Ray began his training in Judo in 1994 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He joined the Gentle Wind Judo club with his brother and began training whenever he could. He began his competitive Judo career just six months after he began training Judo. Little more than one year later in 1995, he moved to Philadelphia and found the Philadelphia Judo Club. He continued his training under Head Instructor Art Bourgeau. He became a fixture in the Judo club as well as on the East coast competition scene. In 2002, he was promoted to Sandan (third degree black belt). Over the years his competition highlights include Silver and Bronze medals at Judo Nationals in the Masters division, a first and several second place finishes at the Am-Can International Judo challenge, multiple medals at the Liberty Bell Judo Tournament as well as numerous other medals from tournaments at the regional level.

            In 1999, he began cross training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Maxercise under then head instructor Steve Maxwell. In 2005, after consistent success in competition in BJJ, winning and placing at Grapplers Quest, NAGA, and many National Events, his instructor Regis Lebre awarded him his Brown Belt. His competitive history in BJJ include a gold and silver medal at the Pan-Ams as a brown belt, multiple time Relson Gracie National championships as a blue and purple Belt, Multiple time Grapplers Quest and NAGA medalist as a Purple and blue belt, and Saulo Ribeiro Association National Purple belt champion.

            Soon after the birth of his daughter Ray began a search for what the best pure self-defense to teach her as she got older. His years of Martial Arts training left his with serious reservations about the effectiveness of most self-defense systems that are generally available to women. After extensive research he selected the F.L.A.G. (Fight Like A Girl) System as what he would one day teach his own daughter. He has been certified as a level 2 instructor under Head Instructor Steve Kardian (http://www.rapeescape.com/). 

 
            In 2009 after 27 years as Head Instructor, Art has passed the title of Head Instructor of the Philadelphia Judo Club to Ray who becomes the tenth Head Instructor in the history of the Philadelphia Judo Club. Ray is also an assistant instructor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.


 
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