Dennis Peterson

Black Belt

Sep 16

Written By KAJUCOM

*Professor Dennis Peterson UKF Kajukenbo*

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Name: Dennis Peterson
Title: Professor
Rank: 8th Degree Black Belt
System: Kajukenbo
Method: Emperado Method (Original)
BRANCH: Hardstyle
School: Peterson's Mixed Martial Arts Academy
LIVED: 1964–Present
TRAINED: 1979–Present
INSTRUCTOR: Senior Grandmaster Mitch Powell
Lineage: EmpErado, GM Tami Wheelan, SGM Emil Bautista, SGM Mitch Powell, SGM Joe Davis
AFFILIATIONS: United Kajukenbo Federation (UKF)

Professor Dennis Peterson was a lifelong martial artist whose training spanned Kajukenbo, Hung Gar Kung Fu, Jiu-jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. Born in Livermore, California, in 1964, Peterson began martial arts training at age 12 in Hung Gar Kung Fu under Sifu Bill Steele, earning his Black Sash in 1979.

Peterson began training in Kajukenbo in the early 1990s under Tami Wheelan in Tracy, California. He was immediately drawn to the practicality of Kajukenbo self-defense and the strong sense of Ohana within the art. He later trained under Senior Grandmaster Emil Bautista at the Benicia Road Settlement in Vallejo, where he received his Kajukenbo Black Belt in 1997 and continued through his second- and third-degree ranks.

His Kajukenbo education later expanded through Senior Grandmaster Joe Davis and Senior Grandmaster Mitch Powell. Through Davis, Peterson was exposed to the Kajukenbo taught by Great Grandmaster Aleju Reyes during the early 1960s, including the original Alphabet Techniques. Under Powell, Peterson continued his development in the original Emperado Method while also helping integrate boxing, kickboxing, grappling, and other elements that reflected Kajukenbo's mixed martial arts foundation.

Peterson ultimately attained the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt and the title of Professor. In 2010, he established Peterson's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Livermore, California, where he shared his Kajukenbo knowledge through regular training at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Throughout his martial arts career, Peterson continued to view himself as a student of the arts and credited his teachers—including Sifu Bill Steele, Tami Wheelan, SGM Emil Bautista, SGM Joe Davis, and SGM Mitch Powell—for shaping his development.

History

After graduating from Livermore High School, Peterson served in the United States Marine Corps from 1982 to 1986 as a Combat Engineer. Following his military service, he remained active in athletics and public service.

From 1990 to 1995, Peterson coached wrestling at Livermore High School, teaching wrestling fundamentals while emphasizing discipline, teamwork, and camaraderie. He also built a long career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, beginning in 1987 with the Protective Force Division and Security Organization. As a Training Specialist, Peterson became certified to instruct in areas including crowd control, less-than-lethal weapons, rappelling, intermediate force, impact weapons, firearms, Special Response Team operations, live-fire shoot house training, armorer duties, and basic tactical entry.

Peterson's Kajukenbo journey began in the early 1990s at Tami Wheelan's Kajukenbo program at World's Gym in Tracy. After being invited onto the training floor during a bring-a-friend day, he quickly became committed to both the effectiveness of Kajukenbo and its Ohana culture.

In 1996, Peterson moved his Kajukenbo training to Senior Grandmaster Emil Bautista at the Benicia Road Settlement in Vallejo. He earned his Kajukenbo Black Belt there in 1997 and later received his second- and third-degree black belt ranks.

From 1999 to 2008, Peterson served his community as a Reserve Police Officer in Brentwood, California. During that period, he trained with the Brentwood Special Weapons and Tactics Team and helped establish an after-school martial arts program through the Police Activities League.

In 2001, SGM Bautista introduced Peterson and Mitch Powell to SGM Joe Davis. Davis shared the Kajukenbo he had learned from his teacher, Great Grandmaster Aleju Reyes, including forms, techniques, and the 26 Alphabet Techniques dating to the early 1960s.

In 2003, Powell and Peterson taught the 26 Alphabet Techniques at a seminar in the presence of Sijo Adriano Emperado. Later that year, Mitch Powell, Dennis Peterson, and Albert Saddler produced an instructional DVD documenting the Alphabet Techniques in honor of Sijo Emperado and to help preserve and share that material.

Peterson became Powell's assistant instructor when Powell's Mixed Martial Arts Academy opened in Suisun, California, in 2005. Under Powell, Peterson continued through his advanced Kajukenbo ranks, eventually receiving fifth through eighth degree and the titles of Sigung and Professor.

In addition to Kajukenbo, Peterson trained in Shoshin Ryu Jiu-jitsu under Sensei Glen Nagasaki, reaching Brown Belt, and in Darcio Lira Traditional Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Sensei Darlynson Lira. From 2009 through 2011, he also taught boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts at LA Boxing in Brentwood.

In 2010, Peterson opened Peterson's Mixed Martial Arts Academy at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, offering regular noontime martial arts training. He also served as President of the Martial Arts Networking Group at LLNL.

HIGHLIGHTS

1979 — Earned a Black Sash in Hung Gar Kung Fu under Sifu Bill Steele.

1982–1986 — Served in the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer.

1987 — Began his career with the Protective Force Division and Security Organization at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

1990–1995 — Coached wrestling at Livermore High School.

Early 1990s — Began Kajukenbo training under Tami Wheelan in Tracy, California.

1994–1995 — Represented Kajukenbo and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Protective Force Division at the California Summer Games Police Olympics, earning silver and bronze medals in forms and a silver medal in the biathlon.

1996 — Began training under SGM Emil Bautista at the Benicia Road Settlement in Vallejo, California.

1997 — Earned his Kajukenbo Black Belt under SGM Emil Bautista.

1999–2008 — Served as a Reserve Police Officer with the Brentwood Police Department and assisted with Police Activities League martial arts programming.

2001 — Began training with SGM Joe Davis in the Kajukenbo material Davis had learned from GGM Aleju Reyes, including the Alphabet Techniques.

2003 — Taught the 26 Alphabet Techniques with Mitch Powell in front of Sijo Adriano Emperado and later helped release an instructional DVD documenting the techniques with Powell and Albert Saddler.

2005 — Became assistant instructor at Powell's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Suisun, California.

2009–2011 — Taught boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts at LA Boxing in Brentwood, California.

2010 — Established Peterson's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Livermore, California, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Advanced Ranks — Progressed through fifth to eighth degree under SGM Mitch Powell and received the titles of Sigung and Professor.