About Kru John Valentine

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Kru John Valentine has been training in Muay Thai since 2000.  He was first a student of Grand Master Toddy, Master Green, and Master Chan in Las Vegas and 3x Muay Thai World Champion and WEC/UFC fighter Kit Cope.  Additionally, he works extensively with Utah’s premier MMA coach, Brandon Guzzo who has multiple UFC and world champions to his credit.  In 2010, Kru John was one of the few students awarded his Kru rank by his current master and teacher world famous trainer/fighter and 4x Muay Thai World Champion Master Sakasem “The Punisher” Kanthawong.  To become a Master Certified Kru (instructor) takes years of perfection and dedication to the art form.  Some people claim to be Kru’s but often received their certifications through seminars and camps and not through the commitments which is tradition which can take up to a decade.  Currently, he heads up the Muay Thai program and is one of the head fight team coaches for Hidden Valley MMA.  He has trained not only fighters but also but members of our military and law enforcement as part of Hidden Valley's specialized seminars.  His goals are simple for his students “Be respectful to the art, train hard and work diligently on the fundamentals."  Originally, from a decorated wrestling background of over 20 years John is also one of Hidden Valley’s Ju-Jitsu instructors.  He actively competes as part of Hidden Valley’s Competition Team and holds numerous submission Grappling and Judo titles.  Currently, he holds a Purple Belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu under Professor Michael Hermosillo and Master Sylvio Behring.  Professionally, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and works as a Area Manager of Training in the pharmaceutical industry. He lives with his wife and their 4 children in Utah.

Titles and Competition Results

2012 *(NAGA=North American Grappling Association)
  • NAGA Utah Championships; September: No Gi Champion Belt winner; expert division; Silver Medal Gi; expert division
  • S7 Submission Only Tournament Utah Championships; August: Bronze Medal-NO-GI division
  • NAGA; Utah Championships; March: Bronze Medal No-GI
  • Utah Judo State Championships, Bronze medal

2011
  • Idaho Judo State Championships: Gold medal and State Champion; Silver medal in black belt division  
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships; November:  Silver Medal in No-Gi Division; Silver Medal in Gi Division
  • Northwest Submission Challenge, Idaho;September: Gold Medal Champion at 140 pounds; No Gi Division
  • Northwest Submission Challenge, Idaho; April: Gold Medal Champion at 130-150 pounds; No Gi-Division 
  • March: Silver Medal at 140 pounds; No Gi Division


2010-Injured 2010 (torn ACL in NAGA)


2009
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships September: Silver Medal No-Gi division
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships September: Gold Medal Champion at 140 pounds; Gi-Division 
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships March: Silver Medal at 140 pounds No-Gi Division 
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships March: Silver Medal at 150 pounds; Gi Division 
  • NAGA Las Vegas Championships Bronze Medal at 150 pounds; No-Gi division

Wrestling
-Reno Classic Champion 118 pounds


College Wrestling
-2 X University of Nevada Las Vegas Invitational Champion 142 pounds
-University of Nevada Las Vegas Invitational Silver Medal 142 pounds