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Instructors
Head Instructor - Dave Anderson
Dave has been training martial arts for over 35 years starting from a wrestling background and training Hisardut/Survival Defense) and Muay Thai in college. After college he started teaching Survival Defense and transitioned to Krav Maga while starting JiuJitsu and Judo. He later started One Spirit Martial Arts and built a strong name and community attracting top instructors worldwide to work with him. Maurce Allan, Aaron Riley and Pedro Sauer were just a few. Dave eventually sold OSMA to Professor Pedro Sauer but still maintained training there while also starting another mixed martial art gym in Alexandria called "Warrior Gym". Dave exited running the martial art business to focus on his full time job but later started a new club in Brambleton which turned into Loudoun County Combat Club and now Sparks. Dave has taught many military groups and federal agencies over the years and spent many weeks with the Royal Guards in Jordan helping set up a hand to hand program. Dave is a blackbelt in Survival Defense, Krav Maga and Pedro Sauer Jiu Jitsu.
Head Instructor - Samuel "Muca" Canquerino
Samuel is a 3rd degree Blackbelt originally come from Brazil but was recently in the UAE for the last 12 years. Samuel ("Muca") was teaching multiple kid’s programs for the school system (Jiu Jitsu) during the day and adults at night while actively competing around the world himself (World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Champion in 2012). Samuel is committed to helping build the Sparks kids program and help the overall Sparks brand with kids/adults for Jiujitsu, Krav and anything else we pursue.
Instructor Aaron Riley
Aaron Riley is a retired American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor from 1997 to 2013, he has also formerly competed in PRIDE, the IFL, Shooto, and BodogFIGHT and has over 40 professional fights. Aaron drives from Indiana to teach and train over most summers and briefly some winter breaks.
Guest Instructor - Dan Chamberlain
Dan is a First-Degree Black Belt under Master Pedro Sauer, and is an integral part of Sparks, teaching Jiu Jitsu weekly. Dan began training martial arts at the age of 11, starting off with Tae Kwon Do, and eventually moving to American style Kickboxing in his teen years, training off and on. After a 5-year hiatus from martial arts to serve in the U.S. Navy, Dan began a new chapter in martial arts in 2007, studying Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Krav Maga, Muay Thai kickboxing, and MMA alongside the founder of Sparks. In 2016, Dan was awarded his Jiu Jitsu Black Belt by Grand Master Alvaro Barreto and Master Pedro Sauer in Petropolis, Brazil. He has been teaching Jiu Jitsu since purple belt, and his understanding transcends technique alone, and can convey concepts to all levels of students.
Assistant Instructors
Sparks is proud to have many part time instructors to help train and teach to keep a solid and safe curriculum. They represent many military branches, federal agencies and proud husbands and fathers building a strong legacy among the community.