Things are changing at RPMAA!

My name is Jeff Westfall and I’ve been training in the martial arts since 1971 and teaching since 1976.

After teaching in garages and basements for the first four years in 1980 I moved my classes to their first commercial location which I named the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy.

Over 46 years that name has been displayed on a sign over each of 7 increasingly larger and better equipped locations.

Listen up!

There are a few rumors going around about me in the local martial arts community.

Let me dispel the rumors…

I’m not dead yet.

To paraphrase Monty Python I’m getting better.

I’m not retiring from teaching the martial arts.

I’m not closing the academy.

I’m simply downsizing it.

In November of 2026 I’m moving classes to a smaller building at:

1700 Haven Dr.

I will continue to teach, research, practice, and produce media content there.

But there is room for only eight students in the new location.

I don’t have the room to allow for drop in attendance.

Class attendance will be by appointment only.

For additional details or to make an appointment call or text me at:

(812) 550-3417

I will still conduct a full schedule of classes for adults and kids (with a small alteration in the schedule), teach private lessons and seminars.

For those who are interested here is my martial arts CV:

rpma-logo-bodyI hold a Black Belt with two stripes in the Marcello Monteiro Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association.

I am a Senior Instructor (Ajarn) in the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A. under Sesara Ajarn Surachai Sirisute.

I hold three ranks in the Inosanto International Martial Arts Instructors Association, under Guro Dan Inosanto. They are:

Full Instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu

Full Instructor in the Filipino Martial Arts

Instructor in the Majapahit Martial Arts.

I hold a Second-Degree Black Belt from the United States Judo Association.

I am an inactive but once authorized representative of Combat Submission Wrestling under Sensei Erik Paulson.

I began training in the martial arts in 1971, beginning in Kyokushin Karate, but then adding Tai Lung Gung Fu, Boxing, Thai Boxing, Jun Fan Gung Fu, the Filipino Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Shoot Wrestling, Silat, Judo, Fencing, Wrestling and other disciplines.

I maintain a rigorous personal training regimen so that I can competently teach.