MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
Charles Cherry
Head Instructor
Professor Charles Cherry (we affectionately refer to him as "Coach") is a lifelong martial artist who has studied multiple martial art disciplines over 40 years. His passion is teaching effective self defense while also building confidence in his students. His early martial arts backgrounds include Wing Chun kung fu, Tang Soo Do, Shito Ryu Karate, Western Boxing, Wrestling, and Muay Thai. Coach Cherry is an International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) 3rd Degree Black Belt. He holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Kodokan Judo. Coach Cherry wrestled for a Division II college in Virginia and wrestled Freestyle while enlisted in the U.S. Army. Coach Cherry holds ranks in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing from Duke Roufus, and he is a certified Krav Maga instructor. In addition to his impressive competition record, he was the head coach for the Bowie Boys and Girls Wrestling team for 10 years. He was also an assistant wrestling coach at St. John's Catholic High School in Washington D.C.. Coach Cherry has trained numerous wrestling , BJJ, and MMA champions.
Professor Cherry is a retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer with over 28 years of law enforcement experience. He has trained federal agents for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Marshal Service on Firearms , Defensive Tactics, Active Shooter Threats, and Use of Force. Coach Cherry is currently certified by the Maryland State Police to teach Handgun Qualification and Concealed Carry to Maryland residents.
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Professor Cherry has an Undergraduate and Masters Degree in Business and a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Organizational Behavior Management. He is currently finishing another Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis.
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Professor Cherry is the author of "Bully Proofing your Child" and he is a recent inductee into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Quenton King
Head Instructor
Quenton "Q" King is a Certified Krav Maga instructor, personal trainer, group exercise instructor, and kickboxing instructor. Coach Q received his B.S. in Communications with a minor in Sociology from Appalachian University. Utilizing his experience as a professional athlete, Coach Q served as coach for Bowie Boys and Girls Club's wrestling and football program for 14 years. Coach Q has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to athletic performance.
Check out some of his great reviews:
"I have awesome workouts at Bowie MMA! The instructors (Quenton) are excellent. They provide accommodations for some exercises which motivates those on different levels to keep moving. The workout is intense and worth it. After 5 sessions, I lost 8 pounds - I am definitely becoming a member!"
"Krav Maga class is awesome and I can't wait to go back. Best workout I have had in a while and it was very informative. Great sparring and instructors were very knowledgeable. Going back this Saturday and I will keep going."
"What a wonderful experience! Cardio kickboxing works out your entire body, nothing like anything I have ever tried before. Along with great music and a great step by step instructor, you are in for a great workout! Try it out for yourself. Shout out to Q for leading such a great class!!"
Coach DJ
Kids BJJ Instructor
David "DJ" Jennings was introduced to martial arts at the age of 7. Growing up with ADHD/ADD and getting into fights and dealing with bullies, his parents decided to put him into Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art based on karate. After 6 years at 12 years old, he earned his black belt and started his path into teaching as well as learning what he wanted to focus on which mainly at that age was fighting, sparring. They did throws from Judo and Japanese Jiu Jitsu with finishes incorporating the grappling arts into the curriculum for self-defense with continuous sparring and point sparring as focuses for the stand up.
Later he would meet two very important people on the Sunday ground fighting class, Carlos Catania and Charles Cherry. Along with other Judo, wrestlers, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners, he was able to start unknowingly into his journey into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from those Sundays after finishing private lessons.
When Charles and Carlos opened their gym for the first time as Bowie MMA (Bellicose Martial Arts), DJ was one of the first students on opening day. DJ has worked majority with kids of all ages through various jobs most his life - from daycare, to self-defense programs, to working one-on-one with clients with the Maryland autism waiver - DJ brings his experiences with teaching on and off the mats from various environments and classrooms onto the mats for the kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Coach Z
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Zalika Pringle is a black belt certified with the World Tae Kwon Do Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo Chang Moo Kwan Federation. As an educator, Zalika found her passion for sharing knowledfe and uplifting others, seeking a solution tio increasing tension and fears about safety within the community. She approaches self-defense from a self/inner healing perspective, bringing the importance of inner strength and balance to the teaching of self-defense techniques. Tapping into her knowledge as a martial arts instructor, physical education teacher and community event planner for 10+ years to guide students in fun and effecive training.
Coach Beau
Self-Defense Instructor
Beau Perrizo's 30+ year martial arts journey began in Southern Maryland with taekwondo during the early 1990s. In 1998, he was introduced to Japanese Jujitsu by Sean McBroom, from whom he later received a black belt in the early 2000s. Beau competed in numerous amateur AAU Jujitsu and Judo tournaments, placing in both state and national championships.
After receiving a black belt, Beau began teaching and coaching Japanese Jujitsu and self-defense in Southern Maryland. In 2006, Beau took a professional Mixed Martial Arts fight, defeating his opponent by TKO in the second round. Later that same year, Beau began a career in law enforcement, where he subsequently trained police officers in defensive tactic and control techniques.
Since 2006, Beau has continued to teach Japanese Jujitsu. as well as train in related disciplines such as Judo, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, leading him to join Bellicose Martial Arts in 2020. Beau currently holds a 5th Degree Black Belt (Godan) in Japanese Jujitsu and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Charles Cherry.
Professor Carlos David
Guest Instructor - BJJ
Carlos David Oliviera is a fifth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary 2 time world champion Roberto "The Spider" Traven. He is also a professional MMA fighter and founder of Evolution Fight Team. Carlos David teaches the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Richmond, Virginia.