Miguel “Quiet Dog” DeCoste

QuietDog

I started my martial arts adventure at the age of 12, when I enrolled in a class at Master Bong Soo Han’s Hapkido studio. My interest was spurred on by Kung Fu Theater and of course, Bruce Lee. Little did I know that many years later I would be studying the very arts that I admired as a child! After a short hiatus during high school and college, I returned to the martial arts when I began to study under Sifu Ray Copeland, who at the time was an instructor at the Inosanto Academy. Under his tutelage I was exposed to Kali, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Silat, and Shoot Fighting. And these many years later, I have been fortunate enough to study under the very instructors whom I revered when I first began.

My first exposure to the Dog Brothers was via videotapes. I thought to myself, “These guys are absolutely insane” and never considered fighting. However, as time progressed and my interest in the martial arts (especially in Kali) deepened, I thought that it would be an interesting challenge to step “into the park” and fight. My first Gathering was in the Raw Gym (2003? 2004?). I only remember being hit and thinking to myself, “Oh, this is for real”. The rest is pretty much history.

From the beginning, my goal in fighting has been to test myself and learn as much as possible. And the knowledge, experience, and brotherhood gained from being part of the Dog Brothers is unmatched by anything else that I’ve come across.

Leave a Comment