Meet our Instructors & Board Members

  • Smith Cliffton

    Assistant Coach

    Board Member

    Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

    Mental Health First Aid Certified

    Starfish Program Mentor

    Active Martial Arts Competitor

    Former Rappahannock High Wrestling Captain

    Practitioner of Sanshou Kickboxing & student of Golden Harmony Kung Fu

  • Gordon Wicks

    Head Instructor

    President of the Board

    NASM Nationally Certified Personal Trainer

    NASM Certified Youth Exercise Specialist

    38th Generation Shaolin Kung Fu Disciple

    12th Generation Tai Mantis Kung Fu Master

    Long time competitor, multiple times champion & medalist

    Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

    Student of Muay Thai (Thai boxing)

  • Emily Pearcy

    KAY (Kidding Around Yoga) Youth Yoga Instructor

  • Jesse Pape

    Jesse earned the rank of jiujitsu black belt after ten years of formal training from Professor Gideon Ray. Additional martial arts expertise includes eight years of Muay Thai, six years of informal judo training, and three years of MMA.

Meet our Board of Directors

  • Susan Huff, PHD

    Vice President

    Susan has over 25 years of teaching & Special Education administration in public schools (including Rapphannock & Culpeper), along with having been a former adjunct professor at her alma mater, Virginia Tech. She is the current co-owner of Stonewall Abbey Wellness with 500+ hours in Yoga Teacher Training. Susan offers her business savvy and insightful experience with working with children with special needs, to the board.

  • Tom Oliphant

    Treasurer

    Thomas Oliphant is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Washington columnist for The Boston Globe. Tom is now a full time resident of Sperryville. Tom brings fundraising experience, D.C. savvy, along with Brooklyn street smarts and a Harvard education to the board.

  • Andrew Evans

    Secretary

    Award winning author of 5 books & travel writer, Andrew has reported from over 100 countries and all 7 continents for National Geographic, BBC, Reader’s Digest and others. He brings a global perspective to our board, and non profit board experience, that few, if any, could offer.