Kevin Forant - Owner/Instructor - Kickboxing, MMA, Grappling and Strength & Conditioning

Sensei Paul Booe studied martial arts for many years. He began in 1989 and received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 . Two years later, Sensei Booe was introduced to Judo, Jujitsu, Hapkido and Karate and he received black belts in 3 of those styles. He also trained in Boxing and was a Licensed USA Boxing Coach. He held a 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, a 1st degree black belt in Jujitsu and Karate, a brown belt in Judo, a Level 7 Instructor rank in Hayastan Submission Grappling and a certified Combat Weapons Training (C.W.T) Instructor. He trained under Gokor Chivichyan, the founder of Hayastan Fighting System which is comprised of Judo, Jujitsu, Sambo, Wrestling, Kickboxing and Karate.

Sensei Booe was also a Co-Founder and Board Member of the Combined Combat Arts Union and owned and operated Hayastan Mixed Martial Arts Academy locations in NC . He was also the East Coast Coordinator of the Hayastan Grappling Challenge national tournament circuit and was a certified USA Submission Grappling Referee and Referee Trainer.

He taught at all locations and in every style offered. When not on the mat, he also managed and coached the Hayastan MMA fight team. Every instructor at Hayastan MMA Charlotte has trained under Sensei Booe. Although his passing was untimely and sad, his vision and his teachings will live on through the Hayastan MMA students and staff. RIP Paul.

Sensei Kevin Forant started training at Hayastan MMA back in early 2008 under Sensei Booe. Kevin's athletic background consisted of High School and JuCo Hockey, so he was no stranger to a good fight. He is a former 3 time Amateur MMA Champion and a retired Pro MMA fighter with an impressive record. Kevin's popularity and fighting prowess has landed him on nationally televised fights on AXS TV. He is also a Level 10 (Black Belt) instructor in Hayastan Submission Fighting System under Sensei Gokor and a senior rank in Hayastan MMA's Kickboxing program under Sensei Booe and Sensei Louis Grady. Kevin's experience, knowledge, work ethic and mental toughness certainly shows through his instruction and is a great asset for the students to draw from. Kevin teaches many of the Kickboxing and Grappling classes in the evenings, coaches and corners the fight team as well as coordinating the fight opportunities of the Hayastan MMA Charlotte Fight Team. In addition to his Hayastan MMA duties, he has served as matchmaker for several MMA promotions.

Hayastan MMA Charlotte

1307 Matthew-Mint Hill Rd Unit B Matthews, NC 28105

info@hayastanmma.com

704-575-9688

Tony Tan - Instructor - MMA Grappling & Wrestling/Takedowns

James Armlin - Instructor - Muay Thai

Sensei Tony Tan is a former undefeated Amateur MMA Champion, a retired Pro MMA Fighter and a former HGC Absolute tournament Champion. He has a background in D-1 College wrestling and holds a Senior Rank in Hayastan's kickboxing program under Senei Booe and Grady. He also has achieved a Level 10 (Black Belt) instructors' rank in Hayastan Submission Fighting System under Sensei Gokor. Tony's direct communication and ability to verbalize the techniques he is teaching has been apparent at Hayastan for some time. His fierce competitive drive rubs off and inspires the students. His role as Wrestling Coach is expanded to also teaching our MMA Grappling class. He will also teach on occasion in our Adult Kickboxing and Grappling on scheduled evenings.

Kevin Forant - Owner/Instructor - Kickboxing, MMA, Grappling and Strength & Conditioning

Ralph "Louis" Grady - Founder/Former Owner/Instructor - Kickboxing, MMA, Grappling, Karate, TKD, Balintawak, Doce Pares, Weapons, and Strength Conditioning

Instructors

Jared is retired professioanl boxer, vetern of 20 professional fights and nearly 70 amature fights. Jared is founder of Sacred Boxing and Loyal to my craft apparel

Paul Booe - Co-Founder (RIP)

Sensei Grady began his study of Martial Arts in 1985 trying several styles and various instructors until landing in Kyokushin Karate in Oklahoma and obtaining rank as well as competing through state and regional competitions. He then returned to NC and found a school that believed in a multi-discipline style that focused on reality in training and blending groundwork, with weapons and standup fighting. Sensei Grady joined the instructor training program in 1993, and promptly began teaching a "mixed martial arts" program before the first UFC aired and MMA became a popular and recognized sport. He continued training and upon earning his Black Belt and completing the instructor certification program, he opened his first school in 1995.
His passion has always been focused on training and self improvement, his and his students. His desire to be the best Martial Artist he could possibly be led him to achieve rank in Shotokan Karate, TKD, Aikijujutsu, Capoeira, Doce Pares, Balintawak, Tri-tactical Stick Boxing, USJA Judo, USJA Jujutsu, and Kaizen Karate. He trained extensively in Muay Thai Kickboxing, USA Boxing, and is a Master Instructor in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do. Sensei Grady has had the honor of training with Sifus Richard Bustillo, Dan Inosanto, Ted Wong, and Larry Hartsell, all who were original students of Bruce Lee (since 1993), Senseis Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LaBell (since 1995), Grandmasters Bobby Taboada, and Cacoy Canete (since 1995), Chai Sirisute plus dozens of others to maintain a well rounded knowledge base.
After teaching for several years Sensei Grady was driven to improve his teaching skills, which led him to pursue a lateral entry teaching certification. Upon obtaining this, he began teaching elementary/middle school PE, Health, and Leadership. He was awarded The Instructor of the Year award from the Worldwide Sokeship Council around 2005. He developed a Leadership Training Program called "BUD-E" (Be Understanding Dedicated and Energetic) that then led to seminars and speaking engagements as well as the implementation of the program through several school districts in NC. The IMB Family Martial Arts Center and later, Hayastan MMA (as founded by Sensei Booe and Sensei Grady) was awarded Best in Charlotte for nearly a decade.
Sensei Grady has been in the NC Army National Guard for 23+ years. He has served his country and his community, first as an enlisted soldier, then as an Officer in the King of Battle- Field Artillery. Then after a break in service, returned to the enlisted ranks as a Howitzer Section Chief, and deployed several times to Bahrain , Kuwait and Iraq. He also served as Area Coordinator for the Military Funeral Honors Program for nearly 7 years and currently is a Gunnery Sgt for 1st Plt Bravo Battery 1/113 FA. He has trained children and adults, from Investment Bankers, Construction workers, Professional Fighters to Army, Navy, Marines and Law Enforcement from around the globe to protect themselves and others. The most important student for Sensei Grady is every single one that walks in the door of Hayastan MMA!

Jared Robinson - Instructor - Boxing

Premier Mixed Martial Arts Instruction in Charlotte, NC among the best MMA gyms!

Kru James Armlin is a certified Muay Thai instructor in the Thai Boxing Association under Ajarn Chai Sirisute. He has trained and studied Muay Thai extensively in Thailand. Some of the notable camps that he has trained in are Fairtex, OneSongChai, Lanna Muay Thai, and Keawsamrit. Kru Armlin is a former Muay Thai fighter and now a professional trainer. He was also a Close Combat and Hand-to-Hand Combat instructor in the United States Marines. Kru Armlin is a retired Law Enforcement Officer with over twenty-five years of experience.