Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of La. Martial Arts Academy's instructors and other staff members, starting with Frank Caracci:

Frank Caracci  (Chief Instructor, Hapkido, 5th Dan, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor, Israeli F.I.G.H.T Instructor)  Over my 26 years of study I have trained in Hapkido, HanMuDo, TaeKwonDo, Japanese Ju-Jitsu, Okinawan Shorin Ryu-Karate, RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as Israeli Haganah F.I.G.H.T. Over those years I have met and trained with some of the greatest masters of the world. My method, whether Hapkido, RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or F.I.G.H.T is based on my experiences from all of these arts and teachers. My methods are simple in nature. The best techniques in either system are effortless and simple in nature. My techniques are unique in that they are different from student to student. Once they are part of you, your martial arts becomes very unique in that they are now yours to pass on to another. I have acheived the following ranks: Hapkido, 5th Dan, Korean Kido Assn., Seoul South Korea and the U.S. Korean Martial Arts Federation HanMuDo, 5th Dan, Korean HanDoWon TaeKwonDo, 3rd Dan, Korean KuKiKwon, Seoul, South Korea Japanese Ju-Jitsu, 1st Dan, Reality Combat Assn. Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate and Tuite, 1st Dan, All Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Federation, Okinawa, Japan, Grandmaster Fusei Kise RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Purple Belt 2 Stripes, Trained directly by BJJ World Champion Master Carlos Machado, 8th Dan, Gracie family member Israeli Haganah F.I.G.H.T, Instructor, Trained directly under founder Mike Lee Kanarek, Black Belt Magazine Self Defense Instructor of the Year Certified Monadnock Defensive Empty Hand Tactics System and Expandable Baton, Police Defensive Tactics Instructor As well, I grew up competing in local, regional, and national martial art Karate,TaeKwonDo, and Full Contact Karate Bare Knuckle tournaments. I was fortunate to win numerous awards and trophies along the long journey. By the late 1990's I competed in No-Rules, No Holds Barred style tournaments such as Extreme Challenge, The International Fighting Championship(IFC) as well as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 16 and 18. I retired in the year 2000 from No Rules Fighting(NHB) with a record of 5-1. In Jan 2009, after a 10 year "lay off" I re-entered the Pro MMA world and fought for a Light Weight Title under RMMA 10! Currently, I continue my Hapkido training towards a Sixth Degree Black Belt under Grandmaster J.R. West's guidance, Vice President, U.S. Korean Kido Assn., President, U.S. Korean Martial Arts Federation. As well, I make monthly trips to Carlos Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters, Dallas, Tx., to train under my teach Grandmaster Carlos Machado's guidance towards my Machado BJJ Brown Belt. No other metro area instructor in BJJ trains regularly under one the top instuctors in the BJJ world, Master Carlos Machado. Today, I focus my efforts on my greatest victories or gifts-my daughters, Elizabeth, Annie, and Kaylee. My other efforts focus on teaching and training all ages from 4 years to 75 years of age. I enjoy passing on my martial art knowledge and experiences to my students, operating my academy as the Master Instructor, as well as coaching my competition team. My goal is to help Pre-Schoolers, Kindergarten, Juniors, and Adult students achieve their fullest potential whether their goals are discipline confidence, physical fitness, self-defense, or competitions as I oversee and train students as the chief instructor in all of these programs. Hence, there is no more qualified academy to train at in our metro area. Even more unique, the most qualified Hapkido, RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Israeli F.I.G.H.T. instructors are right here!

Matt Brunson  (Hapkido Instructor/2nd Dan, Machado BJJ Purple Belt, 1 Stripe, Asst. Inst.) Mr. Matt Brunson began training at our academy several years ago as a white belt in Hapkido, HanMuDo, and RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Matt's hard work and dedication in the form of training several days per week including weekends, non stop, has led him to achieving his Second Degree Black Belt in Hapkido, Decemeber 2009. In addtion As well, Matt earned his Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, 1 Stripe, from BJJ Master Carlos Machado. Matt's no nonsense approach of hard work and sweat has made him a popular choice among our adult students as an Instructor in both Hapkido and Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu I am proud to have him as part of our instructor staff at LMAA!

Charlie O'Boyle  (Hapkido Instructor/2nd Dan, Machado Blue Belt 1 Stripe) Charlie O'Boyle began training with me at my academy several years ago, over a decade, as a ten year old child in my Junior Program. Well eventually after twelve years of training or so, Mr. O'Boyle grew up into a fine young man earning his Hapkido, 1st Dan Black Belt in 2007.Recently, Mr. O'Boyle attained his 2nd Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, decemebr, 2009. As well, Mr. O'Boyle earned his Machado BJJ Blue Belt in December 2009! As well, Mr. O'Boyle earned a B.A., Education from Loyola University, May 2009 Mr. O'Boyle both assists and leads Junior and Adult Hapkido classes. Without his expertise, help, and dedication to both the art and students, we certainly could not provide the high level of self defense education in our programs!

George O'Neil  (Asst. Little Ninja's Instructor/ Asst. Junior Instructor) Mr. O'Neil began training in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do many years ago attaining the rank a senior rank in that art. Mr. O'Neil enrolled his son in our Little Ninja's Hapkido Program several years ago. It wasn't long after that Mr. O'Neil approached me to assist with the Little Ninja's as he love to work with his son and other children in school activities, little league, as well as in Hapkido. Mr. O'Neil enjoys pushing the kids for constant and never ending improvement in Hapkido.

For more information about the La. Martial Arts Academy staff or training programs, please contact us at 504-467-4501 or by clicking here.