Thane Collins, Lead Martial Arts Instructor
Thane Collins, 9th Degree Black Belt
Collins study of martial arts began over 35 years ago at age six,
with a blended style of Shaolin Kung Fu, Kempo and Karate.
By age 18, Collins was studying and instructing martial arts full
time. For over a decade Collins taught and studied martial arts not
simply as a part time activity but as his sole occupation. During
the decade, Collins worked as an instructor at several schools,
attended, participated and judged hundreds of tournaments and by age
29 had advanced to the rank of Master. As a member of the Fred
Villari organization he studied under Grandmaster Villari himself as
well as other leading teachers. Later, Collins expanded his study to
include Aikido, Jui Jitsu, Boxing, Chinese Boxing, Kickboxing and
Tai Chi, seeking out instructors in these disciplines and training
with them.
In the mid 1980s, Thane became a police officer in Worcester MA. Due
to his unique abilities as an officer who could disarm, arrest and
subdue suspects with minimal injury to them or to law enforcement
officers, Collins was regularly designated by the police department
to deal with violent offenders and difficult suspects. During his
twelve years as a police officer, Collins had over 3000 encounters
with armed and dangerous criminals. Thane also trained over 400
police and law enforcement professionals. This unusual experience
for a martial artist enabled Collins to further develop his style
and system with practicality and usability. Collins continued to
study and teach martial arts during this time and focused for a
period of three years on perfecting a new method he devised of
increasing balance, power and speed.
In 1992, Master Thane Collins founded the Shaolin Kung Fu Society in
Worcester MA and taught advanced and beginner students. Collins also
taught Tai Chi relaxation and meditation and taught executive
leadership and self-defense for corporations such as Morgan Stanley,
Paul Revere Insurance, Bank of America and State Street.
In the mid 1990s, Master Collins moved to Hawaii where he studied
with martial artists such as Pui Chan, the Grandmaster of the Wah
Lum Kung Fu Association and affiliates of the late Professor William
Chow. In Hawaii, Collins continued instruction of advanced students
as well as members of the US Military. In 2003, Collins moved to the
hills of West Virginia near a Buddhist retreat where he created a
specialized instructional environment.
Mr. Collins currently also serves as an independent contractor,
Director of Special Training for FDVT Corporation, a government
contracting agency whose clients include the FBI, Department of the
Treasury, US Army, US Navy, US Marines, US Postal Inspectors Bureau,
NY Police Department, US Air Force and other law enforcement
agencies. In this capacity, Collins is responsible for advanced
martial arts training of military and other government agencies.
Today Collins is most interested in blending the successes of recent
mixed martial arts with ancient wisdom and sound training methods
that can be used by everyone.
