Philip Gelinas

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Philip Gelinas (born in 1952) is an accomplished martial arts practitioner who lives in Montreal, Quebec. He owns and runs the Gelinas Academy of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), also known as the Cultural Martial Arts Academy [1]. He is one of the founding Dog Brothers as well as one of the founders of the Brazilian Top Team Canada network of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academies in Canada. Gelinas began his training in a style of karate known as Chito Ryu at the age of 14 [2]. Since then he has trained in many styles including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kali, Muay Thai, Judo, Kempo, Kajukenbo, Jun Fan-Jeet kune do, Silat, and Capoeira. He obtained black belts in Kempo (1973) and Kajukenbo (1975) [2]. In the 1980's he received a Muay Thai instructor credential under Tom Harink after meeting him in 1985 [2].

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[edit] Dog Brothers & Kali

Gelinas began training in Kali in the early 80's and had won the International Kali Grand Prix by 1988 [1]. He claims to be inspired when his Kajukenbo teacher upon deciding to no longer teach told his class "watch out for the old men with the sticks." This led Gelinas to immediately look out for old men with sticks [2].

He has trained Pekiti Tirsia Kali with Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, the sole guardian of the system, and was promoted to Mandala-Tuhon by Gaje himself. Now The second highest ranked person in this system. He has also studied at the Inosanto Academy with Dan Inosanto where he practiced the Lacoste-Inosanto system, eventually becoming a Full-Instructor in this system as well[1].

Philip Gelinas is one of the founding Dog Brothers, a group of Kali practitioners who gained fame for their aggressive no holds barred sparring methods and usage of little or no protective equipment[3]. He earned the name Sled Dog in reference to Sled Dog racing and his Canadian heritage.

[edit] Kajukenbo

Gelinas is an 8th degree black belt in the Emperado Method of Kajukenbo, a martial art derived from Karate, judo, jujutsu, kenpo, and boxing. He received his promotion from Sijo Adriano Directo Emperado, one of the original creators of the art, in 2001. He is now a 9th degree Blackbelt (Grandmaster) and is on the board of advisors of kajukenbo. He also holds a 4th degree black belt in the Chu'an Fa Method of Kajukenbo [1]. He is credited for constructing an accurate family tree of the Kajukenbo system [2].

[edit] Brazilian Top Team Canada

When BTT Black belt Fabio Holanda moved to Montreal in 2003 he began training with Gelinas. Holanda and Gelinas quickly set up a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy affiliated with Brazilian Top Team, Holanda's school in his native Brazil[4]. Since then Brazilian Top Team Canada has branched out to a small network of schools across Canada and has become home to some of Canada's most prominent professional mixed martial artists. Gelinas himself holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d http://www.montrealmartialarts.com GAMMA Official site
  2. ^ a b c d e http://www.kajukenbocafe.com/smf/index.php?topic=147.0;wap2 Grandmaster Philip Gelinas at Kajukenbo Cafe
  3. ^ http://www.dogbrothers.com/ Dog Brothers Inc Martial Arts
  4. ^ [Http://www.fabioholanda.com Fábio Holanda]