Founder - Mankato Martial Arts, Founding Member of Pro Star Mixed Martial Arts

Mr. Bill Hough started his martial arts training in 1983 while in the US Army. As a Sergeant in the Infantry, Bill taught hand-to-hand self-defense, and graduated from the Army's Master Fitness program. During his 10 years of active duty, Bill also received a BA in business management through the Army Continuing Education program. Mr. Hough started training in Tae Kwon Do in 1996 under Master Glenn Morgan, and opened his own school in 2004. In 2007, Mr. Hough became one of the founding members of Pro Star Mixed Martial Arts, and works closely with John Graden and Joe Brignoli in developing and refining the curriculum used at Mankato Martial Arts to ensure the very best and up-to-date training available.

Hough Sabumnim is the Senior Tae Kwon Do Instructor at Mankato Martial Arts. Along with his wife Kristi, and son Joshua, Bill manages and oversees all operations at Mankato Martial Arts.

6th Dan Renshi Karate
5th Dan Shihan Kobudo
Shodan Yoshinkan Aikido

Tim Jurgens started martial arts in Mankato with the American Tae Kwon Do Association while in high school. He began his training in Shorinryu Karate in 1985 at Twentynine Palms California while stationed there in the US Marines, taking lessons from Alan Griffin and Tony Sandovol Senesis. Mr. Jurgens has reached the Renshi level, holding a 6th Degree Black Belt from the headquarters dojo in Tomigusuku Okinawa Japan -- issued from Hiroshi Akamine, President of the Shimbukan Dojo. He holds a Dojo License and Instructor's certificate in both Karate and Kobudo. He has been awarded a 5th Degree Black Belt and Shihan Certificate from the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, also issued from Akamine Kaicho. He is currently one of two licensed Shihan in the Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan Assocation and the senior instructor outside of Japan for the Mukenkai Karate Assocation.  Mr. Jurgens furthered his training in martial arts by studying Yoshinkan Aikido first in Okinawa Japan with Seneha Sensei, and then later with Nakazawa Sensei at Yokosuka Japan. He was graded as a Shodan by Terada Sensei in 1999.

Tim lived in Japan for a total of 17 years and holds a level III language proficiency in Japanese. In 1987 he assisted Tom O'Brien in opening a Kenshinkan Shorinryu Dojo at Camp Courtney Okinawa under Kise Sensei. While in Japan, Jurgens Sensei attended ten of the annual seminars hosted at the Kokusai Budo Daigakku, or International Budo University, by the All Japan Budo Association. There he was exposed to Sumo, Judo, Kyudo, Naginata, Aikido, Shorinji Kempo, Kendo, JKA Karate, Iaido, and several other Koryu or Old Styles. Tim founded the Yashio area Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Dojo in Tokyo, which is still active today as a branch in the Shimbukan Association. Jurgens Sensei competed in the 2003 World Tournament in Okinawa Japan, and the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai association Tournaments in 2006, 2007, and 2008, where he placed each year. He served as the International Liaison to the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Board of Directors from April 2007 until returning to the US in April of 2009.

In 2008 he served as an international judge at the 9th International Naha-te World Tournament in Odessa, the Ukraine. He has assisted in international seminars in the Philippines, Switzerland, South Africa, the Ukraine, Okinawa, Poland, US, and England as a translator and as an instructor. He holds a BS in Information Systems Management with a minor in Asian Studies from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the same institution.

Jurgens Sensei is the Senior Karate and Kobudo Instructor at Mankato Martial Arts, joining the organization in 2009. Tim is joined by his wife Mikako, who he met in Okinawa in 1994, and their two children, Ryuka and Raymond. Both children also join classes and train.

Jurgens Sensei had a brief appearance in the TV series Human Weapon featuring a short introduction to Kobudo where he assisted as a translator.

Shorinryu Karate Instructor

3rd Dan Shorinryu Karate
Shodan Ryukyu Kobudo
Black Belt Tae Kwon Do

Mr. Tracy is a long time Mankato resident who has been active in martial arts for over 35 years.  He brings a dynamic approach to his studies and is always willing to try something new.  He teaches the Thursday evening classes and has been training with Mankato Martial Arts since the Shorinryu program was launched in 2009.

