American Pankration Instructors and Staff

Our program will be set up to provide you quality instructors that are professionally qualified & trained.

See below for a few of our top instructors:

Jeff Funicello - Master Instructor/Gym Partner

• 2008 – Northern Plains Olympic Qualifier, Gold/Champion
• 2008 – Northeast Regional Olympic Qualifier, Bronze
• 2008 – East Regional World Team Trials, Bronze
• 2007 – East Regional World Team Trials, Bronze
• 2007 – National Sambo Team Member
• 2007 – US National Sambo Championships, Silver Medal/2nd
• 2007 – World Championships, Beach Wrestling, Bronze Medal
• 2007 – World Championships, Sambo, 7th
• 2007 - World Championships, Submission Grappling (DQ)
• 2006 – Pan American Masters, Judo, Silver Metal
• 2006 – Pan American Open Weight Masters, Judo, Silver Medal
• 2006 – Pan American Masters , Judo Team Cup, Gold Medal
• 2004 – Final Olympic Team Trials, 8th
• 2004 – West Regional Olympic Trials Champion
• 2004 – Henri De’Glane International in France, 5th
• 2004 – Pan American Wrestling Championships, Silver Medal
• 2003 – Northeast Regional World Team Trials, Champion
• 2003 – Rocky Mountain Regional World Team Trials, Bronze Medal
• 2002 – Rocky Mountain Regional World Team Trials, Champion
• 2002 – Sunkist International Open, 4th
• 2002 – Petrov Tournament, Bulgaria, 4th
• 2001 – David Shultz Memorial Classic, Silver Medal/2nd
• 2000 – South Regional Olympic Trials, Gold Medal/Champion
• 2000 – Central Regional Olympic Trials, Silver Medal
• 2000 – East Regional Olympic Trials, Bronze Medal
• 2000 – Sunkist International Open, Silver Medal/3rd
• 2000 – US Olympic Wrestling Team Alternate under Coach Roman Wroclawski
• 1999 – Sunkist International Open, Bronze Medal/3rd
• 1998 – Arizona Submission Wrestling Champion
• 1998 – Concord Cup International Open, Bronze Medal/3rd
• 1997 – American Grappling Champion
• 1997 – Sunkist International Open, 4th
• 1997 – Concord Cup International Open, 4th
• 1997 – Winter Classic International, Bronze Medal/3rd
• 1997 – Gamma Cup Championships, Cuba, 5th
• 1996 – Central Regional Olympic Trials, Gold/Champion
• 1996 – Michigan International Open, Bronze Medal/3rd
• 1996 – West Regional Olympic Trials, Bronze Medal
• 1996 – East Regional Olympic Trials, Bronze Medal
• 1996 – US Olympic Wrestling Team Alternate under Coach Roman Wroclawski
• 1995 – AAU National Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion
• 1995 – Grand Canyon State Games Champion
• 1995 – American Grappling Unlimited Champion
• 1991 - Arizona Amateur Kickboxing Champion
• 1991 – Southwest Regional Judo Champion
• 1990 – Arizona State Judo Champion
• 1990 – Arizona Amateur Kickboxing Champion
• 1989-1994 – ASU Wrestling Team Member (Varsity 1992-1994)
• Head Instructor of American Pankration since 1990 at Arizona State University
• Current 2001 Member of Sunkist Kids Wrestling with:
  • Randy Couture
  • Mark Kerr
  • Kevin Jackson
  • Rulon Gardner
  • Dan Henderson
• These Training Partners have sought out Jeff to enhance their stand-up and submission skills, and they are all willing to speak on behalf of Jeff's character and abilities.
• In addition Jeff has worked with Dan Severn and Don Frye helping prepare them in the pionering UFC's from Team Phoenix. Jeff is currently an Assistant Wrestling Coach at Arizona State University

