NEXUS Martial Arts - Whittier Bio

Whittier Bio

After some informal instruction in karate and the Korean martial art Hapkido, Stephen began formal training in martial arts during his first semester at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. While at Wheaton, he went on to earn his black belt in Shotokan Karate as well as top academic honors, graduating Summa cum Laude as a Wheaton Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduating, Stephen also studied other traditional martial arts such as Aikido Chinese Chin Na while working in Rhode Island as both a certified fitness trainer and advertising executive. It was during this period that he first experienced Western boxing and kickboxing, and realized firsthand that some of the traditional training methods to which he was accustomed put him at a disadvantage against these more combative forms of martial arts.

These experiences led him to begin crosstraining in kickboxing and grappling self-defense with former pro kickboxing champion, James Anonouevo. Then, after being accepted with a full ride to a graduate program at Tufts University in Massachusetts, he began learning Jeet Kune Do (JKD), the martial art developed by the late Bruce Lee, as well as Muay Thai kickboxing and Filipino weapons. During this time, Stephen dedicated himself to both his academic work and his martial arts study, often training seven days per week. The hard work clearly paid off: Stephen was awarded his black belt from local instructor, Bobby Giordano, in less than two years, and soon after earned international instructor certifications in JKD, Muay Thai, and Filipino Eskrima.

It was not until early 1999, however, that Stephen formally discovered the beautiful and highly effective grappling martial art, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which had single-handedly changed the face of martial arts in the 1990s. Before long, his training at Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under his instructor, black belt Robert Maia, had become a passion unto itself.

Continued research and inquiry into the most efficient, functional approaches to martial arts also led Stephen to train and teach mixed martial arts before the term “MMA” became common name and the activity became a popular sport. This journey began in mid-90s with the “all ranges” approach of Jeet Kune Do training, and continued through to the Vale Tudo (the Brazilian predecessor of modern mixed martial arts) program at Boston BJJ, where he assisted BJJ Black Belt and competition team captain, John Frankl, in running classes. Stephen has also been a longtime friend and training partner of elite BJJ competitor and UFC Lightweight Contender, Kenny Florian, and played an active role in preparing Kenny for numerous UFC fights.

In early 2003, Stephen founded the original Nexus Martial Arts, teaching part-time while continuing to work with his training partners in Boston. It was also at this time that he first met leading martial arts performance coach, Matt Thornton, president of the world-renown Straight Blast Gym International. With SBG International, Stephen found the perfect complement to the high-quality training resources he enjoyed in Massachusetts: an organization of world-class coaches and instructors dedicated to helping people of all ages and ability levels to experience and enjoy the most functional, practical martial arts training available.

Currently, Stephen is one of only a select number of Coaches with SBG International, and in 2006 became the organization’s East Coast Regional Director. Along with teaching and managing Nexus full-time, he continues to train periodically with Kenny and fellow Boston BJJ Black Belt, John Connors, and regularly with Kru Mark DellaGrotte of Sityodtong Muay Thai & MMA and other coaches in the SBGI organization.

Stephen has trained directly under Kru DellaGrotte (one of the world’s top Muay Thai and mixed martial arts striking coaches) since 2003, and is Southern Massachusetts’ most senior trainer in the Sityodtong style of Muay Thai. As part of his regular work with Kru Mark and Team Sityodtong, he has also served as a sparring partner for numerous professional mixed martial arts competitors, including Stephan Bonnar, Patrick Cote, Tim Boetsch, Rory Singer, Sam Hogar, and many others.