BYOV Martial Arts Biographies
So you thought we were just a bunch of geeky programmers and gamers, huh? Wrong. Fact is, most members of BYOV are indeed proficient Martial Artists who have practiced for a significant amount of time. Here's a little bit of info about us.
Age:
Most of Mr. Berryman's Martial Arts history is a mystery. However, it is known that he trained under Mr. Justin Kratochvil at the University Of Wisonsin - Whitewater Warhawk Martial Arts Club for about 2 years, where he studied Chung Do Kwan Taekwon-Do. As far as his sword training goes, Mr. Berryman had this to say-
"I like swords. They are pretty. I have a lot of them."
Age:
Mr. Clark started out at the Warhawk Karate Club of the University Of Wisconsin Whitewater, in the styles of Ji Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Goju Ryu Karate. It was ran by Jeff, Barbara, and Dave Barnett. It was considered a pretty rough school with extensive belt tests. He received his Green Belt from Mr. Barnett in December of 1994. The Warhawk Karate Club closed down in 1996, and Mr. Clark then went to the UFMA Karate school in Whitewater, which was started by a former instructor from the Karate Club. But, after a year or so, Mr. Clark followed Mr. Ploetz, Mr. Javoroski, Mr. Meekins, and others at as they left UFMA Karate for a short stay at the Blue Dragon Karate Club in 1997. Mr. Clark also briefly worked-out with the Warhawk Martial Arts Club, under Mr. Justin Kratochvil, but had to leave shortly thereafter due to administrative issues. Mr. Clark then joined Mr. Ploetz at the Southwest Suburban YMCA Taekwon-Do Club under Master Chuck Eggert.
Age:
Mr. Javoroski started out in the Warhawk Karate Club of the University Of Wisconsin Whitewater during the Spring of 1994. He would train here, under Mr. David Barnett, for 3 years, until the club closed down. Tom then worked out for a brief period at the UFMA Sport Karate school, which he describes as "a complete waste of time." He then went under the instruction of Mr. Shane Staff at the Blue Dragon Karate Club. Mr. Staff awarded him with his 1st Degree Black Belt in July of 1998. During this time, Mr. Javoroski was also training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at
Third Heaven Martial Arts of Beaver Dam, WI, under Mr. Justin Morris, who received his Blue Belt in Jiu-Jitsu from Mr. Royce Gracie. It was from Mr. Morris that Mr. Javoroski would learn the valuable ground-fighting techniques that were to be some of the key ingredients of his first school. That school was the University Of Iowa Fitness And Self Defense Club, which Mr. Javoroski founded in Spring of 1999, and where he is presently the Head Instructor.
Age:
Before going to the University Of Wiscinsin-Whitewater's Warhawk Karate Club, Mr. Meekins briefly trained at a Taekwon-Do school in Chicago, IL; earning his Yellow Belt just so he "could go to the sparring classes". After training on-and-off for two years under Mr. Barnett, Mr. Meekins went along to the UFMA Karate school where he received his Green Belt. In the Fall of 1997, Mr. Meekins would return to the Warhawk Karate Club, and was elected the club's Vice-President. The club changed names two more times (Blue Dragon Karate and Fitness And Conditioning Club), and Mr. Meekins would soon find himself as the President Of the Fitness And Conditioning Club, in the Fall of 1998. Mr. Meekins graduated in December of 1999, and still studies in Whitewater under Mr. Trent Norrell.
Age:
Mr. Ploetz started at the Warhawk Karate Club of the University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1994. After three years in Goju Ryu Karate (due to the closing of the club and a conflict of interests with the instructor of UFMA Karate), he moved on to study Kickboxing and Judo under Mr. Staff, and Chung Do Kwan Taekwon-Do under Mr. Justin Kratochvil. He received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Mr. Kratochvil shortly before graduating from college. After school, Mr. Ploetz began studying under Master Chuck Eggert in Ji Do Kwan Taekwon-Do, where he recently received his 2nd Degree Black Belt. Due to his training with Master Eggert, Mr. Ploetz qualified for and competed at the 2000
USTU National Championships in Colorado Springs, CO, and also received his USTU Level 2 Coaching Certification.
Age:
Mrs. Ploetz started out in January of 1998 under the instruction of Mr. Shane Staff (Judo & Kickboxing), and Mr. Justin Kratochvil (Chung Do Kwan Taekwondo). After graduating from college and receiving her Yellow Belt in Chung Do Kwan Taekwon-Do from Mr. Kratochvil, Mrs. Ploetz began to study under Master Charles Eggert in Ji Do Kwan Taekwon-Do. After attaining a Blue Belt, Mrs. Ploetz went back to school for her Masters Degree in Counseling at UW-Whitewater, where she is also a student of Mr. Trent Norrell.