Jeff Paulson - Instructor/Gym Partner

• 2X Desert Quest Submission Grappling Champion, 1x Outstanding performance
• 2007 – Arizona State Judo Championships, Bronze medal
• 2005 - 2007 – Olympic Training Center periodic training
• 2000 - 2007 – Technical Instructor for American Pankration Mixed Martial Arts
• 2000 - 2007 – US Greco Roman National level competitor
• 2006 – Southeast Olympic Trials Semi-Finalist
• 2004 – Sunkist International Open, 6th
• 2004 – Northwest Greco Roman Olympic Trials, 4th
• 1999 – USA Today Wrestler of Week, Winner of match with NCAA Div II #1 ranked wrestler
• 1999 – 6NCAA Midwest Regional, 6th
• 1999 – MSUM Wrestling Captain Senior, NSIC Conference Champion
• 1998 – Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, All Conference
• 1997 – Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, All Conference
• 1996 –NCAA Div II Midwest Regional Trials, 5th
• 1996 – Bison International Senior Freestyle Championships, Winnipeg, 2nd
• 1995 - 1996 – Minnesota State True Freshman starter. Winner of match with MSUM prize recruit, 2 State Champion recruits, & one returning letter winner.
• 1995 - 1999 – MSUM Wrestling Letter Winner
• 1991 - 1995 – 92 Career Victories, 12 tournament championships with Park Rapids High, Minnesota

John Baggett:

• 3 yrs – Training with American Pankration – Promoted as Technical Assistant
• 2x Desert Quest Champion – 1x All weight class absolute champion
• Submission wrestling technician
• APFighting Gym Assist Mngr, Assist Kickboxing & Striking technician
• 6’4” & 285lbs of bone crushing power!

Scott Garcia:

• Three time national judo champion, three time runner up, one bronze medal.
• One of 5 picked to fight in the Olympic Festival St. Louis, MI for judo.
• Trained at the Olympic Training Center, the Kodokan (Japan and the World headquarters for judo training in Tokyo).
• #1 judo high school in Japan.
• #1 Judo university in Japan.
• Selected for the national judo team and took the bronze medal in the International Gothenburg Sweden Judo Championships in which 10 countries came.
• 2 time Washington judo state champ, one time runner up.
• 1 time Arizona state champion.
• Received black belt in Japan at the age of fourteen being one of the youngest American judo players to obtain the rank of shodan.
• Currently a fourth degree black belt in judo.
• Coached one state champion girls judo team (undefeated) in the Hawaii State judo championships.
• Coached individual state champions.
• Coached a jr. high school judo team in Chiba Japan. The boys took 3rd in their prefecture (state) tournament. 9 boys obtain their black belt rank.
• Founded a college judo club and was the club president teaching students in Hawaii from around the world.
• Fought in over 185 tournaments in judo, jiujitsu, submission grappling.
• Tri State wrestling champion (Washington,Idaho, and Montana).
• 3-time Washington wrestling state placer.
• 58 matches won by pin 10th - 12th grade.
• Recruited to wrestle for the Air Force Academy.
• Helped coach at my former high school that was first at the state championships.
• Trained with Japan Champion in shootfighting.
• Trained in Kenpo Karate at my high school.
• Trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Japan.
• Trained in boxing in the Air Force.
• Trained in Unarmed combat and helped teach classes in the Air Force Academy.
• Desert Quest 3 time champion and one time runner up, 2 time outstanding performance.
• Silver medal in NAGA (North American Grappling Assoc.) tournament held in Rhode Island.
• Silver medal in Grapplers Quest Las Vegas, NV.
• Arizona Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion.
• Exhibition match in jiu-jitsu match in Chiba Japan winner.
• Appeared on television for judo accomplishments in Japan for the Far East Network.
• Appeared on television for academic and wrestling accomplishments in Spokane, WA news, "The Winners Circle".
• Obtained B.A. in polical science with minors in Japanese and history from Brigham Young University- Hawaii campus.
• Currently attending Grand Canyon University to obtain Masters degree in special education.

