Our Team
Ben Moses
Owner of MAT Fitness
Ben Moses has over 30 years of martial arts training and 20 years of teaching experience. He has fought in numerous karate tournaments across the country and competed in multiple MMA and kickboxing matches. He has won several Grand Championships and awards, including Male Competitor of the Year from the Isshinryu Hall of Fame.
In addition to pursuing a career in martial arts, Ben competed in both football and track at the collegiate level. Over the years, students and athletes training under Ben's instruction have included multiple Grand Champions and professional athletes. Ben brings a wealth of various training and competition experiences to his teaching, and his unique background helps to motivate and empower his students, athletes, and everyday people to achieve at the highest levels.
Mary Dee Holmes
Karate Instructor
Mary Dee Holmes is a san-dan (3rd degree) in Isshinryu Karate. She began training in 1985 with Grand Master Carl Martin in Norristown, PA. She was one of the original members of that dojo and one of the first women students able to withstand the rigorous training and demands of the martial arts at that time. In addition to training, competing and teaching, she organizes dojo meetings and events, and is the main coordinator for the annual West Chester Fall Classic Tournament and also on the national tournament level for the Isshinryu Hall of Fame.
In partnership with Master Diane Ortenzio-Cooling, Order of Isshin-Ryu started the Partnership of Women Martial Artist group. It's purpose is to highlight women martial arts teachers and masters, to network, and to grow as women warriors by hosting the annual Women's Martial Art Symposium.
Awards and Championships:
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2018 Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame Female Instructor of the Year
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2011, 2015, 2018 KIAI Special Recognition Award
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2011 TOKI Road Warrior
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2010 TOKI Most Improved Kata
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2004 Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame outstanding contribution
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2000 American Okinawan Karate Association 26th annual Karate championship
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1994 top 10 national karate tournament
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1993 Delaware Valley Tournament
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1991 North American karate championship
Jerry Smith
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Jerry Smith was first introduced to martial arts through his father, also a life-long martial artists, primarily in the striking arts of Tae Kwon Do and Karate, and eventually earned a Nidan (2nd degree blackbelt) in Toushi-Kan Karate along with instructorships in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts.
While attending Junior High School in Virgina Beach, VA, he tried out for and made the wrestling team, his first experience with the grappling arts. He continued to wrestle for three years and started hearing rumblings of “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”. Unable to find a school for BJJ, he took up Judo in the early 1990’s.
Jerry graduated high school and joined the US Air Force in 1993 which took him to Great Falls, MT where he found a Judo school. His first official exposure to BJJ occurred while on leave at the Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club in Beverly Hills, CA in 1996, where he was repeatedly humbled by a purple belt half his size! After this event, he decided to dedicate his studies to this art.
In 1997, Jerry relocated to San Antonio, TX with the US Air Force and continued studying Judo. A short time after arriving in TX, he attended a seminar with the legendary Carlos Machado in 1998 and immediately became his student. Jerry trained with Carlos Machado from 1998-2001, travelling back and forth from San Antonio to Dallas for weekly lessons and travelled all over the country attending his many seminars on the weekends. He earned his blue belt from Carlos Machado in 1999 before leaving active-duty military and moving back home to New Jersey in 2001.
Once back in NJ, he resumed his study of Judo due to not having a BJJ academy in the area. He joined the world of law enforcement and simultaneously rejoined the military as an Air Force National Guardsman. This work kept him extremely busy, but he continued to attend as many BJJ seminars as he could to stay active on the mats.
In 2014, Jerry attended a seminar taught by the legendary Rigan Machado, whom he had met through Carlos, back in 1998 in TX. He connected with many of Rigan’s affiliates, earned his purple belt in 2015 and eventually joined his association as an affiliate in 2018 after earning his brown belt.
On July 17, 2021 Jerry earned his blackbelt directly from Rigan Machado after 23 years of training. He continues to train with all five Machado Brothers as often as he can.
Conveniently Located Off 202
903 Boot Rd, West Chester, PA 19380