Mr. Lessei is the owner and Chief Instructor of the Dubuque Martial Arts Group located in Dubuque Iowa. D.M.A.G. has been in operation since 1990. Dean began his formal martial arts training back in 1982 with Tae Kwon Do. His first exposure to the Filipino Martial arts came by training at a seminar with Tom Sipin in Doce Pares around 1985. Eventually his close friend and training partner Tim Mousel introduced Dean to Sifu Rick Faye late in 1986. From then on Dean began attending seminars and training camps as well as making trips to Minneapolis to train under Rick Faye.
Through hard work and determination Mr. Lessei achieved instructor credentials in Jun Fan Martial Arts, Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, and Jun Fan / JKD Grappling. Dean also ventured out on the competitive level in Muay Thai and Kickboxing becoming a 3 time T.B.C. heavyweight champion. Additionally Dean is a 2 time W.E.K.A.F. national champion in full contact Escrima.
In the past several years Mr. Lessei has been busy training his students producing several regional, national, North American and world champions in Muay Thai and Kickboxing under the International Kickboxing Federation and the Thaiboxing Association Sanctioning Authority. Dean also has produced many regional and national champions as well as world medal winners in full contact Escrima in W.E.K.A.F. events.
Dean's focus has been in working with the younger generation developing the "juniors" at his gym. He also continues to teach around the Midwest through seminars and camps on women's self defense, Muay Thai and Kickboxing, Kali and Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do. In addition to being a martial artist and school owner, Dean is a husband to his beautiful wife Danielle, father to his wonderful children Savannah, Luke and Brooke and works full time as a designer of light gauge steel and wood roof and floor trusses. Dean has an extensive background in computer aided design and is a journeyman tool and die mold maker as well.
• Martial Arts Certifications:
o Associate Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto - Jun Fan Martial Arts
o Associate Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto - Filipino Martial Arts
o Full Instructor under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute - Thai Boxing
o Full Instructor under Sifu Larry Hartsell - Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do Grappling
o Instructor Level 1 under Sifu Rick Faye - Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Kali
o Instructor / Black Belt under Tim Mousel
• Additional Ranks Held:
o Brown Belt under Sensei Terry Smith - Judo
o Brown Belt under Lee Merrick - Tae Kwon Do
• Professional Experience:
o Owner / Chief Instructor Dubuque Martial Arts Group, Dubuque, IA 1990-Present
o Head Coach / Trainer Team Singto Muay Thai Kickboxing 1995-Present
o Director Thai Boxing Association of the USA for the state of Iowa 1991-Present
o Certified Official and Representative Thai Boxing Association Sanctioning Authority
o Muay Thai Representative International Kickboxing Federation Advisory Board 2002-present
o Certified Referee World Escrima Kali Arnis Federation
o Certified Judge, Coach, Trainer IKF, International Kickboxing Federation
Through hard work and determination Mr. Lessei achieved instructor credentials in Jun Fan Martial Arts, Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, and Jun Fan / JKD Grappling. Dean also ventured out on the competitive level in Muay Thai and Kickboxing becoming a 3 time T.B.C. heavyweight champion. Additionally Dean is a 2 time W.E.K.A.F. national champion in full contact Escrima.
In the past several years Mr. Lessei has been busy training his students producing several regional, national, North American and world champions in Muay Thai and Kickboxing under the International Kickboxing Federation and the Thaiboxing Association Sanctioning Authority. Dean also has produced many regional and national champions as well as world medal winners in full contact Escrima in W.E.K.A.F. events.
Dean's focus has been in working with the younger generation developing the "juniors" at his gym. He also continues to teach around the Midwest through seminars and camps on women's self defense, Muay Thai and Kickboxing, Kali and Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do. In addition to being a martial artist and school owner, Dean is a husband to his beautiful wife Danielle, father to his wonderful children Savannah, Luke and Brooke and works full time as a designer of light gauge steel and wood roof and floor trusses. Dean has an extensive background in computer aided design and is a journeyman tool and die mold maker as well.
• Martial Arts Certifications:
o Associate Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto - Jun Fan Martial Arts
o Associate Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto - Filipino Martial Arts
o Full Instructor under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute - Thai Boxing
o Full Instructor under Sifu Larry Hartsell - Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do Grappling
o Instructor Level 1 under Sifu Rick Faye - Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Kali
o Instructor / Black Belt under Tim Mousel
• Additional Ranks Held:
o Brown Belt under Sensei Terry Smith - Judo
o Brown Belt under Lee Merrick - Tae Kwon Do
• Professional Experience:
o Owner / Chief Instructor Dubuque Martial Arts Group, Dubuque, IA 1990-Present
o Head Coach / Trainer Team Singto Muay Thai Kickboxing 1995-Present
o Director Thai Boxing Association of the USA for the state of Iowa 1991-Present
o Certified Official and Representative Thai Boxing Association Sanctioning Authority
o Muay Thai Representative International Kickboxing Federation Advisory Board 2002-present
o Certified Referee World Escrima Kali Arnis Federation
o Certified Judge, Coach, Trainer IKF, International Kickboxing Federation
Sifu Dean Lessei
