Tug Gettling Sensei 
Aikido 3rd Dan

Tug Gettling began training in the martial arts in 1972. For the past 36 years he has studied, trained, and competed in a large variety of martial arts including Judo, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Boxing, Submission Grappling, Tae Kwon, Do, Muay Thai, and Aikido. His aikido study began in 1988 under the tutelage of Michael Friedl sensei at Aikido of Ashland. Since that time Tug has trained with many of today’s most noted and skilled aikidoka.

Tug has been teaching defensive tactics, officer protection, and arrest control tactics to law enforcement agencies across the nation. He has taught military combatives, unarmed warfare & enemy engagement, and hand-to-hand combat to special operatives and elite military agencies including members of the United States Marine Corp. and the US Navy SEALs. As a hand to hand combat expert Tug continues to be in demand for private security corporations, law enforcement agencies, and elite military operatives throughout the United States.

With Michael Friedl Sensei

Tug began training in grappling arts 36 years ago. He has studied, trained, competed, and/or coached Submission Grappling, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Freestyle, Folkstyle, and Greco-Roman Wrestling, Japanese Jiu-jitsu, and Russian Sambo. This extensive experience has given him athorough understanding of and unparalleled skill in submission grapplingand ground combat. Having trained extensively with his good friend and training partner Mark Schultz (World Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, Ultimate Fighting Champion) as well as with his dojo partner, Pedro Sauer (5th degree black belt under Rickson Gracie, voted the Best Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Instructor in the World), Gettling's colleagues consider him an expert in the field of submission grappling.

In 1981, after 5 years of training in Tae Kwon Do, Gettling began training in full-contact striking arts (boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai). Two years later he began his competitive career as a kick boxer fighting out of Paia Gym in Maui. After enjoying much success he retired undefeated in 1989. Shortly thereafter Tug was asked to train Olympic Tae Kwon Do athletes for the upcoming Olympic trials. Gettling’s striking prowess has earned him high accolades in the combat arts community and, along with his grappling expertise, has put him in high demand for seminars, workshops, intensives, and other training events around the nation.

Tug Gettling’s proficiency and experience as a combat expert and athlete are matched only by his competence and capability as an instructor. He has taught and coached elite military and law enforcement personnel, world class athletes, and advanced martial artists and competitorsthroughout the country. Additionally he has taught at three universities, several colleges, numerous public and private schools, and various community venues for over 25 years. He has been involved in teaching self-protection and violence prevention for over 25 years.

He is a former wrestling coach for Brigham Young University, a current member of the Utah County Safe Kids Coalition, and a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Public Health and Physical Education. He is a former head coach of GrappleSport, previous Jiu-jitsu instructor for Utah Valley University and kickboxing instructor for Southern Oregon University, and currently teaches tactical threat response to law enforcement agencies throughout Utah. He holds black belt ranks in several martial arts, is certified in tactical baton, retired undefeated as a full-contact kickboxer, and is considered by professionals in the field to be a tactical hand to hand combat expert.

He believes strongly in the maxim that states ‘The more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war’.

Video Clips of Tug Gettling Sensei

 THREAT RESPONSE WORKSHOP with Tug Gettling
GO HOME ALIVE NO MATTER WHAT!