Rising Warriors Martial Arts Academy - growing, learning, competing

L-R Rising Warriors Owner Sabonim Randy (RJ) Krueger holds a board for student Colton Kinsey as he breaks it in half. -All SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson

Students Tanner Kinsey, left, sparring with Jordan Dyke. -SVT Photo

By Tami Stevenson 

In today’s world, where violence is increasing at an alarming rate, more and more people are interested about learning techniques in self-defense more than ever before. Parents have become much more interested in ways to teach their children safety and how to defend themselves.

     There are many forms of self-defense, for example, mace, pepper spray, firearms, and studying hand-to-hand self defense (or combat).

     Martial arts is one form of self defense many are turning to. It not only teaches self defense, but problem solving skills, respect, increased confidence, self discipline and overall physical and mental health.

    Rising Warriors Martial Arts Academy and BTT Madison are doing just that. With nearly 50 students, made up of kids and adults, their Madison school is thriving.

Instructors sparring: Sabonim Randy (RJ) Krueger. left, spars with instructor Marcus Roell as students watch intently. Roell holds a black belt in taekwondo and is currently working to earn a black belt in kickboxing. -SVT Photo

JP Parker, left, and Colton Kinsey sparring. Parker won the Grand Champion title in Orlando for his division in April. Kinsey is a two-time double gold winner at Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and a multiple first place winner at the Tang Soo Do tournaments.  -SVT Photo

     Some join to simply learn self-defense and are not interested in competing as a sport, but others enjoy competing, and they attend as many competitions as possible. The academy supports both.

     Rising Warriors is making an impact in the martial arts world because not only are many of the students competing, they are winning!

          The school recently achieved the number one overall team and number one overall kids’ school titles and everyone at the academy is excited for what is next.

    “When I started doing this, I did it because of the kids. This isn’t something I did to get rich,” said Owner Randy (RJ) Krueger. “I have a decent (daytime) job and I love to give back in any way that I can.”

5-year-old Hudson has competed in a couple tournaments and took first place in one of them. -SVT Photo

     Krueger has been involved in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for nearly 20 years and still competes. He is called Sabonim, which is Korean for ‘instructor.’ He teaches kickboxing and Tang Soo Do but wanted to learn more Jiu-Jitsu.

     Then he met Nick Carlucci, of Lake City, while competing.

     “I must have watched Nick compete probably six or seven times before I ever knew who he was,” Krueger said.

     Carlucci is a retired two-time Florida State Jiu-Jitsu Champion. He has been in MMA for 13 years and is a three-time tournament champion. He is also a two-time double gold winner for the Jiu-Jitsu tournaments as well.

     The two men apparently hit it off because Carlucci is now the Jiu-Jitsu instructor (called Professor) at the academy. He began teaching with Krueger a little over a year ago.

     That is when they added BTT Madison, which stands for Brazilian Top Team (the Jiu-Jitsu team).

     “Professor Nick’s brought a huge impact to the gym. He’s a great instructor. Not just to the gym but to me as well.” Krueger added that Carlucci taught him some in depth Jiu-Jitsu and now he is competing to be one of the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters in the world.

     Krueger recently was ranked number one in his Jiu-Jitsu division both in the United States and globally and gives much of the credit to Professor Carlucci.

     “Martial arts lasts forever and is year around,” said Carlucci. “It’s not like traditional sports where you play for a season or until you get out of high school. Jiu-Jitsu stays with you all the way, for life.”

      Marcus Roell has also been helping instruct for the last six months. He is a third-degree blackbelt in Taekwondo and is now trying to earn his blackbelt in kickboxing. Marcus, his son, his daughter and his youngest son all take the classes.

     Students and instructors are currently preparing for one of the biggest tournaments in the world, scheduled for July at the US Open in Orlando and they want to make an impact.

    Krueger taught martial arts in the past but took a break from teaching. Then four years ago he began teaching again, in Madison.

     “Starting this has built a bigger family. Everybody that’s here is not just a student or friend. I look at these kids as my own kids. I look at the adults as family too.” Krueger added, “They’re closer to me than many in my own family.” They travel to competitions together on a regular basis, stay in motels and hotels together, for example, so they naturally become close.

L-R: Students Avonlea Roell, Abel Roell and Jonathan (JD) Williams with Zelda, Nick Carlucci’s lab-mix puppy. 

-SVT PHOTO

        The school’s fourth anniversary is coming up and he said they always throw a ‘glow-in-the-dark’ karate party for the students.

     “It’s awesome! We deck the kids out with all of their karate gear and put glow sticks on them and other things. It’s amazing,” Krueger said.

Instructors L-R: Jiu-Jitsu Professor Nick Carlucci, Rising Warrior Owner Kickboxing Sabonim Randy (RJ) Krueger and instructor Marcus Roell. -SVT Photo

     The school is quickly outgrowing their current location and is looking for a larger space for their gym in Madison. They also are hoping to add a second school in Live Oak sometime in the near future and are looking for space to rent there as well.

     The cost is $80 per month for kids and $100 for adults. Classes vary according to which art you are taking. For instance, Tang Soo Do classes are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu classes are Mondays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays they have an open mat at noon.

     Whether for self-defense and better health or as a competitive sport, Rising Warriors can help. They are currently still accepting new students. For more information contact RJ Krueger at 386-205-1176.

     Rising Warriors Martial Arts Academy / BTT Madison is located at 190 SW Rutledge Road in Madison.

Photo Above : Last weekend Chris Laforte, center, took the covenant belt home during a NAGA competition at the fairgrounds in Orlando. He is a 3-1 MMA fighter who trains with them. Professor Nick Carlucci, left and Sabonim RJ Krueger, right. Photo Below: Krueger took first in Gi for his division, then also took second in Absolute.   -Photo: Submitted