Coaches

Pete Menke began training in martial arts at 14 years old, studying the art of American Kenpo. By the age of 18, he earned his 1st-degree black belt in American Kenpo. During that period, he also trained in Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Boxing, and American Kickboxing. After graduating high school, Pete enlisted in the Marine Corps. While serving, he studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Judo, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. During his time in the Marines, he earned a Black Belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Additionally, while still serving, Pete continued his studies with his original Kenpo instructor and ultimately received his 4th-degree Black Belt, just before his professor passed away in 2012. Pete received his Blue Belt in BJJ while serving in the Marine Corps but had limited time to train thereafter due to operational tempo. Pete had the privilege of training all over the US and world, which included training in the Philippines with a Pencak Silat grandmaster for over three months and with UFC fighters in California. Over the years, Pete has competed in Point Karate (Empty Hand Forms, Weapons Forms, Fighting), Full Contact Karate, Boxing, American Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Submission Fighting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts.

Pete retired from the Marine Corps in October of 2019, after serving for 22 years; 17 of which were as a Force Recon/Recon Marine. He now works as the Assistant Chief Operations Officer and an instructor for a tactical training company that primarily provides training and services to Military Special Operations and Local/State/Federal Law Enforcement. Pete has also continued his training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has an instructor rating in SOCP (Special Operations Combative Program). Pete studies Lethwei under Saya Win Zin Oo of Myanmar and has achieved the title of Saya (instructor/coach) in Thut Ti Lethwei.

Pete owns and operates a Personal Protection and Martial arts school named Unified Combatives Academy, LLC. Unified Combative Academy teaches Thut Ti Lethwei and Menke Kenpo Americana (MKA).