Adrian’s Training History
The Early Years:
Adrian began his training under Master Doug Zimmer, 5th Degree, at the age of 4 and was asked to join Master Zimmer’s Competition Team at the age of 5. In 2003 Adrian won his first title as KickUSA Florida State Champion for Sparring in the 5-6 year old division. From that point on he was hooked on Martial Arts. Adrian began training 6 to 10 hours a week, until the age of 8 when Master Zimmer was called into duty for the Katrina Relief Program.
Knowing that he would be gone for at least 9 months. Master Zimmer introduced his students to other schools in the area that agreed to continue their training at their current belt level.
2007-Eric Santamaria, Adrian Gilliam, David Rodriquez
Final Black Belt Training
So in 2005 Adrian was a Blue Belt without a school. After trying out various classes, Adrian chose Internal Power Martial Arts as his next school and enrolled in October 2005. There he was trained under Mr. David Rodriquez and Mr. Eric Santamaria, both members of the former nationally recognized Team Intensity competition team (which also included Marc Canonizado, Sammy Vasquez, and James Sang Lee). Adrian increased his training to 6 days a week for 10 to 15 hours and was selected as a member of the school’s Black Belt Club and Team Intensity.
In 2007, Adrian won his first national level tournament at the U.S Open Karate Championship in Sparring as a Senior Brown Belt. Adrian received his Black Belt in December 2007 at the age of 10. In 2008, he became KickUSA’s State and National Champion for X-treme Forms and Weapons and won his first 1st Place Black Belt NASKA Trophy in Creative Forms at the Gator Nationals and followed it up with a 1st Place win at the 2008 U.S.Open Karate Championship in Creative Forms. Wanting to compete more at the national level, it was time for Adrian to change schools again.
Advance Training:
Forms:
Coming off of a good year in 2008, Adrian applied for a team position under the guidance of Multi-World Champion Mark Canonizado and was accepted to compete as part of his school’s team in 2009. High goals means more work and Adrian’s practice increased to 15 –20+ hours per week. With his forms and weapons skills improving under the guidance of Marc and Female World Champion Caitlin Dechelle, Adrian earned 2009 Top 10 NASKA World Rankings in Creative, Musical, and Traditional Forms and Creative Weapons.
Sparring:
Competition Point Sparring is very different from class sparring and so Adrian sparring skills were further developed under the training of Jeromy Roque at Florida Sports Martial Arts Academy.
In 2009, Adrian also received advanced coaching and training by Master Bobby Dixon, of Bobby Dixon’s American Martial Arts Academy, and superstar Bill “Superfoot” Wallace.
The results, Adrian was the 2009 Sparring Champion for 3 different karate circuit. Adrian was the NASKA World Champion, KickUSA National Champion and FAME2K State Champion for the 10-11 year old division.
Instructor- Bobby Dixon’s Karate-Feb 2011:
Marc and Caitlin moved to Hollywood in 2010 and Adrian had been looking for a new Master to help his martial arts training progress to new levels. After discussions with Master Bobby Dixon, Adrian began teaching part-time at his school. Adrian soon developed strong relationships with the students and instructors and enjoyed his time as instructor for Sparring and Creative forms.
But, his heavy school load during the spring of 2011 and his increased teaching load left little time for his own practice. So after coming in second for Creative forms at the 2011 Gator National’s, 4th for Traditional Weapons, and a finalists for Traditional Forms and Creative Weapons, Adrian decided to return to training full time on his forms.
For the rest of 2011, Adrian strictly trained at several schools in the Orlando area, but mostly at Orlando Taekwondo and HighSteppers Karate. At Orlando Taekwondo Adrian met Scott Johnson, 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist and instructor of Adrian’s mentor Marc Canonizado, and his son Nick. Adrian soon began training with Scott in hopes that he’ll be able to compete in Extreme and Musical forms in the coming years.
Adrian Gilliam receiving 2nd Degree Certificate from Master Doug Zimmer
2012 A New Beginning
In January 2012, Adrian received his 2nd degree in Tae Kwon Do from his first Martial Arts Instructor Master Doug Zimmer and began offering Competition Training classes in forms, weapons, and sparring at Orlando Taekwondo which had previously only offered U.S. Olympic Style Tae Kwon Do training. Adrian is also Team Captain and trainer for the new Team Rebounderz, which represents Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Arena and a guest instructor at HighSteppers Karate, Gymnastics & Family Fitness Center in Sanford FL, where Team Rebounderz and Adrian’s in-Sync Team partner Kelly “Sunshine” Hodges trains.
For current tournament results and standing check out the ”Who I Am” tab in the menu bar.