiKalong, and his family’s Kuntao system. Today I refer to Master Santiago system as the DS Cimande in honor of my first teacher. Along with this system I’ve trained in various systems from Southeast Asia. I trained in Poekoelan Tjiminde (Wetzel System), Reeders Kuntao (Reeders System), Filipino-Chinese White Crane Kung Fu, Pangasinan Kali (Filipino Martial Arts), and many other systems.
art of Filipino Kuntao, and then move to Indonesia. While in Indonesia he trained in Silat which he later would combine with his family’s art. The system that was taught to me was called Cimande Kuntao, or Cimande Chaun Fa .
Master Santiago's Cimande Silat is a combination Cimande, Sera, CiKalong, and his family’s Kuntao system. Today I refer to Master Santiago system as the DS Cimande in honor of my first teacher. Along with this system I’ve trained in various systems from Southeast Asia. I trained in Poekoelan Tjiminde (Wetzel System), Reeders Kuntao (Reeders System), Filipino-Chinese White Crane Kung Fu, Pangasinan Kali (Filipino Martial Arts), and many other systems.

I’ve also had many high risk jobs where I’ve had to put my butt on the line, and my skills to the test. At age 18 years old, I started doing Barroom Security in Nightclubs, Strip Bars, and other places where I was the only Security Personnel on duty in the near west and east sides of Cleveland, Ohio. Along with other jobs I've done was a Fugitive Retrieval Agent, then a Correctional Officer, a Soldier in the US Army Military Police, and finally as a Police Officer where I've had to defend myself from sudden and violent attacks from dangerous career criminals that activity tried to injury or even kill me. My training and skills allowed me to come out on top, and defeat my opponents.
When I was in the U.S. Army I was asked to plan the company’s Advanced Hand to Hand Combat by the company commander of the 977TH MP Co. Also while in Iraq I was selected to be the Chief Unarmed Self-Defense (USD) Instructor that planned the entire course for the Iraqi Police Academy. I also trained other
Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines while in Iraq. While I was in Iraq I was give an award by the 2/5 Marines for my operations while connected to their unit. After I was honorably discharged from the US Army just after returning home from Iraq, and I found a job as a Police Officer in Kansas and I began teaching the Malay Fighting Arts System.
I continue to train Police Officer, Military Personnel, Correctional Officers, and civilians that just want to learn how to defend themselves better than before. I give a good combination of Traditional training with Modern Combative Skills that is street proven. After many years of training and teaching, I was convinced by my good friend Eddie Ivestor to begin writing articles and make DVDs on the systems I've trained in. Plus I've received an award by the Poekoelan Tjimindie Community for my many years of hard work. I've also been place in the Raven Tactical International Hall of Fame for the best Partner Program of 2010. I continue my hard work to bring people the best in martial arts and combatives training. Thank you for your time in reading my Bio. - Guru James Hogue -
When I was in the U.S. Army I was asked to plan the company’s Advanced Hand to Hand Combat by the company commander of the 977TH MP Co. Also while in Iraq I was selected to be the Chief Unarmed Self-Defense (USD) Instructor that planned the entire course for the Iraqi Police Academy. I also trained other
Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines while in Iraq. While I was in Iraq I was give an award by the 2/5 Marines for my operations while connected to their unit. After I was honorably discharged from the US Army just after returning home from Iraq, and I found a job as a Police Officer in Kansas and I began teaching the Malay Fighting Arts System.
I continue to train Police Officer, Military Personnel, Correctional Officers, and civilians that just want to learn how to defend themselves better than before. I give a good combination of Traditional training with Modern Combative Skills that is street proven. After many years of training and teaching, I was convinced by my good friend Eddie Ivestor to begin writing articles and make DVDs on the systems I've trained in. Plus I've received an award by the Poekoelan Tjimindie Community for my many years of hard work. I've also been place in the Raven Tactical International Hall of Fame for the best Partner Program of 2010. I continue my hard work to bring people the best in martial arts and combatives training. Thank you for your time in reading my Bio. - Guru James Hogue -