Our Instructors

Rob Wimberly

JKD/Kali Instructor

Jonathan McKee

Law Enforcement Instructor

Jonathan has extensive experience in the physical security industry which began with a law enforcement career, working for one of the largest cities in Texas. As a patrol officer, he was responsible for responding to emergency calls for service and providing active crime prevention. While working as a patrol officer, he was appointed to the position of Field Training Officer responsible for training new officers. Jonathan was then appointed team leader for one of the largest police gang units in the country. For over 5 years, he was responsible for the tactical training of the entire unit as well as planning and leading all tactical operations including dynamic search warrants and violent fugitive apprehension. Jonathan also spent over 2 years as a Detective in the department's Crimes Against Children Unit where he was responsible for the investigation of crimes committed against children including assaults, sexual assaults and murder. Jonathan was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant and spent several years supervising patrol officers before retiring after 16 years of service. Since founding Stonewall Protection Group, Jonathan has overseen the close personal protection for numerous high level executives and high net-worth individuals across many different corporate sectors throughout the country. Jonathan relies on his experience and education in security management to routinely consult with business leaders on how to best mitigate their exposure to physical threats and improve their security posture.

Jonathan's Certifications and Achievements include:

• ASIS Board Certified Protection Professional
• BA in Security Management - American Military University
• Extensive training in Executive Protection including threat and vulnerability assessment, travel safety and logistics, protective surveillance, and close physical protection
• Advanced firearms training
• Specialized tactical training including hostage rescue, booby trap detection/avoidance and active shooter response
• Jonathan has received numerous commendations including the Chief's Letter of Recognition and a nomination for Officer of The Year
• Certified TCOLE Law Enforcement Instructor
• Certified TCOLE Firearms Instructor
• Master Peace Officer License
• Certified instructor in Paul Vunak's R.A.T. (Rapid Assault Tactics) system.
• Certified instructor in the use of Simunition non-lethal training ammunition

Phillip Sterling

Wu Wei Gung Fu & Mook Jong Instructor

Professor Albert C. Church, founder of Kamishin Ryu, was a former Unites States Marine who introduced me to martial arts at the Navy Training Center, Virginia Beach, VA in 1968. At Professor Church’s school, I met Timothy L. Raynor (stuntman, actor, director, producer), where he and I trained up to 14 hours a day. The curriculum included:

Styles:

• Kamishin Ryu
• Fu Jowel Pai Tiger Claw
• Hapkido: Shaolin Si Te Chuan Fa
• Iaido
• Mugai Ho Shin Shin Ryu
• Shin Shin Ryu Jiu-jitsu

Weapons:

• Bo
• Jo
• Sword
• Bokken
• Yawara

In 1971, Professor Church awarded me the rank of Shodan in Long Tong Pai (Dragon Style) Kempo in the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai, USA system, and then in 1972 was awarded the rank of Nidan in Kamishin Ryu in that same system. Transferring to the Navy Great Lakes Training Center in 1974 (Chicago, IL), I added Judo to my Hapkido training. During this time I began training in Gojo Ryu Karate under Master Steve Abate at his Cobra Kai school. (Cultural note: Abate’s Cobra Kai dojo was attacked many times by martial artists from competing styles—something we termed the “dojo wars”—such was the mentality of the time.)

While the above training was underway, my Naval duties were as a Gold Crew weapons system supervisor and combat diver for the USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN 619) a Lafayette-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. After leaving the service, I started my own school in Hobbs, NM, sanctioned and under the direction of Professor Church to teach his style.

I then relocated to the DFW area, briefly working out with the Brock Brothers, George and Jimmy, then began studying with Sifu Joseph Cowles, one of Bruce Lee’s original students. Sifu Cowles developed Wu Wei Gung Fu, a style based on Bruce Lee’s core techniques. Sifu Cowles infused many of the techniques I brought as a student into his system, namely Long Tong Pai Kempo and Jiu-Jitsu that I learned from Professor Church. By 1983, I earned the rank of Boxer 3 rd Sash in Wu Wei Gung Fu. Sifu Cowles also required Mook Jong (wooden dummy) training and he certified that I performed his required 108 movements one thousand times—since I put in an additional thousand repetitions, he awarded me a second certification.

My martial arts training continues now in Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Kirk Weicht. I currently teach the Mook Jong (wooden dummy) class and infuse my training in Wu Wei Gung Fu where applicable.

Logan Roberson

Jr. Apprentice Instructor / JKD Kids Program

Logan Roberson started his martial art’s journey of “10,000 miles” with his first steps at just age three.  These first steps were under the tutelage of Tae Kwon Do Master Quay Humphrey (6th Dan) and Jeff Booker (4th Dan). 

He excelled quickly, moving through his “Little Tiger” belt (a five-belt series) with proficiency in only 18 months—before his 5th birthday.  Logan then earned his white belt and began training with the Tiger Class (5-8 year-old group).

It took Logan only a few months to advance to yellow belt status.  His instructors decided to train him privately—all while he additionally trained with the 8-10 year-old yellow belts.  At this time, Logan began classes in weapons, sparring, advanced kicks, and competition training (by the way…no competition losses!).

At this point in his young career, his family began to appreciate his need for a greater challenge; so they started researching different martial arts schools in their area. After trying several different dojos, they found that his best fit would be learning the Korean art of Kuk Sool Won.

