Tug Gettling Sensei, Chief
Instructor 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 senseiat 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.
Tug began training in grappling arts 36 years ago. He has studied, trained, competed,
and/or coached Submission Grappling, Judo, BrazilianJiu-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 or 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’.
Additional Instructors
Beginning Aikido
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