About Us

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Samad Haq Darden began his martial arts training in 1968 and is recognized as one of the most celebrated “instructor/Coaches” in the State of New Jersey.  In 1990, he began a career with the New Jersey Department of Corrections at the request of Chief Cooper of the State Academy.  He designed an innovative Defensive Tactic Training Program that is still used today. Currently, he is one the Defensive Tactic Coordinators specializing in Extreme Hand to Hand Combat for Special Operations Group (SOG) of New Jersey.  After retiring as a professional athlete in 2004, he accepted the position as coach for the United States Muay Thai Team.  At the request of law enforcement personnel in 2012, he designed a “Law Enforcement Extreme Tactical (L.E.E.T.) Defense Training Program which consist of seven (7) phases (1) Neurological Process, (2) Tactical Position, (3) Attack/Violence/Variations, (4) Force – Passive/Aggressive, (5) Techniques, (6) Rhythm/ Style of Attack, (7) Transitional Tactical.  This approach is now being used by some of most progressive law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. With over 45 years of martial arts experience, athletes across the spectrum of professional and Olympic sports including boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, football, basketball, speed skating, track and field, swimming and more have sought out Coach for elite training.

C. Alan Simms - (a.k.a. “Sensei” and “The Professor”) is ranked a Ju Dan, 10th Degree Black Belt, American Goshi Shun Karate Do; Hanshi, 10th Degree Black Belt World Jiu Jitsu, Aiki -Bujutsu Federation; Hanshi, 10th Degree Black Belt Nippon Yawara Aiki Jutsu Remni; and is Shihan (“Headmaster”) to Martial Arts Dojo: Karate N Motion in Westfield, New Jersey.  Shihan Simms has been inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame; the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame; the World Christian and Save the Children National Black Belt Halls of Fame.

Shihan Simms represents Karate Schools in New Jersey, New England, Georgia, and Michigan that train in the American Goshi Shun tradition.  He has trained literally thousands of young people, adults, and law enforcement professionals since he first became a Martial Arts Black Belt in 1972. He’s Sensei to 5 adult World Champions and 8 Youth National Karate Champs.

During his martial arts tenure of almost 50 years, he has completed the following:

Established the MindSafe - Self Defense Symposium for College Bound Girls - as a curriculum based component of Families in Motion, where by members of local law enforcement and join with the MindSafe program to conduct an interactive self-defense seminar for families of young girls months prior to their going off to college.

Conducted the program "Common-Sense Self Defense"  for scout groups, college symposia, and adult community groups, that is both an interactive, and informative, speaker presentation in which he offers tips for Gaining a Strategic Advantage in various Self-Defense Situations. Shihan has given the Common-Sense Self Defense presentation for the past 20-years.

Authored "Mentoring Through The Martial Arts" in which he offers a prescription for how to incorporate  innovative Martial Arts methodologies in a mentoring curriculum.

Authored "Teaching The Brain Through Martial Arts" that was inspired by his own experience as a Stroke Survivor - in which he offers tried and true prescriptions for teaching children with neurologic challenges through Martial Arts.

A 1972 Graduate of Rutgers New Brunswick, with a degree in Journalism, his working career was spent almost exclusively in the field of journalism and media arts.  As a journalist, he was a press secretary under former Mayor Gibson in the City of Newark. While there he also was a talk show host, and producer of the television show Newark and Reality that aired on Channel 9 in the 70’s. He later became a corporate editor in the Bell System, where he was also a video producer speech writer.  He's been a news reporter, editor of 7 different publications, and in the 80’s worked as a Local Television News Writer and Field Producer for WABC’s Channel 7- Eyewitness News in New York.

He retired in 2009, after 26 years with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where he was Director of Community Affairs.  

Josef Payak Pearson is a professional Muay Thai fighter (7-2 in Thailand; Bor Breecha / Sor Thanikul Gym), lyarin assistance coach, certified Master Instructor (Muay Thai Association), international trainer, and promoter of professional and amateur Muay Thai events in the USA and Thailand.  Since 2014, Josef serves as the President of the American Muay Thai League Inc., United States​.  He promotes authentic Muay Thai matches in Washington D.C, Virginia, New Jersey, New York City.

Josef  serves as a WBC Muay Thai Promoter, World Muay Thai Organization representative / member, promoter for WMC America Kings Birthday Event, United States Muay Thai Association and Washington D.C Director / Representative, United States Muay Thai Association (USMTA) Washington DC Director, and is World Muay Thai Council (WMC) certified.

Jadi Tention has been training in martial arts for 29 years, holds a Seventh Degree Black Belt in The Nashid System of Martial Arts, a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, a Black Belt in Kuroshi Do, and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).  He is a six-time Sport Karate World Champion and has won every major tournament in the country.

In 2002, he opened his own dojo, TCK Modern Martial Arts, which has continually and successfully grown over the past 18 years.  He is highly respected within the martial arts community as a competitor and as an instructor.  In addition to running and operating his own dojo, he is often traveling to dojos across the United States and in other countries, by request, to hold point fighting seminars.  His travels have taken him to Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador, Africa, Switzerland, The UK, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, France, Ireland, Russia Greece, Spain and Italy. 

Zarrukh Adashev is a Tajik professional kickboxer and professional mixed martial artist.

n 2013, Adashev started his professional careers in kickboxing and MMA. His professional kickboxing record is 16-3-0.

In 2012, Adashev placed second in the under 75 kg class in the WKA world championship. He weighed in at 59 kg but fought at 75 kg.

Adashev defeated Ryan Benoit on July 31, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 28 by unanimous decision.  Zarrukh’s UFC MMA record is 4-3.

Titles and Achievements:

2010 - Asian champion in Qarshi

2011 - International champion

2011 - International champion

2012 - WKA World championships silver medalist 

2013 - WKU K-1 world champion