T.R.I.A.D. – (EST) “Training Regime Incorporating Aggressive Disciplines – Extreme Survival Training” is a professional training organization and brotherhood of likeminded individuals who desire to train and operate at the highest level of performance in the modern day protective arts of the Samurai Warrior known as Special Operations, Covert / Overt Operations, Gun Fighting, Knife Fighting, and Hand to Hand Combat.

With great skill and power must come great responsibility and accountability to balance and control that same skill and power. Thus the warrior code of conduct adopted by the Japanese Samurai known as the Seven Virtues of the Bushido:

1. “GI” (Equality and Fairness) – The ability to make correct, fair and equal decisions in a confident manner toward all people regarding protection as well as the use of lethal force no matter what lifestyle, race, color gender or age.
    
2. “YU” (Valor and Courage) – Created as the student / operator progresses in rank and as their skills become more proficient, fluid and based on muscle memory reflex. This is where the student / operator gains the confidence in both themselves and in their skills to successfully handle any situation presented to them.
    
3. “JIN” (Benevolence, Compassion and Generosity) – This is the virtue of humility where the student / operator is discouraged from using their new found skills for bigotry and egotistical domination. This virtue works together with “GI” to prevent arrogance within one’s self.
    
4. “REI” (Proper Behavior, Courtesy and Respect) – This virtue reminds the student / operator always to be aware of the principle of Yin and Yang in all things and that one cannot exist without the other. A teacher cannot be a teacher without a student no more than a student can be a student without a teacher so therefore they are both equal in their own right. Respect and equality must be given to all people at all times.
    
5. “MAKOTO” (Honesty, Honor and Morality) – One must be honest with one’s self before they can be honest with another. Cheating and lying is an acceptance of failure and creates a false environment for the student / operator. This virtue requires us to speak, think and perform in honesty and to the very best of our ability.
    
6. “MEIYO” (Success, Honor and Glory) – This virtue follows the student / operator as they become better within themselves. Honor, success and glory follow a positive attitude. This virtue is highly sought after but only follows correct lifestyle and behavior.
    
7. “CHUNGI” (Devotion, Loyalty and Dedication) – This virtue is the foundation of all virtues. Without dedication and loyalty to the task at hand – the desired outcome cannot be achieved. This virtue supports all success.

At all times I shall maintain the above Samurai Virtues in both my professional and personal life and will further maintain HONOR – INTEGRITY – LOYALTY – DISCIPLINE – HUMILITY – COURAGE – HONESTY – RESPECT and COMMITMENT to my God; my mission; my team; my forefathers of this art who have passed this sword onto me; those who will come after me to learn this art and accept this sword from me as my students; and to myself.

T.R.I.A.D. is by no means a religious organization and does not promote the predetermined definition of a specific God; however – we do all accept the fact that there is a power and concept greater than ourselves that governs us both individually and as a group conscience. This “Power and Concept” may be viewed as God Almighty; Our Creator; The Spiritual Virtues of The Bushido; A Vow to the Code of Our Profession or even the very art itself of T.R.I.A.D.

Whatever our definition of our Higher Power or Code of Honor; we all agree upon this tenant in the following order of priorityy

• The Creator of the Art is greater than the Art itself.

• The Art itself is greater than the Forefathers of the Art.

• The Forefathers are held in higher esteem than the current teachers of the art.

• The Current Teachers of the Art are held in high respect by the Student.

• The Student of the Art shall eventually become a Teacher of the Art by passing on the sword to other likeminded Students thus completing the circle and keeping the Art itself alive and pure.

T.R.I.A.D. itself can be viewed as a tri-conceptual metaphor for many perspective viewpoints including but not limited to the following examples:

• Body – Mind – Spirit

• Gun – Knife – Empty Hands

• Brain – Hands – Weapon

• Father – Son – Holy Spirit

• Art – Forefathers – Practitioners

• Prevent – Terminate – Escape (attack)…………………………

The spirit of T.R.I.A.D. is governed by the following order of priorities:

• The Creator of the Art comes before the Art.

• The Art and Code come before and govern the Mission.

• The Mission comes before the Group of Operators.

• The Group of Operators come before the Individual Operator.

• The Individual Operator comes before Fear and Death to preserve the Art, the Code

• The Mission, the Group and then…… Himself.

T.R.I.A.D. (EST) as well as the Surgical Strike System of Shaolin Dim Mak – Kung Fu (SSS) are both sanctioned and chartered as a martial art and martial art school under the United States Martial Artist Association (USMAA) seated in the State of Maryland, USA. All T.R.I.A.D. members shall belong to this organization and shall maintain current membership status. All ethics, codes standards and rules of the USMAA shall be adhered to and enforced by T.R.I.A.D. as well as the USMAA itself.

Supreme Grandmaster (SGM) / Hanshi William Rankin shall be acknowledged and held in high regard as the Founder and International Director of the United States Martial Artist Association by all T.R.I.A.D. members remembering at all times that the USMAA and SGM Rankin are the official chartering and sanctioning entities that allow T.R.I.A.D. to maintain the status of an official lineage based martial art and martial art training organization.

