Assistant Coach PHYE 232 - Martial Arts Martial Arts & Self Defense San Diego City College (Fall 2007 - Spring 2014) Assistant Coach EXSC 148 - Martial Arts San Diego Mesa College Martial Arts & Kickboxing (Spring 2015 - Present) EXSC 147 - Kickboxing San Diego Mesa College Martial Arts & Kickboxing (Summer 2015 - Present) Guro Senior Instructor Philippine Martial Arts Gajo Martial Arts Bothoan

	Joe Benedito holds the rank and title of Guro in Philippine Martial Arts under Master Mario Gajo, Gajo Martial Arts Bothoan (San Diego, CA). The rank of Guro is equivalent to a Senior Instructor Black Belt in other martial arts. The system of Arnis de Mano that he studied was Babao Arnis System developed by Late Grand Master Narrie Babao. He also trained in: Black Tiger Muay Thai, under Ajarn Vince Soberano & 6th Kahn Kru Mario Gajo; Babao Arnis, under 10th Grade GM Narrie Babao, Babao Arnis Academy (Paradise Hills, CA); Babao Arnis, under 8th Grade Master Narrison Babao, Babao Arnis Academy (Paradise Hills, CA); Tae Kwon Do & Self Defense, under 6th Dan Master Michael Pasag, United Martial Arts College; Tae Kwon Do & Kick Boxing, under 2nd Dan Instructor Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson, San Diego Mesa College; Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do & Self Defense, under 3rd Dan Sandan Sensei Jim Colbert, San Diego City College; American Tang Soo Do, under 7th Dan Master Irving Hoffman, Unified Martial Arts (Chula Vista, CA). In Fall 2005, Asst. Coach Benedito enrolled in a the PHYE 233-Kickboxing at San Diego Mesa College. The course was taught by Coach Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson and introduced him to Coach Wilson's high energy style of teaching and conditioning methods. It reminded Asst. coach Benedito of the way that, then Guro, Mario Gajo taught him. Guro Gajo and Coach Wilson also had similar teaching philosophies. In Fall 2007, Asst. Coach Benedito enrolled in the PHYE 232-Martial Arts class at San Diego City College taught by Coach Jim Colbert. In the class description that the course included Eskrima. The first day during the introductions Coach Colbert said that had instruction in Eskrima from Cepeda-Abueg Martial Arts; which happened to be a martial arts school that also teaches Babao Arnis.The Phillipine Martial Arts system that Asst. Coach Benedito trained in. Coincidently, Coach Colbert happen to hand Joe Benedito an Eskrima stick out of the entire class of around 50 students. Another coincidence was that Maestro Benedito was the only certified Eskrima instructor in the style Coach Colbert trained in. It was at that point that Maestro Benedito decided to introduce himself to Coach Colbert after class and reveal his status as a Eskrima instructor in the style that Coach Colbert studied. From that point on, Joe Benedito helped Coach Colbert’s with the PHYE 232 - Martial Arts course until Coach Colbert’s retirement after Spring 2013 semester. From Fall 2007 - Spring 2009 (4 semesters), Maestro Joe Benedito was enrolled in PHYE 232 - Martial Arts at San Diego City College taught by Coach Jim Colbert, Professor Health and Exercise Science, San Diego City College; then 2nd Dan Black Belt and Nidan Sensei in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate. The PHYE 232 - Martial Arts emphasized Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, Arnis de Mano, & Judo. From Fall 2009 - Spring 2013, Maestro Joe Ben was a volunteer Asst. Coach of Martial Arts for PHYE 232 - Martial Arts at San Diego City College under Coach Jim Colbert until Coach Colbert's retirement after the Spring 2013 semester. Asst. Coach Joe Benedito lead the Arnis de Mano portion of the class & helped Coach Colbert conduct the overall class. Jim Colbert taught Physical Education & Health at SD City College for 23 years from 1990-2013. Jim Colbert passed away on September 18, 2013 from brain cancer. From Fall 2013 – Summer 2014, Coach Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson taught the PHYE 232-Martial Arts class at San Diego City College. Asst. Coach Benedito continued to assist with the PHYE 232 - Martial Arts course at SD City College under Coach Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson. Coach Wilson was recruited by Coach Jim Colbert per Asst. Coach Benedito's recommendation. He previously took Coach Wilson's PHYE 233-Kickboxing course at SD Mesa College in Fall 2005 which was instrumental in his recommemdation of Coach Sarmiento-Wilson to Coach Colbert. Coach Colbert told Asst. Coach Benedito that he was looking for a woman with a Master's in Exercise Science & Nutrition and a martial arts instructor to teach the the PHYE 232-Martial Arts course. There was no other person that fit the profile better than Coach Sarmiento-Wilson. In addition, she was already was a Physical Education & Health instructor for the San Diego Community College District and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District for almost 20 years. Also she has M.S. Exercise and Nutritional Sciences & M.S. Public Health from San Diego State University; a B.S. Nutrition from San Diego State University; and was a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. On June 04, 2014, Maestro Joe Benedito was awarded the rank of 1st Class Brown Belt in Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima. He was recommended by Master Narrison Babao & Senior Guro Mario Gajo to GM Chuck Canete, grandson of Supreme Grandmaster Cacoy Canete. GM Chuck Canete relayed the recommendation to SGM Cacoy Canete who gave his approval. The award was in recognition by SGM Cacoy Canete for Maestro Joe's contributions to Philippine Martial Arts. In Spring 2015, he started co-teaching the EXSC 148 - Martial Arts course at San Diego Mesa College Coach Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson. In Summer 2015, he began co-teaching the EXSC 147 - Kickboxing course at San Diego Mesa College Coach Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson. In February 2017, Joe Benedito started coaching boxing at Maxwell's Boxing (San Diego, CA 92126). He was recruited with Heidi Sarmiento-Wilson by Sherman Sadsadrin, Founder, Maxwell's Boxing. On April 11, 2018, he was conferred the rank and title of Guro, Senior Instructor, GMAB Philippine Martial Arts at Rawmanna Fitness. The rank was conferred by Master Mario Gajo (Founder, Gajo Martial Arts Bothoan/SD Filipino Martial Arts).