Michael Schlosser, Ph.D., Associate Director, University of Illinois Police Training Institute:
“I have been involved in the martial arts for over 35 years and have studied under numerous instructors. I have also had experience teaching the martial arts off and on over the last 20 years. Jack McVicker is one of the most outstanding instructors I have ever studied under. He is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced instructor. Jack is also recognized nationally both as an instructor and competitor. However, what stands out most about Jack is his ability to pass his knowledge onto others. He realizes everyone is unique and has their own strengths and weakness, and he is able to work with anyone. He is very professional and personable and runs a very safe class, allowing virtually anyone, any age to participate and learn. As the lead control and arrest tactics instructor at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, Jack has helped me develop and enhance much of the curriculum taught to police officers in Illinois. Whether you are interested in personal defense, enjoyment, fitness, or competition, I would recommend Jack McVicker’s classes to everyone.”
Jim Eisenmenger:
“There are few world-class jiu-jitsu competitors in the Midwest, and even fewer who are also highly skilled educators. Jack is both. Prior to beginning to train with Jack (at the age of 36), I had no martial arts experience. I was immediately embraced by Jack and all of his students despite both my age and lack of experience. The focus at McVicker’s Martial Arts is improving skills and lives – everyone in the program embraces that ideal. There are no unhealthy egos, no dripping levels of testosterone that result in beat-up bodies and bruised relationships. I found a family that cares as much (or more) about my improvement and well-being as their own. I found a technical, mental, and physical challenge that keeps me motivated (now at age 41) to remain in the best physical condition of my life. I recently began bringing my teenage son to Jack’s fundamentals classes, and his experience has been as positive as my own. The adults have embraced Charlie and let him know he is a part of the family, giving him a great boost in his confidence and self-esteem. I’m not sure exactly what I was looking for when I started training with Jack, but I have found much of great value – both in technical skills and in friendships. Lew Smith: "Many people will tell you that when a man reaches his 50s he tries to relive his youth. I've never looked at life that way. Besides, my youth was not as much fun as I'm having today. I started learning Jeet Kune Do (JKD) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) on my 54th birthday. Today at the age of almost 58, I can say that the time I have been a student of Coach Jack McVicker has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. You may ask why a 58-year-old man needs to know these fighting skills. The short answer is - I don't. Furthermore, why would he choose these specific disciplines? One word can sum up the martial arts skills I have learned at McVicker’s Martial Arts Academy. That word is functionalization. I served in the military Security Forces during the Vietnam War, as a police officer for eight years in Decatur, Illinois, and a fire department captain for over 24 years. I have seen the very worst and very best in people. Consequently, I could not give my time, strength, and commitment to a fighting skill that I could not see as functional in my real world experiences. My drive to participate in the skill-sets of JKD and BJJ is a part of who I am as a person. The same motivations that led me into my chosen professions are the precise reasons I have embraced these martial arts. Therefore, growing and learning in my training is not trying to recapture my youth. On the contrary, it is merely an ongoing extension of who I have always been. Unfortunately, I am impatient with my ability to learn fast enough. So, training has not always been easy. Here's where my coach, mentor, and friend has help me achieve more than I thought I could. Coach McVicker has always provided the calm, level-headed counsel that kept me going. On more than one occasion, I told him in frustration that I couldn't learn anything. He would calmly ask me how much better I thought I was compared to last year. It wasn't long until I was asking the same question in my head whenever I doubted myself. So, I just kept going. The lessons Jack reinforced here were lighten up, calm down, breathe, and never quit." Jamie Kyler: "I started training at McVicker’s Martial Arts approximately 5 years ago. At that time I was looking for something to keep me in shape and feed my competitive nature. That is when I happen to stumble upon world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and competitor Jack McVicker. The atmosphere, students and surroundings were very welcoming and relaxed. The instruction I have received there, in my opinion it is the best I have been around in any learning environment comparable thus far. Jack’s vast amount martial arts experience and his ability as an instructor makes it easy for anyone to learn, no matter what their physical capabilities might be. With that being said this is one stumble in my life I will never regret.” Scotty Redenbaugh, Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine: "Jack McVicker provides a full system of self-defense and competition. I have never met a person who is so skilled at his craft and so skilled at teaching it at the same time. I have learned a ton of realistic techniques that could keep me alive in a physical confrontation from his classes. I have also made friendships there that will last me a lifetime. I cannot recommend a better place to learn than McVicker's Martial Arts." Quote from Zach Edington's article in the Terre Haute Tribune Star (TribStar), 12/15/11: "Wrestling is definitely my best asset. Probably second would be my ground game, with my jiu-jitsu [thanks in part to training from McVicker].” Read the whole article at: http://tribstar.com/sports/x161777564/Like-a-caged-animal. Chris Gleeson, Sept. 2012: I have trained in various martial arts for almost a decade, the last four months of which have been under Professor Jack McVicker. I am writing this because I feel truly fortunate to be able to train with Jack, and all of his coaches and students. Jack has created more than just a martial arts curriculum, he has created a community of talented and dedicated martial artists and competitors. It would be difficult even now with the popularity of MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, to find a place to train with so much talent. I originally came to train with Jack for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I had been training 5-6 days a week at a Gracie Academy BJJ school for over six months and was/am completely addicted to BJJ. I eat, sleep, and breathe it. I already had a black belt in a traditional martial art and many years doing striking arts, and I wasn't all that interested in training in Jeet Kune Do. I really just wanted to train BJJ, so I figured I would approach the JKD as a great way to break the rust off my striking, and get a great conditioning warm up for the BJJ portion of the class. What I wasn't expecting to find, was an *incredible* striking and self defense curriculum that is totally rooted in realism and simplicity. There is no fancy nonsense that only works when a compliant "attacker" does a very specific attack with a very specific cadence. The JKD program builds on, improves, strips down, and organizes everything I had learned before, and when combined with the BJJ program, it forms an extremely well rounded system. There is simply no one martial art that has the breadth and depth that is presented in the combination of JKD and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Anyone trained in this system will have a martial arts vocabulary that includes knife defense, stick fighting, weapon retention, striking at all ranges, grappling and submission fighting.
Chad Cottrell, March 2013: I have recently started training at McVicker’s in C-U Illinois. This school is top notch! I have trained in various other schools in my life and none of them compare to the level of competency, compassion, passion, and teaching ability of Jack and his coaches. The classes are exactly what I have been looking for in a martial arts academy. The mix of Jeet Kune Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fit perfectly together to make for a fighting system that will allow a person to dominate in a self -defense situation either standing or on the ground. If you are looking to do more sport BJJ and are not sure if this is the place for you, then just do an internet search for Jack McVicker. What you find should be evidence enough to encourage you to stop by the academy as his record speaks for itself. The mantra that I have heard repeated at this school is: “leave your ego at the door and come in and have fun while learning.” If you have an interest in learning martial arts then I would say come by give McVicker’s a try. I can honestly say that I have never found a place to train where I have felt more respected and treated with kindness.
