Chris has taught martial arts for more than 15 years and has trained/competed in a variety of styles including: Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, and Karate. He is an active fighter and has competed around the U.S. and overseas.
Chris began his martial arts training in 1988 and is the current IKF Light Middleweight World Kickboxing Champion. He is also a 4x National Champion and is an active member of the U.S. National Kickboxing Team. Chris also holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Karate.
Under Justin Whiley's leadership, The Cellar Fight Team has won 6 world titles, 12 national titles, and 2 regional titles since being started in 2005. He is a K-1 Veteran Trainer and has traveled to England, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Canada, and Italy as a coach for the USA Kickboxing Team.
Justin is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in karate and has competition experience in point karate, full contact rules kickboxing, and international rules kickboxing.
John Dunham, or as the kids call him, "Mr. Bravo", is the head instructor of the youth martial arts program at The Cellar. Mr. Bravo started training at the age of six and is currently a second degree Black Belt in karate under Terry Norbloom; he also has a background in Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Youth students are very receptive to Mr. Bravo's energetic teaching style and he has helped countless kids improve their focus and listening through martial arts lessons.
Aaron Rydeen began kickboxing in 1997 at the American Kickboxing Downtown Gym in St. Cloud, MN. He started teaching kickboxing in 1999. In addition to his martial arts experience, he has also trained and competed in Golden Gloves boxing. Aaron "Chainsaw" Rydeen has competed in amateur full contact rules, international rules, and muay thai rules kickboxing.
Katrina Hase has been kickboxing since 1999 and began training at The Cellar in 2002. In her spare time she competes in half-marathons and has also competed in amateur kickboxing. Katrina combines kickboxing and sculpting/cross training through our "Fit as a Fighter" program and is certified in group fitness through NDEITA.
Katie Igowsky has been playing soccer since she was twelve on club, high school, intramural, and competitive adult teams. She heard about the Cellar and decided that she could use her kicking skills in another sport. Katie joined The Cellar in 2002; and started teaching in 2004. She has already competed in two amateur fights and hopes to continue kickboxing competitively in the future.