Yarbrough Martial Arts Academy was founded by World Champion and Master ranked Ryan Yarbrough, a highly skilled martial artist with over 30 years of experience in MMA , 20 years of experience running Yarbrough Martial Arts Academy and 25 years of competing in martial arts tournaments . Our academy is committed to teaching effective self-defense techniques, improving fitness levels, and instilling confidence in our students. With a focus on discipline, respect, and continuous improvement, we are proud to offer top-notch instruction in a welcoming and inclusive setting .

Martial arts background 

President of The Elite FreeStyle Hapkido Association developed in 2005 thru out the tri state area and hosted national gatherings / training clinics , seminars , and camps since 2012 . 

Instructor is a veteran in mixed martial arts and has a few black belts in different variates of martial arts but teaches and focus's on Hapkido and Jujitsu . 

 

Ryan Yarbrough is head of the famous local Team Rhino MMA .

They compete in the tri state area in Kickboxing , Karate , JuJitsu , and cage fighting .

Ryan is the biggest veteran with a freestyle fight record 76 wins & 36 losses with 112 fights . 

2001 - 2004 Tough Man Boxing competitor 

2005 - 2023 Point and Continuous Karate competitor in local tri state area of NC , SC , VA , and TN . 

2005 - 2006 American Kickboxing 

2007 - IKF MuayThai Kickboxing NC state title vs. Dominique Simmons of Fl . 

2008 Master Paul Sum Muay Thai state champion 

Won Karate Grand championship in 10x national event levels in Old School Karate International, Kuro Bushi Martial Arts Organization, Sport Karate International Leauge , National Black League, South East Sport Karate Association, International Kickboxing Federation, PPKF . 

2009 World Championship Sport JuJitsu (MMA rules ) at Ttiad ShowCase of Martial Arts promoter Master Abdoul Malik .

2014 Bare Knuckles Karate World Championship placed bronze . Promoter Hanshi Ernest Dukes 

2014 Silver for KBMA world title fights No Gi JiuJitsu 

2015 Gold for KBMA world title fights Gi Jiu Jitsu 

2019 Silver for KBMA world title fights  No Gi Jiu Jitsu 

2020 - 2025  Gold , Silver , Bronze North American Grappling Association competing in both Gi and No Gi.

2023 Central Carolina JuJitsu world title Gold No Gi JiuJitsu world title and silver in Gi  

2025 Coached Land Hill and Joe Wells to East Coast Grappling Chmapionship title belt fights and $750 pay out to the champ . 

2025 Black belt championship at NAGA tournament in Greensboro NC . 

 

Well known for Jiu Jitsu super fights in the cage promotions by Ultimate Battle Grounds . Competing with American top team and Derek Brunson MMA school some of the best grappling schools to compete with in the tri state area !

Instructor Ryan has coached & trained a dozen fighters to World champion/ national champion / state championship. 

1995 white belt to 2005 black belt under Grand Master Robert Shook Hapkido whom had black belts in Moo Moo Kwan and Sin Moo Hapkido  - Now under Moo Sul Kwan Hapkido under GM Derman Hodge 

1995 white belt to 2006 black belt under Soke Kirk Simmons famous for Washiyama Ryu JuJitsu  - now Japanese Ju Jitsu black belt under GM Derman Hodge 

2003 white belt  - 2006 black belt - Karate black belt under GM Robert Shook advanced to 4th degree black belt under Grand Master Sam Albright 

2001 white belt trained under Joe Lewis black belts and Bill Wallace black belts  - 2013 black belt - kickboxing black belt under Bob Yoder Ohio RIP - train under KBMA President Hanshi E. Dukes and middle weight karate and kickboxing world champ 34-2 . 

2003 white belt  - 2018 black belt  - American NinJutsu under Sensei Tim Ross from the legendary Robert Bussey  famous Style .

2016 white belt  - 2018 black belt - Taekwondo/ MooSul Kwan Tangsoodo .  black belt under GM Derman Hodge 

2007 white belt  - My HapKiDo student Felix Boggan told me I should substitute BJJ in my ground training . He showed me BJJ / Folk style wrestling . Until 2009 .During that time I had the honor too attend semianrs with UFC world champions and the world wide legendary BJJ and Gracie seminars . With Miletich fighting system , American Top Team , Robson Moura , and more . Than I joined Evolution Fighting Academy and trained BJJ until 2011 . I meet instructor Dennis at the Rener Gracie seminar and started training in Gracie JiuJitsu with him until 2012 . My school had growing pain and I had to part ways to take on more teaching hours and relocate . In 2013 I joined the Gracie JiuJitsu school and trained hard to get better on the ground and view there style of self defense with top notch instructors.                               2025  1st Degree black belt  - Gracie Jiu Jitsu under  Master Danny Lane a 7th Degree black belt in Reylson Gracie JiuJitsu and USA Director for him . In 1988 Danny had the pleasure to train with the whole Gracie family . 
Danny is one of Chuck Norris highest ranked students in Karate and is one of Reylson Gracie highest ranked student has well . 
Danny earned two Purple Hearts in Vietnam and when he got out of the Marine corps became a police officer and martial arts instructor .

join Danny and his growing association and be part of the team . @ World Martial Arts Federation!

 

 

Black belt rooster 

 

7th Dan - Ryan Yarbrough - Chil Dan - Ko Dan Sha 

6th Dan - Sabum Nim Horace Sessoms Hapkido & Purple belt Ninjutsu 

6th Dan - Master Richard Waldherr - Karate & Hapkido 

 

5th Dan 

 

Jerry Dehart 

Jon Farlow 

Ray Chatman OR 

 

4th Dan 

 

Cody Campbell 

Anna Chatman OR 

Scotty Hammonds 

Chris MacDonald MO

Stephanie Yarbrough 

Maxwell Waters OH 

 

3rd Dan 

 

 

Jeremiah Miller 

Chad Nealey 

Felix Boggan 

Chuck Harrison TX 

Kirk Simmons TX 

Robert Shook TX 

 

2nd Dan 

 

Jordan Byrd 

Kassidie Yarbrough 

Ryan Yarbrough 

Thomas Jackson 

Ernest Dukes 

Danny Bundy 

Sam Albright 

Nick Albright 

Tina Albright 

 

Black Belt 

 

Sangeeta Das   MO

Lodyn Das          MO

Andrea MacDonald MO

Chris Jr MacDonald MO

Keith Garrow MA

Eric Ellis CT 

Drew Serrano CT

David Lebleu TX 

Bob Yoder Ohio 

Stephen Kane NY 

Adam Wardell 

Tim Toss 

Michael Southern WA

Bethany Southern WA

Casey Martin 

Sara Farlow 

Michael Burger 

Te'Kyia Burger 

Brandon Burger 

Andrew Duncan 

Thomas Jackson 

Jon Aistrop 

Daniel Moss 

Landon Hill 

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