MEET OUR HEAD INSTRUCTORS

BILL WHITWORTH

Founder & Master Instructor

Bill founded Red Dragon/Fortress in 1999 and continues to teach children’s martial arts, Kids BJJ and Fitness Kickboxing. He has turned over leadership of the Adult BJJ and MMA programs to Dustin Reed.

4th Degree Black Belt, Hock Hochheim’s American Combat Kempo
1st Degree Black Belt, Barry Vanover’s Shaolin Kenpo
1st Degree Black Belt, Hock Hochheim’s SDMS Impact Weapon System
Brown belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Additional instructor qualifications

Associate Instructor/Coach - Mark Hatmaker’s Extreme Self Protection Grappling, Boxing and Self-Defense programs.
F.A.S.T. Defense Instructor under Bill Kipp: Basic Adults, Basic Kids, Advanced Kids, Advanced Adult, Groundfighting, Weapons and Weapons Groundfighting
Advanced Instructor, Hock Hochheim’s CQC System
Instructor, Hock Hochheim’s Pacific Archipelago Combatives

BJJ lineage: Dustin Reed / Casey Oxendine / Helio Soneca / Carlos Gracie Jr.

DUSTIN REED

Head Instructor, Adult BJJ & MMA

Dustin heads the Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts programs at Fortress. A BJJ brown belt under Casey Oxendine, he also holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and instructor certifications in defensive tactics.

Brown belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Master of Science, Criminal Justice
SSGT Defensive Tactics Instructor, Levels 1 and 2
Expandable Baton, Use of Force and Handcuffing Instructor

BJJ lineage: Casey Oxendine / Helio Soneca / Carlos Gracie Jr.

Our programs

Four Kids Martial Arts teams guide children from Tiny Tiger through Eagle. Kids BJJ has separate Prep and Kids groups, while Family BJJ lets children and adults learn together. Fortress BJJ focuses on grappling, MMA connects striking and grappling, and Fitness Kickboxing offers women-focused, non-contact workouts.

How we teach

Children move forward by practicing their curriculum and demonstrating what they have learned. We coach them through the parts that are difficult, and we expect them to put in the effort. Earning the next belt gives them a goal and a reason to be proud of the work it took.

We also teach practical ways to work on focus and goals. Our 3 Rules of Concentration are Focus the Eyes, Focus the Mind and Focus the Body. The Black Belt Goal Cycle helps children choose a goal, make a plan, get coaching, take consistent action and review their progress.

We see martial arts as one part of your child’s support team, alongside you and their teachers. We want the habits practiced here to be supported at home and at school, too.

284 S Daisy St · Morristown, TN 37813

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(423) 353-5799 info@rdkarate.com Location & directions

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