Dominic Parker
1st Degree Black Belt
Professor Dominic Parker is the head instructor of Gracie Barra San Diego. Professor Parker began his study of martial arts in 1987, training in an American system of karate known as Aam-Ka Jutsu, which is one of the first systems that combined the best elements of several martial arts styles. In 1992, Professor Parker discovered the devastating martial art of Muay Thai. He studied for several years under Villayphone Ratsebousea (Master V. Phon) at San Diego’s first Muay Thai academy. Professor Parker is among the few fortunate students in the San Diego area to have studied traditional Muay Thai under authentic Thai trainers.
In 1996, Professor Parker began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marcelo Pereira at the Monteiro Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Del Mar. After several years of dedicated training, he received his black belt in December 2004. In January 2007, he founded Gracie Barra San Diego to further spread the teachings of Master Carlos Gracie Jr. Over his years of training and teaching, Professor Parker has built a reputation among his students and peers as a patient and detail-oriented instructor.
With the goal of constantly improving, Professor Parker continues to refine his Jiu-Jitsu skills by training with Nelson Monteiro and Raphael Ramos at Gracie Barra Encinitas. In addition, Professor Parker continues to polish his Muay Thai skills by training with Kru Anan, a former Muay Thai champion from Bangkok, Thailand and San Diego’s premier Muay Thai instructor (Note: Kru Anan is now teaching at Gracie Barra San Diego. Please call Professor Parker @ 619-318-8491 for more information).