Sifu Phil Cruz

SIFU, CO-FOUNDER

@philcruzjkd

Sifu Phil Cruz, has 26-years of martial arts training. As the co-owner of Unlimited Martial Arts in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Cruz’s profound martial arts journey has been enriched by extensive training under the esteemed Guro Dan Inosanto. He holds coveted Instructorship in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts, personally awarded by Guro Dan Inosanto. 

Cruz’s coaching legacy extends to shaping the careers of both professional and amateur fighters in the realms of boxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts. His guidance has propelled numerous fighters to champion status as well as being in events such as UFC and Glory Kickboxing. A defining moment in Cruz’s career was coaching the USA team during the World Kickboxing Association world championships in Scotland (2010), culminating in a triumphant gold medal victory. Cruz’s insatiable thirst for knowledge is evident through his diverse training experiences. He has trained with luminaries like Megaton Diaz, Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, and Clark Gracie, earning a jiu-jitsu brown belt with 4 stripes. Additionally, Cruz has a white glove (fourth-degree technical rank) in Savate, earned under the esteemed guidance of Professor Nicolas Saignac. 

Cruz’s mastery of Jeet Kune Do is a testament to his training with Sifu Paul Vunak and Tom Cruise of Progressive Fighting Systems. His achievements encompass full instructorship in street fighting and edge weapons systems, along with one time holding the title of Chief Certification Officer. 

Cruz’s expertise extends to law enforcement training in which completed both beginner and advanced combative courses. Seeking out knowledge in firearms, he has also completed level 1 hand gun and level 1 rifle training in Adaptive Concepts. His understanding of the legal implications of force is enriched by his degree in criminal justice, underscoring his comprehensive grasp of complex matters. 

Cruz’s influence extends to TV and film, where he has lent his skills to stunts and fight scene choreography. Notable projects include the NBC pilot “What the Fight,” the History Channel commercial “The Human Weapon,” and the “Bruce Lee Lives” segment for The King Fu Channel. 

As the head instructor at Unlimited Martial Arts, Sifu Cruz has said: “I want you to know that you’re not on this difficult journey alone. Myself and all the other instructors at UMA are on this journey with you. We will be here to keep you on the path towards your goal. We will help pick you up when you fall. We will encourage you to move forward after every achievement and failure. Your fellow classmates will also help you on this journey, as we expect you to assist them as well. After all, I truly feel that a strong community of many driven, positive, and extraordinary people is better than one individual with their own personal agenda. Even though we are one community, we still want you to show up in your own great and unique way. So don’t be afraid to shine as your skills and confidence grows. As Marianne Williamson once said, “It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” You’ll learn that your own path will also evolve and change in ways you’ve never expected as you deepen your knowledge of the arts. So before you begin, I want you to remember two things: 1) You can achieve any goal with determination, dedication, and discipline, and 2) We are all in this together, you are not alone.