Dave Spangler - Gym Manager/Instructor

• General Experience:
  
  • 6 Years Marine Corps infantry; Stationed in Twentyninepalms CA. And Bangor Submarine Base, WA
  • 3 years Air Force; Stationed in NORAD Space Control Center, Colorado Springs CO
  • Other Military experience includes Iowa Army National Guard, Air Force ROTC, and Air Force Reserves
  • Currently: Captain in Air Force Reserves; Space Command
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM):Certified Personal Trainer

• Wrestling Experience:
  
  • 3 Year Letter winner Univ. of Iowa Wrestling team
  • 6 year member of All-Air Force Wrestling team
  • 3 years at Olympic Training Center; Greco-Roman Wrestling
  • Assistant All-Air Force Wrestling coach
  • U.S. Nationals; Placewinner: Greco Roman Wrestling
  • World Team trials; Placewinner: Greco Roman Wrestling
  • Northern Regional World Team Trials Qualifier, Champion
  • COACHES: Rich Estrella (Head Coach All-Air Force Wrestling/Olympic/ World Team coach), Tom Brands, Jim Zalesky, Dan Gable, Wes Hand

Greg Gifford:

23 yrs old Home Town: Las Vegas, NV Football and wrestling, in football, senior year started both ways and team won state. 2x state champ in wrestling, over all record of 136-24 in H.S. All-American in 2002. Wrestled at Fresno State for 3 years and one year at Arizona state. Conference champ at Fresno State PAC-10 champ at ASU. 102-34 collegiate record. Academic all-american in 2006 & 2007. Ranked in top 20 every year in college.

Dan Griffiths:

• High School wrestling record of 121-27 with 107 pins
• Bow Holiday tournament Champion 2001
• 3rd at Lowell Holiday in 2001
• Maine State freestyle Champion 2001
• New Hampshire State freestyle Champion 2001
• 2 time MAWA regional champion
• 2nd New Hampshire high school State
• 2nd New Hampshire high school All State 2001
• 2nd at Rockey Mtn Nationals 2003
• 4th at Reno World Championship 2003
• 3rd Az State 5a high school 2004
• Scholar Athlete Award 2004
• 2nd Az State Judo 2006
• Desert Quest tournament Champion at 188, 201 and Absolute champion

Danny Kessler:

• Trained under American Pankration the last 7 years.
• Lightweight coach and Assistant Head instructor to the largest college mixed martial art program in the United States.
• 2004 started a self-defense program for women,
  Angels with Attitude
• 2007 NAGA Hawaii Champion 139 pounds
• 2006 AZ State Judo Championship 2nd place
• 2005 Desert Quest Champion 147 pounds
• 3 - 0 MMA record
• High School Accomplishments
• 2x All County Wrestler NY State
• Career 79 Wins
• 2 year team captain at Roslyn High School

Ian McAlpine:

• 20 yrs old
• 7 yrs boxing
• 5 yrs kick boxing
• Solid wrestling background
• 2x Desert Quest Champ
• 3rd year with American Pankration Fighting - Asst Tech instructor at ASU Pankration
• Leads Team Camelback runs
• Self Proclaimed Good Looking

Jon Diller:

• 2006 Pancrase LtHwt National Champion Intermediate Broomfield, CO
• 2004 South Carolina tuff man champion boxing tournament HWT Colombia, SC
• 1st place Colorado boxing Friday night fights HWT Denver, CO
• 2nd place LtHwt World Amateur Martial Arts International Games. In Pankration San Diego, CA
• 1st place HWT Desert Quest Grappling tournament Mesa, AZ
• 2006 HWT Arizona State Champion black belt in judo Flagstaff, AZ
• 4th place at HWT Grapplers Quest 2004 Jersey City, NJ
• South Carolina State Champion High School Wrestling HWT
• USA Amateur boxer
• Boxing Record 8-1-0
• Grappling Record 18-4-0
• MMA record 4-3-0