Only the founders of T.R.I.A.D. and (SSS), (Master Rich Kluck) and (Master Joe Bannon) shall maintain direct administrative authority and control of the foundation, membership and structure of the organization and training elements at all times. The USMAA has no “administrative” authority over T.R.I.A.D. in this respect.

No member therefore may circumvent or appeal to the USMAA or any of its Officers regarding any action made or agreed upon by the governing body of T.R.I.A.D. which consists only of Master Rich Kluck or Master Joe Bannon or any of their designated officers, tribunals or counsels put in place by them and solely by them alone.

(Organizational Structure)

Lineage of T.R.I.A.D. Masters and Organizational Command Structure:

Lineage of T.R.I.A.D. Masters / Founders

Biographies of Lineage Forefathers 

Supreme Grandmaster William A. Rankin Ph.D. – Supreme Grandmaster and Hanshi William A. Rankin is the Founder and International Director of the United States Martial Artist Association which was founded in 1977. Dr. Rankin holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Martial Arts and is a highly decorated veteran of the Viet Nam War. Dr. Rankin began his martial arts training in South Vietnam as a member of the US Army in 1967 with groups of the Republic of South Korea Army Corps. He joined the US Air Force in 1971 and was stationed in Okinawa where he met, trained under, and was eventually promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt and Hanshi by Supreme Master Yuichi Kuda of the Shorin-ryu Kobukan Karate System. This system became the 5th major Shorin-ryu family in the world. On March 1, 1999 The American Okinawan Karate-do Kobujitsu Association promoted him to 10th Degree Black Belt. Dr. Rankin holds several black belts in various other martial arts styles. He has competed all over the United States and Asia. His tournament wins have been 1st and 2nd place including the World Karate Championships where he took 1st place in Forms and Specialty and received the Grand Champion Trophy in the same field. In 1988 he was honored as "World Karate Grand Champion." He has trained several police Swat Teams in Maryland; North Dakota, California, New Mexico, Texas and Florida. Dr. Rankin holds countless honors, awards, recognitions and titles. He is a member of several accredited federations, associations and organizations, and has been inducted numerous times to several different martial arts halls of fame.

Supreme Grandmaster Raynaud de la Cruz Lozada –  Supreme Grandmaster Lozada was born in the Hawaiian Islands in 1927 and is the cousin of the late world famous Escrima Grandmaster Angel Cabales, who began teaching his son Paul Lozada the family art of Serrada Escrima at the age of eight in Stockton, California. In 1945 SGM Raynaud Lozada entered the United States Army and claimed a two time boxing championship title. During his military career, he fought in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam where he earned the rank of Command Sergeant Major and became a highly decorated combat veteran. During his travels, he trained in Korea and learned the art of Okinawa Te in 1954. In 1956, he trained under Master Masoyama who instructed him in the art of Kyoku Shinkai. In 1959, he went to Thailand and trained in Thai Boxing. He was formally introduced to the Chinese art of Kung Fu in Hong Kong in 1960 and completed extensive training in Chinatown. Under the collaboration of some of the world's great masters, Grandmaster Lozada learned the Five Animal (Internal System) of Hung Gar as well as Choy Lay Fut, Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Southern and Northern Shaolin. He was finally trained in the arts of Shotoshainkai and Shotokan Karate under the direction of Sensei Takahashi where he earned his Judan (10^th Degree Black Belt) and was bestowed the title and degree of “Grandmaster” in Yokohama, Japan.  After extensive research and application in the combat arts, Grandmaster Lozada founded his own system known as Kuochi Kali Kar. Kuochi = Kung Fu Internal System. Kali = Serrada Escrima Cabales. Kar = Shotokan Ryu Combat Karate. He is one of the very few persons in the world to ever have received the United States Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame “Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award” for being a founder, practitioner and teacher of the martial arts for more than 50 years. He still practices and teaches at the age of 80 years. SGM Lozada promoted Joe Bannon to the rank of Grandmaster (8th Dan Black Belt) under the Kuochi Kali Kar and Shin Tai Wushu System.

Supreme Grandmaster Paul R. Lozada – Supreme Grandmaster Lozada has been a student of the martial arts for the past 37 years, and a Master Instructor since 1979. He holds the ranks of 8th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, 2nd Dan in Jiu Jutsu, Grandmaster of Hung Gar (5 Animal System), Instructor of Wing Chun, and Grandmaster of Escrima (Filipino Stick and Knife Fighting). He is a Master Instructor and police (close quarter) combat expert, as well as an 18 year veteran, detective, and the most highly decorated police officer with the San Francisco Police Department in California. He has survived a countless number of street fights, as well as several armed gun and knife confrontations. He has authored two books relative to police baton and knife defense techniques. In 2001, he worked directly with Denzel Washington in his character development for the movie "Training Day" which won Denzel an Academy Award. Grandmaster Lozada has also provided technical advice and choreography to Actor Bruce Willis and Film Director Antoine Fuqua in the movie "Tears of the Sun." From the art of Kuochi Kali Kar and other lineage based arts passed down to him by his father Supreme Grandmaster (Sijo) Raynaud Lozada – Supreme Grandmaster Paul Lozada developed the martial art of Shin Tai Wushu or what is now known as Modern Mortal Combat. Both Supreme Grandmasters Raynaud and Paul Lozada adopted, certified, promoted, trained and grafted Supreme Grandmaster Joe Bannon into their lineage and family styles.  

