Sean McCann began his study of martial arts with the Order of Isshin-Ryu in 1984. Soon after receiving his black belt, and while studying Japanese at the University of Maryland, Mr. McCann branched out into the study of Aikido and Kempo as well. Upon graduation from the University of Maryland in 1989, he moved to Japan to further his study of the language, culture and martial arts.

While in Japan Mr. McCann traveled and trained extensively in both Aikido and Nippon Shorinji Kempo, receiving black belts in both arts. From ’91 through August of ’92, Mr. McCann was a live-in student of Aikido master Morihiro Saito, the inheritor of O-Sensei Ueshiba’s (founder of Aikido) last dojo. The life of a live-in student is rigorous, requiring constant daily practice, and was Ueshiba’s recommended method for unlocking the secrets of Aikido.

In August of ’92, Mr. McCann returned to the US, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area to further his training. Through the 90’s Mr. McCann continued an extensive exploration of the fighting arts, including another year as a live-in Aikido student, and training in Chinese Boxing, Western Boxing, Judo, and eventually No-Holds Barred Mixed Martial Arts.

In ’98, Mr. McCann became a police officer with the City of Berkeley where he held many assignments including undercover narcotics and vice investigations. His talents in a physical confrontation were quickly recognized and the police department sponsored his training as a police defensive tactics and use of force instructor, eventually becoming the department’s lead instructor. Mr. McCann is currently a state certified expert in police use of force and several methods of police defensive tactics. He has designed several police trainings and curriculums and is currently on staff with the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center as a defensive tactics instructor.

While a police officer with the city of Berkeley, Mr. McCann continued his study of no-holds barred fighting with Lion’s Den fighters Jerry Bohlander and Pete Williams, eventually competing in several professional televised bouts of his own.

Mr. McCann currently holds black belts (or the equivalent teaching rank), in five different martial arts. His extensive experience and knowledge has been tested in the ring and under actual life threatening circumstances bringing a rare authenticity to his teaching and training methods.