KBX Gym Instructors

Marshell Davis - Head Instructor

Marshell Davis, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Boxing, Krav Maga

Aside from being a former US Army Ranger for 6 years, Marshell has an extensive background in the Martial Arts and fitness training. With over 28 years of experience in different styles from Ninjitsu, Western Boxing, American Kickboxing, Muay Thai, BuKyok Ayu, Shidokan Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and more. He has trained with legends such as Master Ricardo Murgel, and world champion fighters Manu Ntoh and Richard Trammell. He is also an experienced competitor himself with over 30 boxing and kickboxing matches and was the 2001 Golden Glove Champion as well as the 2002 GK Kickboxing Champion. Marshell has also competed in Body-Building and Power Lifting. Being a certified fitness and martial arts instructor for over 15 years, Marshell has helped many people achieve their fitness goals as well as trained fighters like 4 time World Champion Kickboxer Trisha Hill. If you want the best quality training, whether it be for competitive sports, taking your training to the next level, or just to get back into shape, Marshell can get you where you want to be!

 

 

 

 

Lissa Braverman - Assistant Instructor

Discipline: Kickboxing, Boxing

As a certified Massage Therapist, Lissa had strong focus on health and fitness before she started training in Kickboxing 6 years ago. Now, she is not only an experienced fitness instructor, but a competitive athlete as well. Her first competition was in Bodybuilding at the SNBF Capital Classic Show in May of 2006 where she placed 2nd in the novice division. After that she went on to compete in her first kickboxing match in September of 2006. She has now had over 20 fights in all different styles from Muay thai, international rules and American Kickboxing. She has also competed in Knockdown Karate and Mixed Martial Arts.  She currently competes in powerlifting in the Open Women's division and has competed at the national level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heike Gurley

Discipline: Krav Maga, Personal Training & Bodybuilding

Heike is a one of a kind personal trainer as well as the second female to be certified as a Krav Maga instructor through the United States instructor program. She has been Kickboxing and Boxing under Marshell Davis for 6 years. She is also been a highly accomplished amatuer bodybuilder and has now reached pro status. Her accomplishments in Bodybuilding include the following:
*1st place winner in novice @ Snbf Georgia Fame
*1st place winner in open @ Snbf Fame
*1st place winner ine overall @ Snbf Fame
*Best poser @ Snbf Fame
*1st place open short @ Capital Classic
*1st place open short @ Southern Open Snbf
*1st place overall @ Southern Open Snbf
*2nd place open short @ Snbf Nationals
With one look at Heike, you can see that she practices what she preaches and is more than eager to bring success to her clients.

Heike Gurley, Krav Maga, Bodybuilding, Personal Training
   

 

Matthew Clouser

Discipline: Krav Maga
 
Matt comes to us with a wide variety or self defense and Martial Arts Experience. Matt has an Advanced Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do and was a High School Wrestler that ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in regional and county tournaments. Matt also has had instruction in gymnastics, has a Kapap instructors Certification and is currently studying Krav Maga. Matt's personable demeanor, patience and his attention to detail has helped him to instruct many first time and expierenced self defense students in learning the skills necessary to defend themselves in the time of need.

 Matthew Clouser, Krav Maga
 

Grace Barner

Discipline: Krav Maga

Grace Barner started her Krav Maga training in November of 2007 and was hooked after her first class. From that point forward she trained everyday classes were available. Her passion for Krav Maga continued and in August of 2008 she attended the Phase A Instructor Certification course through the Krav Maga Worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles, California. She has since trained under numerous KMW black belt instructors such as founder of KMW, Darren Levine, lead instructor Michael Margolin, as well as the top ranked female balck belt in KM in the U.S., Kelly Campbell.

In addition to her Krav Maga technical training, she has trained in Krav Maga fitness classes utilizing kettebell training and the crossfit workout. Prior to her Krav Maga training she had completed 7 half marathons and 1 10 mile race and enjoyed participating in Cardio Kickboxing classes. She proves to be in tremendous shape!

 

 

Freddy Assuncao

Discipline: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts

Born in RECIFE-BRAZIL
comes from a family of fighters..(THE ASSUNCAO BROTHERS)
brother of UFC vet Junior Assuncao and twin brother of WEC top featherweight Raphael Assuncao.  Freddy has been training martial arts for over 15 years!!
started CAPOEIRA at the age of 11 (black belt)
muay thai for 4 years (4-0 am , 3-1 pro)
MMA 2-1 pro
Brazilian jiu-jutsu PURPLE belt under his 2 brothers RAPHAEL and JUNIOR ASSUNCAO both BLACK belts under Master ROBERTO TRAVEN(6TH DEGREE BLACK BELT )and also under master:Moacir"Boca"Oliveira a 3rd degree black belt
Adcc open camp
Copa America advanced divison camp(no GI)
Copa America GI divison ( GI)2ND PLACE
S.Florida State no Gi CAMP
currently fights at featheweight and competes bjj as much as possible.
 
  
         
 

Melinda Beach

Discipline: Kid's Martial Arts
 
Melinda has an extensive background in physical fitness as well as the martial arts.  She has BA in the teaching of dance and also danced professionally on stage for 10 years.  In addition to her professional dance career, she also taught fitness on television for 2 years in South Carolina and has experience in managing fitness clubs and directed the gymnastics program at the YMCA in Charlotte, NC for several years. 
 
Melinda started training in the martial arts in her mid 30’s and competed in several American Karate tournaments including The Battle of Atlanta and the U.S. Open.  She place 2nd in both those competitions which kept her 2nd place seat as a feather weight competitor.  She then went on to become a 2nd degree black belt in American Karate and owned her own martial arts school for several years. 
 
Melinda has trained under Marshell Davis for 6 years.  She began training with him after she decided to do her first bodybuilding show at 45 years of age.  She has now competed in three bodybuilding competitions placing 2nd in her division in two competitions and finishing with one 3rd place.  She also competed in a bench only powerlifting meet where she qualified for the raw nationals in bench press.

Charles Simpson

Discipline: Stick & Knife Fighting
 

Charles brings over a decade of experience in different styles including Choi Kwang Do, Kung Fu, Silat, Modern Arnis, Kali, Libre fighting, Hock Hochheim S.D.M.S. and JKD. A purely modern approach to martial arts, classes are geared to finding movments that work best with each individual student's body mechanics. Coupling a strong belief in "train like you fight and fight like you train" his classes focus on reality based training with impact weapons, knives and sticks.