Professor Dave started his martial arts journey with the Sioux Lookout Judo Club in 1967. He is currently a 7th Degree Black Belt in Canadian Jiu-Jitsu (Ninja-Ryu, Ottawa). As well as Jiu-Jitsu he has studied boxing, Defendo, Shorinji-Ryu, Shotokan, Chito-Ryu, Zen Karate, Wing Chung, Judo, Pekiti Tirsia Kali and dabbled with Rutano Estokada Kali. Professor Dave has been a member of the Canadian Ninja Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Fellowship for over 40 years

Professor Dave has recently retired from Canadian Armed Forces, after a long career in the Military, but continues to work for the Government of Canada. He has worked in various military capacities throughout his time in the Service and some of his foreign operational & training tours have included the Caribbean Basin, United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, West Africa, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and South & Central Bosnia.

Professor Dave has been teaching both the martial arts and unarmed combat for many years and has conducted numerous fighting, grappling and self-defence seminars across the country and internationally. Some of these Groups have included units within the Canadian Armed Forces such as: 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Airborne Regiment, 1 Canadian Signal Regiment; foreign military groups such as the US Army (1/75th Rangers, 1st Special Forces Group, and 35th (Airborne) Signal Brigade), the British Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, the Malaysian Armed Forces, and various police and civilian organisations.

Professor Dave has had many friends and instructors who have influenced his training along the martial path, including his father (†) who started his martial journey with hunting, tracking, shooting, boxing and WWII-Defendo. Chief Petty Officer Les Williams (†), who taught him unarmed combat and self-defense. Martial Arts notables include Professor Dave’s long time Jiu-Jitsu instructor, mentor and friend Professor Gerry Marshall; good friend and mentor Professor Ray Zwicker (Pekiti Tirsia Kali), Michel Leblanc, Ross Mackenzie (Shotokan Karate), Sense Leroy Throop and Allen Yuen (Shorinji-Ryu); Master Lyle Cheney, (Zen Karate); Sifu Ed Bruneau, (Kung fu); and Grand Master Giles Lafantisie (Rutano Estokada Kali), with the occasional lesson from Grand Master Dan Rutano.

Professor Dave has always endeavoured to expand his personal knowledge of the Martial Arts and is currently training in the Ottawa area.