American Kickboxing & Karate Association
2006 Black belt Karate and 2017 black belt Taekwondo
2014 Sho Dan American Kickboxing
2016 Ni Dan American Kickboxing
2025 San Dan American Kickboxing under middle weight Kickboxing and Karate world champion Hanshi Ernest Dukes kickbox record of 34-4 a 10th Dan Red belt in Okinawa Karate , whom spent some time living in Okinawa Japan and GM E. Dukes is president of the Kuro Bushi Martial Arts Organization.
In the 1990's Ryan learned the grappling arts of Ju Jitsu and Hap Ki Do but loved striking has well and that was his favorite arts in the young days . Ryan's favorite pass time was watching boxing on the weekends with his sister Jamie Rip , Wendy RIP , and brother Johnathan RIP . Ryan's sister Jamie would tell him a boxer could take a martial artist because they can throw and take a punch . Ryan and his brother would end the night in a boxing match most of the time .
Ryan Learned Boxing in a few classes under Cheryl Nance of Jamestown NC and than went to train with friend Big Bad John Cottle RIP super heavy weight in Toughman boxing , John got Ryan into boxing in Toughman and the two fought together and than Walter Johnson boxing gym in High Point NC and a lot of well known instructors there . Ryan also trained there with Coach Dick McDuffie RIP Golden gloves champ and pro national contender, a lil with Big Eddie Gregg RIP a former NFL and Pro Boxer HoF and Ryan was a sparring partner for 4x Pro boxing champ and HoF Carletta Ewell , stud , and Taylor . Mainly and sparred with others but not has much . The boxing coaches are known for HoF fighters under Big James (BoneCrusher)Smith . 2003 . Ryan Left Than for Kickboxing at Solid Bodys gym in Thomasville under a Master rank instructor in Joe Lewis karate Kickboxing and a pro boxer & kickboxer world champ . Ryan left team Copeland to train with his boxing partner there at the time Freddy Gosh a tough guy and fight champion in Ryan's Weight class . . Freddy opened KungFu USA in High Point NC . Ryan tried Vo Lam KungFu and kickboxing at KungFu USA . Much later Ryan trained at Mid South Boxing of Concord NC with Stephen Kane the owner of.
Ryan left the gym to focus on completing his upper rank training / black belt rank in Hapkido , Ju Jitsu , & Kenpo Karate at the other schools that took up the extra time of training in other arts . Ryan loved cross training even dow it aggravated his instructors some times . Lol . Cross training in Chinese Dragon Kempo under Grand Master Robert Shook of Texas and earned Sho Dan black belt in Chinese Dragon Kempo of NC school branch . Whom later in 2013 sent Richard Waldherr to NC to train with Ryan and the two became best friends and training together for many years .
The black belt in Karate was a game changer for Ryan in his competition.
Ryan started boxing in 2001 and stopped boxing in the ring has a competitor in 2004 . In 2005 he boxed at the clubs but not for himself in tournaments he was focused on passing his advanced training in martial arts that he worked hard on since the 1990's .
In 2005 Ryan became a Cho Dan in HapKiDo after 8 years of studying and 2006 Ryan earned Sho Dan in JuJitsu and Kenpo Karate . After nine years of training.
Once Ryan earned the black belt in Karate he never went back into boxing .
2006 Ryan Competed in his first Karate tournament ever and on top of that has a black belt .
This was at Hanshi Frank Williams Halloween Karate Classic in Swaimboro NC .
Ryan started competing in open karate & American Kickboxing tournaments across the tri state NC , SC , TN , VA .
2006 Started competing in IKF sanctioned American Kickboxing tournaments
In 2007 Ryan started Muay Thai fights in the ring and attended striking seminars with ATT and 5x UFC Champ Pat Miletich and started training under Master Paul Sum whom came to NC from Thai Land to teach Muay Thai kickboxing and KungFu .
2007 Ryan started fighting in MuayThai
Fought for the MuayThai NC state title in 2007 in IKF point kickboxing vs Dominque Simmons of Florida a tough MuayThai fighter whom trained in Thai Land once a year and later on became a famous UFC coach .
2009 Ryan won the title in Ultimate Karate / sport Japanese JuJitsu tournament using mostly his kickboxing skills in the fights and JuJitsu submission grappling.. This tournament was promoted by Master Abdul Malik a Karate tournament promoter and at this tournament of 2009 he wanted more fighting . Creating a special division for what some called Ultimate Karate or MMA division. I called it sport JuJitsu . This is how we sparred/ rolled in JuJitsu since the 1990's and this is still one of my favorite tournaments in the books . I was coached by my uncle Snooty RIP a former boxer of High Point NC and my Dad Horace Sessoms a fight champ in Karate & JuJitsu and black belt in hapkido & NinJutsu black belt .
