Welcome to Innovative Martial Arts Blog!

The Nunneley's

Innovative Martial Arts is very excited to have it’s very own Blog!  Here you will find content about Innovative Martial Arts, The Benefits of Martial Arts Training, Living a Martial Arts Lifestyle, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Physical Fitness, Exercise, and other martial arts related topics!   This blog will be more beneficial for all if we interact so please share and leave comments as often as possible.

Hello, My name is Jake Nunneley.  I am the owner and head instructor at Innovative Martial Arts.

I would like to start off my first blog entry by telling you all the story of how I got into martial arts when I was 10 years old.  I grew up in a nice area, but in any school there are always a few bullies.  I was a rather quite and shy kid especially around people I didn’t know.  When I was in middle school, 2 bullies in particular thought I looked like the perfect target.  They would tease me, call me names and sometimes push me around.  One day I returned home and my Mom noticed my clothes were muddy and when she found out why she immediately started looking at a martial arts school to help me “get a back bone” as she put it.  In our small town there were only 2 or maybe 3 schools at the time.  We ended up at a Korean martial arts school called Tiger Martial Arts in Scotts Valley, CA.

It took me 6 years before I was able to learn the material and test for my first Black Belt.  Also, when I was 15, I started helping out in the kids classes as an assistant instructor.  I was also given small jobs of cleaning the dojang, the Korean word for martial arts school.   It gave me a great sense of pride in my school and myself.  Little did I know, I was learning real valuable skills of being able to stand in front of a group and lead them with confidence.  I also noticed that these attributes were spilling over into other aspects of life such as school and on the soccer field.  I was no longer a follower.  I had a voice of my own and I wasn’t afraid to let others know it.

I continued to teach and train in martial arts all through high school.  When I turned 20, I found a martial arts school called Kovars Karate.  After the first time I met Mr. Kyoshi Dave Kovar, I knew that is exactly what I wanted to do and he was who I wanted to be like.  I was fortunate to be offered a job from him and I took it.  I moved from my small town in Santa Cruz to big old Sacramento.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  I was surrounded by very talented martial artists and professional martial arts school owners.  I tried to soak in everything I could and be the very best I could be.  During my time with Mr. Kyoshi Dave Kovar, I was promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt and Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by his instructor Carlos Valente.

Now at the age of 36, I have my very own Martial Arts Academy called Innovative Martial Arts, I am currently a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kovars Kenpo Karate, a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Ho Kuk Mu Sul, a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I have been fortunate to train in Judo, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Okinawan Kobudo, Iaido, and Eskrima.  I also have won many medals in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do sparring and I have a record of 2 wins and zero losses as an amateur Mixed Martial Arts competitor.  Who knew all of that would stem from martial arts training.  I feel like a very happy, healthy and respectful individual because of my Martial Arts lifestyle.  It has also taught me to never give up.  If you want something bad enough and are willing to work hard for it, you can achieve it.  I also believe my positive attitude comes from my martial arts training.  I further believe that if you want to be successful at something, it starts with a positive attitude.

So, THANK YOU Mom and Dad for putting me in martial arts training to “get a little back bone.”  It has made me a better man and now it is giving me a career.  I am forever grateful.

Thank you all for reading and I look forward to many fun discussions about martial arts and life!  Happy Training and in the words of Mr. Hanshi Kovar, “Every day on the mat is a great day!”