Our Instructors

Grand Master Ed Thompson has studied the arts of TaeKwonDo, Hapkido and Judo for well over 40 years and was owner/instructor of a Martial Arts school in Belgrade before moving to Billings. GM Thompson has a dynamic and expansive career, with diverse knowledge encompassed in fire-fighting and law enforcement since 1984. GM Thompson has the ability to facilitate group collaboration and mind-sharing, efficiently managing change in order to bring out the best in students.

Master Dave Allen began his Martial Arts Career in 1994 in Taekwondo and expanded into Judo and Hapkido soon after joining with Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara. He is an 
IJF-B International Judo Referee, is the official announcer for major USA Judo events and previously served on the USA Judo Board of Ethics. He has served as Tournament Announcer for Judo events including the World IBSA Judo Championships, the Oceania World  Championships, Pan-Am Opens, US World Cups, US Open, Junior Scholastic Championships, US Olympic Trials and many local, regional and international tournaments. His announcing resume also includes the 2015 Pan American Games where his skills were utilized for all the combat sports, including Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, and Freestyle & Greco Roman Wrestling. Dave has owned the Auto Brokers of Montana Auto Dealership and AA&A Auto Rental companies for over 33 years. He is in his 14th year serving as co-commissioner, with his wife Eve, of the Big Sky State Games Taekwondo/Judo competition.

Master Lori Rosales has been involved in martial arts for 25+ years. Starting in Culbertson, she partnered with Husband Grand Master Mark Rosales, co-owner/instructor of Culbertson TaeKwonDo. In 2001 she moved to Billings, teaching classes for Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara at Rocky Mountain College. In 2010 she continued as co-owner/instructor of Billings Tae Kwondo with husband Grand Master Mark Rosales.

​Master Eve Allen began her Martial Arts training in 1993 in the art of Taekwondo. Her training under Grand Master Fujiwara expanded to include the art of Judo and Hapkido. She instructs in both Taekwondo and Judo and enjoys attending workshops, seminars and clinics in order to broaden her knowledge of these arts. She has worked in the legal field for many years as a legal secretary, paralegal and a judicial assistant. Master Eve heads up the Woman's Self Defense curriculum at the school and serves as co-commissioner for the Big Sky State Games Taekwondo and Judo competitions. She is a Life Member of USA Judo, the USJF, the USJA, a member of the USA Judo Circle of 100, holds her National Coach Certification through USA Judo and Self Defense Teacher Certification through the US Judo Federation. 

Tatia Bennett has been training with Martial Arts Academy for 16 years.  She has achieved the rank of Shodan in Judo and 4th Dan in Taekwondo.  She is passionate about being a mentor to our students and continuing the tradition of investing in a new generation of martial artists.  She is active in the school as a Taekwondo instructor, tournament referee, and women's self defense instructor.

Sensei Joshua Charette is our competition Judo Instructor. In 2004 the time of his retirement, he ranked #4 in US Judo, held a World Silver medal in Sambo and 3 Montana state wrestling championships. He has vast knowledge of groundwork and understands how to train at the highest levels. Sensei Charette is the Pastor of Great Plains Gathering Church and graduate of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Grand Master Mark Rosales started his formal training in Taekwondo, with the NWTA, in the mid-eighties. He would go on to be the owner of Culbertson TKD from 1991-2001. He moved to Billings and taught classes for Grand Master Fujiwara from 2002 until GM Fujiwara's passing in 2010. He then went on to open Billings TKD from 2010 until 2016. In 2017, GM Rosales joined the MAAB family as a TKD instructor.

Master Brice Cady started Martial Arts in 1983 when he was 10 years old under Master Sam Damon. He competed in 1988 at the Junior Olymics in Tampa Florida and again in 1989 in Rochester Minnesota. Brice has been teaching Martial Arts since 2003. He is an MTA referee representative on the board of directors and an MTA-A Level certified referee. He is also a Billings Gazette 40 under 40 award winner because of his business successes. Master Brice has owned Brice's Masterclean since 2004 and has won the Billings Gazette Readers Choice award 8 years in a row. His hobbies include doing anything with his family and Moto-Cross. The Cady family loves fishing and hiking in the mountains.

Harley Cagle has been studying Judo at the Martial Arts Academy for over ten years, earning the rank of Black Belt (Shodan). Harley is a 22-year law enforcement veteran, serving with the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Alaska State Troopers, and the Billings Police Department. Harley has studied numerous martial arts, including Taekwondo, Kung Fu-San Krav Maga, and Judo P3, and is a Montana state certified law enforcement defensive tactics instructor and a certified instructor in krav maga and Judo P3. Harley teaches self-defense in the police department as part of their mandatory annual training and routinely travels to the Law Enforcement Academy in Helena to teach self-defense.

Master Chris Wood began his martial arts journey in 1981 by taking 6 weeks of free Karate lessons offered by a new school in Manassas, VA. His father got transferred to Ohio that summer and Master Wood did not resume formal martial arts training until 1988 when he enrolled at Kim’s Martial Arts School in North Ridgeville, OH where he trained in Taekwondo and Judo for 4 years. Master Wood began his law enforcement career in 1995 and became a government certified control tactics instructor in 1999. Since then, he has trained the law enforcement agents at his employing agency in self-defense and law enforcement tactics. He currently oversees the entire control tactics training program nationwide for his agency. Master Wood joined the MAAB family in 2007 when he started his martial arts training over again with his two youngest children. Master Wood has earned his 4th Degree Black Belt rank in Taekwondo and his Shodan rank in Judo from MAAB. He has been a dedicated instructor at the school for more than a decade.