Kuk Sool Won Master Wendy Hermann took Logan under her guidance at the age of five for 18 months.  Master Hermann added to weapons skills to his repertoire with nunchaku and bo (staff) among other weapons. Weapons training afforded Logan an opportunity to learn “the importance of the efficiency of movement.”

That same year, his family moved out of range of Master Wendy, so they searched for another Kuk Sool Won dojo. Finding there was none in their new area, they started looking for a different martial art experience to satisfy Logan’s ever increasing thirst to learn more. He needed a marital art that would, at his more advanced level, challenge him—and the challenge had to be outside the norm of the average “Kids Martial Arts Class.”

Enter Dallas-Fort Worth Jeet Kune Do Academy!

After interviewing with Sifu Kirk D. Weicht, Logan was excited to hear about the martial art Jeet Kune Do…and for him, it represented a new challenge to surmount!  That was in September, 2017. Logan received his first promotion stripe in his first month, and by February 2018, his earned his third stripe--the 4th stripe came in June.  But Logan’s site was on a blue belt.  So for the next eight months he focused on that goal.  Logan learned how to “win.” He learned how to “lose.” Sifu Weicht finally enlightened him to this fact: “JKD isn’t about mind over matter, the wins or loses…it’s about mind over itself!” 

By January 2019, Logan earned his blue belt, but he’ll tell you that’s just an “accomplishment of fundamentals.” With his positive attitude he began giving back to others, helping those in his class.  Sifu Weicht awarded him an “Junior Assistant Instructor” patch to sew on his blue belt.  His family was quick to notice his rapid accomplishments.  Sure enough, he earned his first purple stripe in July 2019.

Logan currently trains four days a week at DFWJKD Academy; two in a group setting, and two one-on-one with Sifu Kirk.  Additionally, he has his own private dojo at his residence and can often be found there refining his craft.

Sifu Weicht commented: “I’m proud of this young man’s accomplishments in such a short period and I look forward to him achieving his ultimate goal of owning his own dojo someday…perhaps we’ll all train there.”

Brock Royal

Apprentice Instructor

My journey into the exciting world of martial arts began in 2017. As my law enforcement and security career was taking off, I realized that my physical stature was on the smaller end of the spectrum for those who work in this field. I decided I needed to learn how to effectively defend myself based on my own physical capabilities. I looked into all types of martial arts in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and researched different styles.

When I came across Jeet Kune Do, I realized it was closest to street style tactics than any other martial arts I'd researched and would benefit me if I needed to defend myself on the street. I set up an interview with my current instructor and friend, Sifu Kirk Weicht. He shared his philosophy, reason for teaching others, and life experiences with me. I realized this was the art for me.

Through my training with Sifu Kirk Weicht, I have grown as a student learning standup, BJJ, and weapons work, while gaining confidence through every session. Much like my Sifu and mentor I felt an urge to teach martial arts to others and share how this experience was changing my life so I became an apprentice instructor under Sifu Weicht. When I was accepted into the police academy, I read about Rapid Assault Tactics (R.A.T.) and how this would benefit me on the street. I was recently awarded Phase One instructor under Sifu Weicht.

I approached Sifu Weicht about wanting to further my teaching career in Law Enforcement. Since then, I have been an adjunct instructor in Defensive Tactics at Tarrant County College Criminal Justice Training Center. I earned my certification as a Basic TCOLE instructor and Basic Defensive Tactics Instructor. I continue my training under Sifu Weicht and my friend Rob Wimberly.

Credentials

• Apprentice Instructor JKD/KALI under Kirk Weicht
• Phase one RAT instructor under Kirk Weicht
• Basic TCOLE Instructor
• Basic Defensive Tactics Instructor

Raigen Royal

Apprentice Instructor

My interest in martial arts began in 2010 when I started taking Mixed Martial Arts classes in Abilene, Tx. I moved to Azle, Tx in 2017, and in 2019 I met my now-husband, Brock Royal. Brock introduced me and my kids to Sifu Kirk Weicht in July of 2019. I knew immediately after our interview that DFWJKD was where I wanted and needed to be.

I began training and became immediately intrigued by Jeet Kun Do and all it had to offer. I was amazed at how all the different arts came together and how I could take what would work for me and make it my own. After a year of training under Sifu Kirk Weicht I knew that Jeet Kun Do was for me and that this would now be a lifestyle and not a hobby. I began to feel the need to be more involved and to help others. In 2020, I approached Sifu Weicht about helping teach in the Kid’s JKD classes. He welcomed me with open arms and allowed me, along with Derek Parker, to teach the Beginner Kid’s classes.

In February of 2022, I completed 10 hours of training, a written exam, and a practical application test in the Rapid Assault Tactics program under Sifu Kirk Weicht. I was certified as an apprentice instructor in March 2022. This program intrigued me because of its practical applications in street fighting. I believe that it is very important for all people to know how to defend themselves in all situations. This program helped develop those skills even further for me in all ranges of combat.

In January of 2022, I was invited to train under Sifu Phillip Sterling, in the Mook Jong class. I was very excited to add this to my skills, knowledge, and training. Sifu Sterling is a wealth of knowledge in this area and is great at transforming the 108 moves into combat. With Wing Chun being founded by a woman, and with it being the foundation of Jeet Kun Do this adds intrigue for me to learn this art.

As a survivor of trauma, my goals as a martial artist are to help others learn to defend themselves and be overcomers. I want to empower people and show that anyone can be strong. We all have an inner strength inside of us and I believe that martial arts are a key to bringing that out.