Matthew Lesko
Chief Instructor
Mr. Lesko's life long passion and involvement in the martial arts started as a child in 1984 when he witnessed a Filipino man at a local gym demonstrating Kali. He looked at his mom and said "I have to learn how to do that". Matthew started training with the man who amazed him. The next few years of training took place at Matthew's home in his parents basement and backyard as well as local parks. He and his older brother studied diligently with their teacher in the fighting methods of the Philipines, Muay Thai, and Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do until their teacher would eventually return to the Philipines.
Over the next decade Matthew continued training, seeking out backyard groups and local schools searching for more of what he was first introduced to. Eventually, Matthew came across the art of Kenpo. The fluid continual movements of Kenpo were similar to the fluid nature of the Filipino Martial Arts which Matthew had so loved. Kenpo became a focal point for Matthew's training path for many years to come. For the next decade and a half, Matthew continued to diligently train in these martial disciplines and began adding to his toolbox by training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, various "Extreme JKD" systems, traditional Wing Chun Gung Fu, more Filipino weapon and empty hand fighting systems and several systems of Indonesian Pencak Silat.
Even after founding CQC Unlimited and it's CORE curriculum, Matthew continues to diligently seek out alternative methods of dealing with the combative equation. He maintains that we are all students and must continually take active measures to grow.
In an effort to give respect to those who so kindly shared their knowledge, Matthew put together the following list of the martial arts and sciences which he feels have played an important role in his martial development. This list is here to publicly thank his teachers, coaches, peers, firends and instructors and acknowledge these systems.
"My deepest thanks, gratitude and respect go out to all of you."
- Matthew
Indonesian Martial Arts
- Pencak Silat Gadjah Putih Jati Wisesa
- Pencak Silat Pertempuran
- Pukulan Pentjak Silat Serak
- Pukulan Pentjak Silat Tongkat
Asian Martial Arts
- Hung Gar Gung Fu
- Kenpo
- Taijiquan (Yang)
- Wing Chun Gung Fu
- Yueng Chuan
Filipino Martial Arts
- Doce Pares Eskrima
- Lacoste/Inosanto Kali
- Panantukan / Dumog / Pangamut
- Pekiti Tirsia Kali
Other Martial Arts
- American Wing-Chun Silat
- Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
- Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do
- Kickboxing
- KI Fighting Concepts
- Mauy Thai
- United Martial Arts
Teachers/Instructor/Mentors
- Guru/Guro Leslie Buck
- Sifu Fransic Fong
- Grand Tuhan Leo Gaje
- Sifu Dave Harris (RIP)
- Guru Danny Inosanto
- Guru/Guro Loki Jorgenson
- Sifu Ron Jorgenson
- Tuhan Billy McGrath
- Guru Chris Petrilli
- Sifu Jerry Samuelson
- Sifu/Guru Joseph Simonet
- Sifu Steve Sherman
- Guru Sean Stark
- Sifu Danny Terrell
- Sensei Greg Tudor
- Sifu/Guro Quando
Student Testimonials:
"For anyone that is serious about taking themselves to a "Next Level" of what they can overcome physically and mentally, challenge yourself by spending a month training with Mr. Lesko. You will see that there is more to Martial Arts than a uniform and a colored belt (those are for holding up your pants). Your muscles will ache in places you never knew they could. Your confidence, self respect, and overall understanding of Martial Arts will be enlightened. If you take out of it all that you can, you will see that it will change your life. It did for me and others. It is still with me to this day."
"The Path of the Warrior is the Road to Self Enlightenment!"
Michael Boner
Redmond, WA
"I have to say that the things Mr. Lesko taught me have stuck with me over the years. His teaching style is second to none! If you want to learn real techniques and not the "standard", Mr. Lesko is the one you have to go to. If you work hard and dedicate yourself to learn what he has to teach - you will not regret a moment of it and it will last a lifetime."
Trevor Mulligan
Los Angels, CA
"I had the opportunity to study Pencak Silat with Mr. Lesko for about three months. I found his wealth of knowledge about Pencak Silat, Kenpo, Filipino Martial Arts, and general combative theories to be exceptional. I learned more about martial arts, physics, fight psychology and tactics by just talking to him than I have while taking some people's classes. Not only is he a world-class martial artist, but even more importantly, he's a world-class instructor. It's not often that you find an instructor who is both a great martial artist and a great teacher. He upholds the highest ideals of what a martial artist should be, and warmly welcomes every student into his family. The training and the conversations we had will continue to shape my training and study for many years to come."
Joel Priest
Anacortes, WA
"I've been training for a long time and have had the privilege of training with some of the best. I'm proud to be able to include Matthew in that list. He brings a wealth of experience to the table. His methods are both sound and insightful."
Mike Norris - Voodoo Combatives
Lafayette, LA
