In 1968 10 year old Don Gulla started boxing at the Auburn Elks Boxing Club. He quickly learned that hard training, with lots of sweat, paid off in the ring. He was undefeated as an amateur fighter.
This was the beginning of his 38 year journey in martial/combat arts training. He was part of the Washington State High School Wrestling and Judo Championship Team.
Black Belt Hall of Fame, Sensei Doug Graham was his High School Judo Coach. Don was State Judo Champ and Team Captain his senior year and a two time Junior Olympic Gold Medalist. This is when he first learned the importance of realistic training against someone who is really resisting.
While teaching Judo at a local Boys Club, he observed Ed Lewis’s Karate/Kung-Fu class and started training under Ed. He studied the Style of Yao Mun Nomad (New Organization of Martial Art and Defense), which also promoted a new concept of Kick Boxing, or Full Contact Karate. He reached Black Belt rankings in both Karate and Judo. He learned quickly that if you want to prevent injuries, you must train smart.
1979 Began Combat Arnis training with Qui Brocka and in 1980 competed in the first World Koushu Kung-Fu Championships in Hawaii.
1981-1984 Competed in Mr. Pacific Coast, Emerald Cup, and Northwest Natural Body Building Championships, placing 2nd.
1984 Hired by the King County Sheriff’s Office.
1985 Washington State TaeKwon-Do Black Belt Grand Champion, Sparring Division.
1985-2002 Competed in the CanAm Police and Fire Games, winning over 20 medals in Powerlifting, Judo, Submission Grappling, Karate, Full Contact Stick Fighting, Track and Field, Pistol Shooting, and Paintball.
1984-2006 Attended Instructor Level Classes conducted by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, receiving certification as Master Defensive Tactics Instructor, Riot Team Instructor, Advanced Firearms Instructor, and Master Taser Instructor.
1990-1997 Assigned to the Police Academy, teaching Criminal Investigations, Traffic Enforcement, Crisis Intervention, and Defensive Tactics.
1990 The birth of Arrestling. Began morning workouts with fellow Academy Instructor, Rob Bardsley. (See “What’s Arrestling”)
1995 Began training with the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, receiving his Blue Belt under Professor Marcelo Alonso.
1985-2002 Competed in the World Police and Fire Games, winning 4 Gold Medals, including defeating the Russian Police Karate Team in Sweden, 1999.
1997 Assigned to the SWAT Team as an Entry Team Member. He is part of the Tactical Training Unit, which is responsible for instructing deputies in Defensive Tactics, Active Shooter, Firearms, and in-service Taser Training.
1990 Goodwill Games Anti-Terrorist Unit.
1996 Atlanta Olympic Security Team, Athens.
2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Security Detail, assigned to Deer Valley and Park City.
1999 One of the primary Riot Team Trainers for the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Seattle. During the WTO Riots, assigned to a Tactical Response Team responsible for supporting Riot Teams, Dignitary Protection, National Guard Support, and Hostage/Officer Rescue.
2003 Assigned to SWAT Security Detail of Gary Ridgeway (Green River Killer), during plea and sentencing.
2006 Promoted to Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Carlson Gracie Jr.), under Professor Marcelo Alonso.
Promoted to Coach Level I in Combat Submission Wrestling under Erik Paulson. Promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt (Red/White) Shihan in Kyokushin Budokai Karate under Kaicho Jon Bluming, one of the Best All Around Fighters of All Time.
2007 Selected to teach Defensive Tactics to Russian Police Officers and Omon/SWAT Instructors at the Police Academy in Shakhalin Islands-Yuzhno, Russia
