Ivo started his Martial Arts studies at the age of eight in 1989. After seeing his first Bruce Lee movie (Enter the Dragon) his older brother Uno (Kruno) and him decided to ask their father if they could learn to fight like Bruce (a similar story for many martial artists).   They were sent to a local Karate Club which was in Ljubljana/Slovenia. The first style they learnt was Shotokan Karate in the Yugoslavian Karate Federation. Ivo received his Black Belt in Shotokan and his 1.Kyu Brown Belt in Shorinryu Karate.   Then his family moved to Munich in Germany where he had a much wider choice of martial arts than in Slovenia. There he trained Muay Thai, Boxing and Kick Boxing. By a coincidence he came in contact with Wing Chun/WT and then he came into contact with Escrima. In 1998 Ivo began his intensive Wing Tsun studies and just half a year later he also studied Escrima.

Ivo reached the Wing Tsun level of 4th TG and was preparing for his long Master training in WT but decided to dedicate himself to family, work and Escrima Concepts as time constraints developed and his passion was now aimed at Escrima Concepts. After meeting Master Steve the first time in 2000 Ivo noticed that his Escrima was not the same Escrima he previously studied – this was Escrima Concepts – as taught by Master Steve’s thirty years of knowledge in weapons and varied experiences. Ivo fell in “Love” with the “Efficiency” of Escrima Concepts that impressed him very much and still does.   What is so unbelievable and unique about Escrima Concepts is that it is adaptable to many styles. The basics of Escrima Concepts are the basics of EVERY MARTIAL ART!   Basic understanding of the body mechanics (yours and your opponents) is just as important as the understanding what each weapon can do to you as well as how to keep the balance while fighting and being able to move. The established and progressive syllabus prepares the students for the next programs as well as it prepares them for the situations that might happen “outside” the schools environment immediately. The unarmed drills that teach everyone how to move with purpose and safety for weapon training are intentionally designed to improve student’s movement, confidence and give them fun that prepares them for strategy - a very unique offering at early level training.

From that day on Ivo decided that he would never miss an opportunity to visit Master Steve’s seminars or special trainings if his time and budget would allow him to travel all over Europe to train and support him.   The way Master Steve teaches how he looks at the students and how he always knows when to correct their mistakes with several options is inimitable. He would never leave without letting people know they actually learned something good and useful!   Through all his travelling Ivo has met many nice people and has won many friends all over Europe which resulted in him joining the World Martial Arts Alliance in 2002. Ivo works closely with Master Steve Tappin his son Wayne and also Nic Osei, who have invested a lot of time in explaining the difference between the styles and filling the gaps. Nic has affected Ivo’s Escrima Concepts very much by taking the time to show the correct movements, explaining each one of them, connect them with the concepts and more importantly practiced them with him.    This moved Ivo to support Escrima Concepts and Master Steve as much as he could.   Ivo has run two successful clubs in Munich before he moved to Amsterdam in November 2005 where he still lives. He organises on a regular basis seminars in Munich with Master Steve Tappin, Wayne Tappin, and Nic Osei with the support of his local friends and family there. He would like to thank all of them for the great cooperation and the support. In the future we will also work closer with our friend Robert “Bobby” Sundel who will help us with our BJJ and submission.            Special thanks from Ivo go to:   Master Steve Tappin who is not just a teacher (and friend) but also more than a mentor. He has helped me a lot in difficult situations and gave me back my love of Martial Arts and to people behind it. Don’t need to mention the training and all of that….. And the English humour!   His son Wayne, for all the support in the training sessions and seminars and good laughs.   Nic Osei, for being the first one messing my head up (and I mean messing up!) all the support in training, seminars, phone calls and all the fun. Thanks!   Thanks also go to Sifu Benno, Peter and Pele for making me welcome in Holland and to my Bro Uno for supporting me to go on. He paid most of the bills ;-). My Family! Always there for me.   All the Escrima Concepts members in Europe. Thanks for making it so comfortable by just being yourselves!