Ryan meet Bob on the Karate circuit and 2010 Ryan meet up with GM Bob Yoder kungfu and kickboxing school out of Oak Grove Ohio to train kickboxing the two crossed trained martial arts together and in 2014 Ryan earned his Sho Dan and in 2016 Ryan earned his Ni Dan . My friend and mentor Bob Yoder passed on after that . RIP .
2014 Ryan competed for his first Karate world title and won the point karate fighting division & fought in the main event Bare Knuckles Karate world title fights and placed bronze at Old School Karate Nationals for Hanshi Ernest Dukes promotions. Ryan competed against unknown competitors but two he knew very well from the Karate circuit. Hanshi James White of Landcaster SC RIP and Master Donald Lathem .
while a life time member of IMF Ryan also joined WMKF out of SC in 2011 . Hapkido in the World MooSul Kwan Hapkido Federation Ryan meet GM Derman Hodge student GM Sam Albright whom held black belts in kickboxing , Karate , TKD , HKD , Krav Maga , and JuJitsu . Ryan cross trains with so many instructors in the WMKF .
Ryan trained with GM Sam Albright and earned the title of Renshi 4th degree Yon Dan Black belt in Okinawa Japanese Kenpo Karate style in 2017 and life time member of Jason Velez 9 Dragon Kenpo Karate & Kungfu association.
In 2023 Ryan retired fighting in Karate with his old time sparring partner since 2003 - Jerry (Ninja) Dehart won the tag team point karate Grand championship.
Ryan meet Jerry Dehart when he started his American Ninjutsu training under Sensei Tim and Frank Ross in 2003 . Jerry had trained American Ninjutsu since 1990 . Jerry is the highest rank and same level has Sensei Tim Ross a 3rd degree black belt In American NinJutsu and Sensei Jerry is the head of the outdoor survival courses .
Ryan in his Korean studies of practicing in Korean Hapkido also trained in Korean Karate & TangSooDo & Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo which is two names of the same art under the same umbrella thru World MooSul Kwan Federation .
2017 Ryan was tested by his teacher GM Derman Hodge & a big board of directors and earned his Cho Dan 1st degree black belt in MooSul Kwan TangSooDo /Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo. Disman the Kenpo and added the Taekwondo to his Hapkido classes .
the TangSooDo / Taekwondo blends with the Hapkido . It is easier to teach one Art vs many differently culture arts . The Korean kicks and forms co exist in Hapkido for the kids .
Ryan competed in karate , Continous Karate / American Kickboxing in NBL , SKIL , Naska , Dojo , PPKF , IKF - PKB , KBMA , The Matt , South East Karate Association , and any small tournament that allowed open to all style in our area .
Ryan meet Hanshi Ernest Dukes on the Karate circuit in 2007 and in 2012 started training with him . Doing two to three seminars together every year and working tournaments.
E Dukes is the founding President of the Kuro Bushi Martial Arts Organization and hosted the biggest tournament and Hall of Honor awards show in our state of NC every year .
was the first tournament in the state of NC to host 3 tournaments in one . Karate , MuayThai ,American Kickboxing, and Bjj / Submission grappling.
Hanshi Dukes a 10th Dan in Okinawa Karate whom lived in Okinawa Japan and has many great instructors . World champion in Karate and Kickboxing
in 2025 he honored Ryan in American Kickboxing to 3rd Dan after an hour of training and another hour of making Ryan fight 6 fresh opponent back to back none stop in kickboxing matches and than do a test of heart .
RyanYarbrough Boxing match in Mabane NC
Every Friday we teach a kickboxing class with boxing and kicking fundamentals.
It is fun for all .
come see us Friday at 6:00 pm
My instructor Hanshi Ernest Dukes 4x Karate World Title Champion
1990 Middle Weight kickboxing World Champion with 34 wins and 4 losses
Ryan Yarbrough first boxing match ever . This was 2001 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Ryan Yarbrough boxing match in Mabane NC
Lil Ryan (The Rhino ) Yarbrough point sparring fights at War Eagle in Mocksville NC . 2024 .
Training from Superfoot Bill Wallace
Union Co Karate Nationals / point karate division
2009 ultimate Karate / Sport JuJitsu hosted by Master Abdoul Malik in Greensboro NC
Ryan (Rhino) Yarbrough black belt student in Kickboxing Stephen Kane owner of Mid South Boxing in Concord NC
First Karate tournament ever in 2006 Halloween Karate Classic in Swansboro NC
2006. IKF / PKB American Kickboxing at Indian Trails NC
Victor Moore first African American world champion kickboxing heavyweight world champion and Karate world champion whom fought them all in the 60's to 80's
famous for his demo with Bruce Lee in CA
Karate point fighting tournament @ Myrtle Beach SC 2010
Ryan (Rhino) Yarbrough point Karate match in Rowan Co 2009
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