Mr. Ron Hagelganz began his martial arts training in 1980 under the instruction of Sansen Jerry Jensen, a 3rd Degree Black Belt and #7 World Ranked Karate/Kickboxing fighter. Training in an Americanized version of Song Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do, he successfully tested for his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1984.

A few months later, when his instructor was injured in a sparring accident and retired, he continued teaching the class on his own and began developing the curriculum for what would become Whole Armor Martial Arts ®, the school you are reading about today.

In 1987 he became a student of Dr. Clement G. Riedner, Soke (Head founder), of the Nippon Shiho Karano Ryu and the Christian Black Belt Association, and shifted his study to Karate-do in the Shiho Karano Ryu style. Among several other ranks in other disciplines, he ultimately earned a 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate-do.

But all that aside, teaching martial arts as a means of sharing Christ was always the goal. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.

After 41 years in the martial arts, and producing over 60 Black Belts, Mr. Hagelganz retired at the end of 2021, with total confidence that his successors at Whole Armor Martial Arts will continue to point students to Jesus at every class.

A life long musician and artist, after retiring Mr. Hagelganz got together with a good friend and produced an adult coloring book: “The Jesus People Coloring Trip”, all about the Jesus Movement in the 70’s. You can find it on amazon HERE.