Andrew T. Kodger is the Founder and Head Instructor of Individual Fighting Systems and a proud member of Return to Eden, a belief based on normalizing and naturalizing how we see oneself without shame, clothes, or hiding anything from the world.
He has previously served as the South Carolina Regional Coordinator for Paul Vunak’s Progressive Fighting Systems and is a proud founding RounTable Member of Universal Combatives Alliance. He has had over 20+ years of martial arts experience ranging in everything from Bujitsu and Kobudo to the more modern street effective systems of Jeet Kune Do, American Kenpo, and Gracie Jiu Jitsu. This long and varied history combined with overcoming limitations by having a mild form Cerebral Palsy has given him a unique opportunity to understand the needs of the individual. He had to seek out the best in the world and study intensely to understand the human body, the mind, and the tactics behind each art just to be able to progress in a functional way within their systems. This grants him to ability to create highly personalized programs that are uniquely suited to each student that graces the doors of IFS. Since being told to open a public school by his JKD/FMA Sifu/Goru Thomas C. Cruse; he has worked with hundreds of students ranging from Military to the paralyzed and blind. Eight-time national champion and two-time self-defense champion Sifu Jody Sasaki once said that he (Andrew) “has the best grasp of the tactics, theories and philosophies behind the techniques than anyone else I know”. He has worked with Relson Gracie. Sifu Lamar Davis II, Carlos Valente, Helio Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Thomas C. Cruse, Tony Blauer, and many more.
Beyond his extensive and distinguished martial arts pedigree you will find a man who’s number one belief is that each student is family. He built IFS as a place where people could come not only to learn to defend themselves but learn about themselves and find a home in a warm environment where everyone truly cares about each other.
Andrew regularly holds get-togethers with his students where they watch UFC or go to movies; each student is welcome to call him day or night if they have a problem. Family and loyalty are his driving motivations for structuring IFS. He believes that his school while being loyal to its lineage and associations is about more than styles or affiliations, it is about seeing each person grow into the best they can be and being the best version of themselves as possible.
The following is not a list of Ranks, or an extensive complete list of my Training merely a highlight reel of the arts and Instructors that helped shape the Curriculum I now offer
1992 – 1998 Kobudo Vincent Moore
1992 – 1996 Combat Karate John Taylor
1996 – 2000, 2003-2004 Kumiuchi JiuJitsu Brian Childress, Drew Walters,
Ryan Walters
(Aug) 1996 – (May) 1997 Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Ryan Walters
(Jun) 1997 – (Jan) 1998 Jeet Kune Do Drew Walters
(Sep) 1997 – present Jeet Kune Do Thomas C. Cruse
Filipino Martial Arts
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1997 – 1998 Chinese Kenpo Charles Powers
1998 – 2002 American Kenpo Jody Sasaki
2004 – 2005 American Kenpo Rick Brumby
2004 – 2009 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Carlos Valente, Jorge Borras
(Mar) 2009 – present Gracie Jiu Jitsu Relson Gracie, Andre Derizans
(Apr) 2010 – present Wing Chun Jason Korol
2011 – 2015 American Kenpo/MKK Jay Wilson Creel
20-17- Present Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD/FMA/Silat Ron Ballicki
1996 – present Various seminars and training in weapons training, JKD, and BJJ with:
Lamar Davis II
Dan Inosanto
Rickson Gracie
Helio Gracie
Ted Wong
“Judo” Gene LaBelle
Relson Gracie
and more
