Sifu Johnny Beheler

Head Instructor

Sifu Johnny Beheler has been training in martial arts since 1973 and has been teaching publicly since 1998.  He is certified as an instructor in: Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts & Jun Fan Gung Fu, as well as Filipino Kali & Maphilindo Silat from Guro Dan Inosanto, Wing Chun Kung Fu from both Sifu Francis Fong and Sifu William Wong & Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Pedro Sauer.  Sifu Beheler saw a need for a martial arts program that is capable of enabling students to successfully defend themselves in a variety of circumstances, including knife attacks, grappling, multiple attackers, etc., in a relatively short period of time.  That is when he developed the ADF curriculum.

The Martial Arts at Sifu Beheler offers at Phoenix Academy is unspeakably unique! We are proud to be one of only 3 schools certified to teach these systems in South Carolina. We are not a “black belt factory”, and students earn their position through diligence and study. Rest assured the techniques, details, and skill-sets you will learn at Phoenix are fire-hardened, battle-tested, effective for combat and self defense. Why do you think the Navy Seals, CIA, and Secret Service train in these systems? Because they work!

Sifu Beheler has been an important part of the Martial Arts community for many years and his dedication, depth of knowledge, quality of instruction, and integrity are widely known to other members of the community.

See What Others Have to Say About Training With Sifu Beheler and Phoenix Academy:

 

“Johnny Beheler has been my student since 1983.  He is part of a small group of individuals to have instructor status in three separate martial arts under me: Jun Fan Gun Fu, The Filipino Martial Arts, Maphilindo Silat.  I would highly recommend Johnny as an instructor to anyone seeking training in the martial arts.”

-Dan Inosanto-
Founder/Head Instructor
Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts

“I have known Sifu Beheler since the early 1980′s and not only respect him as a martial artist, but consider him one of my longtime friends in the arts!  His depth of knowledge coupled with his warm personality make for a great teacher and ambassador of the martial arts.  I would recommend anyone in his area interested in martial arts training to seek him out!”

-Dick Harrell-
Owner/Head Instructor, Dick Harrell Martial Arts

“I have had the great pleasure to train and travel with Sifu Johnny Beheler for over 10 years.  He is a dedicated student of martial arts and that reflects in his teaching.  He has a great depth of understanding and the ability to translate that to his students.  I whole-heartedly recommend training with Sifu Beheler if at all possible.”

-Mark Mills-
Owner/Head Instructor Columbia Martial Arts

“No matter who you are, no matter how long you have trained in martial arts, Sifu Johnny Beheler has something to offer you.  I have known and trained with Sifu Johnny for over thirty years!  He is an incredible source of inspiration and his training methods have greatly improved the quality of my martial arts.  I only work with the best and Sifu Johnny is one of the Best.”

-Christopher Ash-
Mataas Na Guro, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali

“Johnny Beheler is a dedicated martial artist.  He has always struck me as a very loyal person.  If you get the opportunity to train with Johnny, I highly suggest you do, it will be a great experience in your martial arts career.”

-Alan Baker-
Owner/Head Instructor, Atlanta Martial Arts Center

“Sifu Johnny Beheler came highly recommended by a South Carolina State Trooper and member of our organization… I was thoroughly impressed with the class instruction and its relevance to the everday self-defense… His instruction was easy to understand and was very practical.  I would highly recommend Sifu Johnny Beheler and his instructor cadre from the Phoenix Academy for anyone that is interested in learning how to protect themselves… from would be attackers [like the] dangerous suspects that Law Enforcement officers deal with on a daily basis.  Their contributions will not go unnoticed.”

-Douglas Wright-
Executive Director
National Criminal Enforcement Association
www.ncea314.com

“Sifu Beheler consistantly went above and beyond the call of duty as an instructor. He would constantly ask what we as law enforcement commonly encounter on the streets and offer different techniques until he could find one that would satisfy us both. We are expected to make instantaneous decisions under strenuous circumstances, and Sifu Beheler made that much easier for many of us.”

-Requested Anonymous-
Law Enforcement Official

“Johnny Beheler and his team have more knowledge and expertise in their practice of martial arts than most experts have gained in their particular trade after a lifetime of devotion, study, and work.  The team at Pheonix Academy have devoted their lives to very simple ideas:  the protection of themselves, their loved ones, and their community, from violence.  Johnny brings passion to his arts, enthusiasm to his teaching, and real world training to his students.  The environment at Pheonix Academy is professional and friendly.  The training is enjoyable and respectful to the arts; but, it is not rigid or legalistic.  Make no mistake, the mindset and skill set taught at the Pheonix Academy is singular – Action Defeats Fear.”

-L. Brenn Watson, Esquire-
Attorney at Law