| Copyright, Columbia Martial Arts and Fitness |
| Damon Yost Assistant Instructor |
Damon was born in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, and, as Billy Joel says, it’s
hard to keep a good man down.
Pennsylvania, and, as Billy Joel says, it’s
hard to keep a good man down.
At 5, he moved to San Francisco, CA.
He spent is formative years in the Bay
area. As a young adult he briefly
attending Skyline Community College
there.
He spent is formative years in the Bay
area. As a young adult he briefly
attending Skyline Community College
there.
Damon’s passion was (the operative word being “was”) baseball.
However, he didn’t make the team cut when he went to college. He
was not able to continue college, so in 2001, to improve his
situation he moved to Columbia, South Carolina.
However, he didn’t make the team cut when he went to college. He
was not able to continue college, so in 2001, to improve his
situation he moved to Columbia, South Carolina.
In 2005 Damon found Columbia Martial Arts and Training Center (the old
school), and began taking Muay Thai Kick Boxing. While training,
Damon was exposed to the other arts offered by the school, taking some
JKD, Wing Chun, and Kali lessons, but most importantly, BJJ.
school), and began taking Muay Thai Kick Boxing. While training,
Damon was exposed to the other arts offered by the school, taking some
JKD, Wing Chun, and Kali lessons, but most importantly, BJJ.
He found that Jiu-Jitsu, in one form or another, worked
best for him. And, unlike his old baseball passion, he was
able not only to train and play, but also to compete.
best for him. And, unlike his old baseball passion, he was
able not only to train and play, but also to compete.
Damon is currently a cable installation contractor, and will
begin attending Strayer University in 2008.
begin attending Strayer University in 2008.
Damon holds a Purple Belt in BJJ under
Carlos Machado, and currently heads
up several BJJ and Grappling classes.
Carlos Machado, and currently heads
up several BJJ and Grappling classes.
| Guro Dan Inosanto, Kristi Leviner and Damon |
| Damon with Sensei Erik Paulson and Sifu Mills |
| Damon offers instruction in the proper way to execute a side fall from a dive roll |
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"Damon joined CMA&F several years ago with a couple of friends. The friends are gone but Damon has been a
consistent figure at CMA&F ever since. I have told him many times that he has been the consummate JKD student –
always questioning and working towards understanding. An instructor can determine the depth of a students
understanding by the questions he asks. Damon has also stepped up and helped out – teaching classes and in the
construction of the new school."
consistent figure at CMA&F ever since. I have told him many times that he has been the consummate JKD student –
always questioning and working towards understanding. An instructor can determine the depth of a students
understanding by the questions he asks. Damon has also stepped up and helped out – teaching classes and in the
construction of the new school."
A Comment from Sifu Mills:
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