Master Craig Holmes

Master Craig Holmes

Senior/Master Instructor Holmes began his training in the Martial Arts at age 12 (November 1971). The first art he studied was the Korean Art of Hap-Ki-Do. Master Holmes has researched many different systems of Martial Arts and is always looking for new (to him) and interesting approaches to self-defense.

While training in Hap-Ki-Do and Kuk Sool Won, Instructor Holmes also had the opportunity to experience other arts (mostly Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and North American Boxing).

Master Holmes

Holmes with Grandmaster Pak - 1989

“Elliot Lake was a mining town and had many people coming and going all the time. Some of these people had black belt rankings in the Martial Arts. We would get together in someone’s basement and workout. Sharing techniques and methods amongst ourselves.” (Craig Holmes)

Instructor Holmes received a Black Belt rank while a member of the World Kuk Sool Association (WKSA) headed by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh.

Senior Instructor Holmes first exposure to the Filipino Martial Arts took place during this period. On November 24th, 1984 he attended a seminar performed by Brian D. Smith (American Maharlike Kuntaw Association). The Seminar covered Arnis Basics and Weapons Theory.

1988 - World Kuk Sool Association

1991 - Jim Miller, Craig Holmes and John Dickson

In September of 1990, Master Holmes and Instructor Miller opened C. J. Martial Arts (Craig & Jim's Martial Arts). The response from the Elliot Lake community was great, within one week C. J. Martial Arts had over 60 members.

Eventually, Instructor Miller would leave and the membership would vote on a new name for the Martial Arts school. The winning name was Inner Circle Martial Arts (ICMA), and the name still remains the same today.

Jim Miller, Craig Holmes and John Dickson

In 1991, Senior Instructor Holmes had become a Instructor Member and Certified Independent Agent of The World Martial Arts Group (AIKIA Karate) who’s Founder / President is Doctor Jerry Beasley and Board of Directors include Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Joe Lewis and at that time, Steve "Nasty" Anderson.

Dr. Jerry Beasley, Bill "Superfoot"

Steve "Nasty" Anderson

Wallace, Holmes and Joe Lewis.

and Senior Instructor Holmes

As a member of AIKIA, Master Holmes would attend Karate College at Radford University in Radford, Virginia several times. This greatly increased his knowledge of various Martial Arts system and approaches to training for combat/self defence.

Some of the Martial Arts and methods were Hap Ki Do, Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Muay Thai, North American Kickboxing, Chu Fen Do, Filipino Martial Arts (Kali, Escrima and Arnis), Jujitsu, Wing Chun Kung-Fu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Russian Sambo and Shoot wrestling (Shooto).

"Absorb What is Useful" (Si-Jo Lee)

The Instructors at Karate College were some of the best Martial Artists in the world and I thank you for sharing your Martial Arts with me - Master Holmes.

In 1993 Senior Instructor Holmes became a member of the Jeet Kune Do Association headed by Sifu, Professor Gary Dill (Director & Chief Instructor). Instructor Holmes would remain a member for one year, but leave when he became active with the Guro Dan Inosanto Family and Ajarn Chai Sirisute founder and President of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA in 1994.

ICMA	Elbows at Close Range	All Ranges Sparring

Senior Instructor Holmes teaches the ICMA members 5 ranges of combat

Weapons · Kicking · Punching/Hand · Trapping · Grappling

In 1994 Senior Instructor Webb (The Total Martial Arts Center in Timmins, Ontario), introduced Senior Instructor Holmes to Sifu John Maidment (Kali, Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do & Indonesian Penjak Silat) of Toronto, Ontario and Kru Bob Carver (Muay Thai & Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do) of Ottawa, Ontario. Master Holmes would train under Sifu Maidment and Kru Carver until 1997 when Instructor Holmes decided to become inactive.

In 1994 (through Senior Instructor Webb) Senior Instructor Holmes would become involved in Fong Wei Do (Self Defence Concepts Alliance), a recognized organization by the Northern Canada Chinese Kuo Sho (Martial Arts) Association, which is a division under the C.C.K.S.F.

On September 3rd, 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Senior (Master) Instructor in the art of Fong Wei Do. Senior Instructor Holmes is still active in Fong Wei Do and uses there rank structure as the core system at ICMA.

Grappling with Gerald

Master Holmes and ICMA became a member of the International Sungja-Do Association (ISA) on December 1st, 2001. The ISA is a worldwide organization with members in over 40 countries. Sungja-Do (Winning Way) is an multi-style system.

The founder of the ISA is Grandmaster George I. Petrotta. He was born on Jan. 8, 1945, at Rochester, New York, USA, and has over 40 years in the martial arts. He is the leading authority in the art of Sungja-Do.

The International Sungja-Do Association

Master Holmes's Achievements and Background

Chief/Master Instructor of Inner Circle Martial Arts and Supply
6th Dan Black Belt - Hap-Ki-Do, ISA
Senior/Master Instructor - Fong Wei Do (Self Defence Concepts Alliance)
6th Dan Black Belt - Sungja-Do
Instructor - Combative Weapons
Kickboxing Trainer
1st Dan Black Belt - Kuk Sool Won
Instructor member of the Northern Canada Chinese Kuo Sho Association
Northern Ontario Representative of the International Sungja-Do Association
Former Member of the Jeet Kune Do Association
Instructor Member and Certified Independent Agent of The World Martial Arts Group (AIKIA Karate)
Instructor Candidate in Jun Fan (Gung-Fu) and
Instructor Candidate in Muay Thai Kickboxing

Seminars and Workshops

Joe Lewis
Guro Dan Inosanto
Doctor Jerry Beasley
Ajarn Chai Sirisute
Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
Kru Bob Carver
Tony Blauer
Sifu John Maidment
The Late Grandmaster Pak
Andrei Sosnovskikh
Matt Cotes
Steve "Nasty" Anderson
Michael DePasquale Jr
Cliff Lenderman
Michael DePasquale Sr
Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh
Master Jhoon Rhee
Master Byung S. Ma
Sensei Kuniyuki Kai
Master Chu S. Ma and more...

Proud to be Canadian!

Always Learning, Always Growing!

Thank you for sharing your wisdom in the Martial Arts with me - Master Holmes.

Also, I would like to thank Master Bergeron of the Elliot Lake Martial Arts Fitness Centre who was my first instructor in the Korean art of Hap Ki Do.