Supreme Grandmaster Joseph F. Bannon Ph.D. – Dr. Bannon is the Founder; President; Chief Instructor and Chief Executive Officer of the Bannon Institute Incorporated and the Surgical Strike Fighting System™. He holds the title of Supreme Grand Master and is ranked as a 10th degree black belt under the authority of the United States Martial Artist Association. He was inducted into the United States Martial Artist Hall of Fame in 2004 as "Grandmaster of the Year," and awarded the Shaolin Dim Mak "Silver Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2005. In January of 2006 he was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame for "Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts" as a Grand Master; and The London International Hall of Fame for "Excellence in the Martial Arts." In September 2006 he was voted "Kung Fu Instructor of the Year" at the Lau Kune Do Temple of Chinese Martial Arts. In July of 2007 he was again inducted into the United States Martial Artist Hall of Fame as "Supreme Grand Master of the Year." In January of 2008, he was again inducted to the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame as a Grandmaster Ambassador to the Martial Arts. In July of 2008 he was presented the "International Director's Award" by the founder of the United States Martial Artist Association in Maryland. He is a graduate of the Golden Lion Academy of Dim Mak – Kung Fu in Australia; and is currently a senior instructor and disciple of the Lau Kune Do art of Kung Fu at the Lau Kune Do Temple of Chinese Martial Arts in Southern California. Supreme Grandmaster Joe Bannon is co founder of the current T.R.I.A.D. System of Mortal Combat originally prototyped by Master Rich Kluck. Supreme Grandmaster Joe Bannon extended his lineage to include Master Rich Kluck into the art of Shin Tai Wushu and bestowed upon him the rank of Sandan (3^rd Dan Black Belt) sanctioned and approved by Hanshi William Rankin of the USMAA. Based on the aforementioned traditional and unbroken lineage presented here – both Master Rich Kluck and Master Joe Bannon founded what is now known as the T.R.I.A.D. System of Mortal Combat available by invitation only to likeminded people.

Master Richard Kluck CPS – Master Kluck is a senior instructor at Executive Security International specializing in Counter Surveillance, Protective Detail Movement as well as Tactical and Defensive Firearms Training. He is the Director of Security for an international magazine publishing firm as well as the CEO of The Fifth Profession – an executive protection company which founded “The Fifth T.R.I.A.D.” training program (Training Regime Incorporating Aggressive Disciplines) which is a progressive training program for like-minded and trained individuals seeking a multi dimensional and serious approach to gun fighting tactics. He is certified by the Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training for instruction of SWAT teams within the State of Oregon whose mission is also to provide dignitary protection. A certified NRA Law Enforcement Shotgun and Handgun Instructor with over 25 years of experience as an instructor and practitioner of various weaponized and empty hand martial arts. Master Kluck has more than 25 years of experience in the executive protection field which includes high and low profile details, international witness protection, corporate and celebrity clients, working in conjunction with the US Marshals Service, US Secret Service, FBI, and several overseas agencies, as well as local law enforcement agencies. He has operated in Central America, London and Africa. Master Kluck is a 3^rd degree black belt in the art of Shin Tai Wushu and the Oregon State Director of the United States Martial Artist Association. Master Kluck was promoted to 5^th Dan Black Belt (Master) under the T.R.I.A.D. System directly by Hanshi William Rankin of the USMAA. Based on the above traditional and unbroken lineage; Master Rich Kluck holds the sanctioned authority to pass this art on to whoever he sees worthy to learn it and he may promote any student under him to the same rank that he holds at that time. 

Master Joel Hodges CPS - Master Hodges holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors degree in Professional Management from NSU. His 25 year career in Law Enforcement was primarily in Special Operations; 19 of those years on a SWAT Team and eventually as SWAT Team Commander. He retired at the rank of Lieutenant. He is an extremely accomplished shooter and was 8 times on the "Florida Governor’s 20" as one of the top law enforcement shooters in the State of Florida, and on the "President’s 100" as one of the Top 100 shooters in the country. He held 2 national records in Practical Police Combat shooting sanctioned through the NRA and amassed more than 600 awards for his accomplishments in several shooting disciplines. He was the second law enforcement shooter to achieve the coveted Distinguished Police Shooter Award while participating in the Florida Police Combat League. As a SWAT Team leader, Master Hodges has an extensive background in teaching and developing practical tactics such as dealing with active shooters in large areas such as schools in the post Columbine era which are used today by other SWAT teams. He is a graduate of Executive Security International where he is also a firearms instructor. Very few people today can claim the documented accomplishments, awards and certifications of Master Hodges.

(Thus the Traditional Martial Art Lineage Based T.R.I.A.D. System)

 Of

 Mortal Combat

TRIAD ENROLLMENT FORM