Shorinryu Karate Instructor

Mikako is from Okinawa Japan, and has been studying martial arts since 1996. She holds a Nidan or Second Degree Black Belt in Shorinryu Karate from Akamine Hiroshi Sensei in Okinawa Japan, and a brown belt in Yoshinkan Aikido from Terada Sensei in Yokohama Japan. Mikako studied English at Okinawa Christian School where she earned the Japanese equivalent of an Associates Degree. Mikako currently teaches at the Lonsdale Branch. She is also our Japanese Language instructor.

Khru Muay Thai

Ray White has been studying Muay Thai with the Minnesota Kali Group under Ajarn (Master) Rick Faye, the North Central Director of the TBA, since 1998. Ray has trained with Sardsadajarn Chai at the MKG when he visits the United States, and at the Pacific NW Thai Camp. Ray received his Instructors rank from the TBA in 2006 under the watchful eyes of Sardsadajarn Chai, Ajarn Rick Faye of the MKG, and Ajarn Greg Nelson from the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. Recently Ray received his Associate Instructor promotion in 2010 at the Pacific North West Muay Thai Camp in Oregon. An amateur competitor in Muay Thai and Submission Grappling, Khru Ray has competed in state, regional and national tournaments like the TBA Muay Thai Classic and The Submission Hunt. As a coach and trainer for the MSU MMA club he has coached many of the South Central Minnesota most successful pro and amateur fighters, including Josh Janousek, Gus Kratzke, Dan Moret, Bryan Mortensen, Adam Michel and Eric Yngsdal.

Kung Fu Instructor

Scott holds the grade of Jiao Lien and also holds a Masters of Oriental Medicine. He began his martial arts study in 1991 with Chip Gay at the MSU Kung Fu Club. He received his instructor's certification in 2004 from the Minnesota School of Internal Martial Arts. He has been teaching Tai Chi and Kung Fu since 2003. He received his Master's of Oriental Medicine in 2005 specializing in Tui Na and Chinese Herbal Medicine. He joined Mankato Martial Arts in August of 2010.

Tae Kwon Do Instructor, Self Defense Specialist

Mr. Murray is a First Degree Black Belt and a certified instructor in Tae Kwon Do Chang Hun Style. He earned his Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Rochester Community College, his Bachelor of Science Degrees in Corrections, Law Enforcement, and Sociology, and Masters of Science Degree in Human Services: Planning and Administration in Sociology from Minnesota State University - Mankato. Since 1988, Sam has been working at the Minnesota Security Hospital Forensic Division, as a Security Counselor/Lead. He currently is a Certified State Instructor in orientating new staff in Security Procedures and Duties.

Mr. Murray has been an instructor and senior self-defense specialist with Mankato Martial Arts since 2005.

Tae Kwon Do and Silver Belt Program Instructor

Ann began her training in Tae Kwon Do as a white belt in 2005, and earned her Black Belt from Mankato Martial Arts in 2008. She has been instructing Tae kwon Do classes since 2007. Her Shorin-Ryu Karate training began in 2009; she holds a Shodan or Black Belt in this art.

Along with her life long participation in sports and fitness, Ann uses her education and past employment experience as assets as an instructor. Miss Mumma graduated from California Lutheran University with majors in Psychology and Political Science. She competed in both volleyball and track & field at the college level. After graduating, she continued her education and took several masters level classes in Clinical Psychology where the focus was on Cognitive and Behavior Therapy. Ann has worked both as a Behavior Specialist at a school/living facility for children diagnosed with Severe Emotional Disorder and ADHD, and as a personal tutor for children with special needs.

Tae Kwon Do Instructor

Mr. Joshua Hough started training in Tae Kwon Do at age 5 and has earned the rank of 1st Dan. In the past 14 years, Joshua has established himself as an aggressive competitor, holding state titles in Sword Sparring, and Forms. He has also placed highly in Point Sparring. Josh works as an instructor and a mentor for younger Black Belts training to become instructors.

Youth Program Instructor

Mrs. Slama has been a student of Taekwondo since 2004, and is a 1st Dan Black Belt. Aimee has participated in tournaments at the local and national level winning top honors in Point Sparring, Sword Sparring, and Forms. Aimee is currently a belt holder in the Brutaal Armature MMA fight league for Mankato Martial Arts.

Aimee is married and a stay at home mom to her 3 children. She devotes her time to her family and training for the MMA.