Biography for Lahong Guro Josh Leheny
Instructor for Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts - Inayan Systems West Palm Beach
I began my journey in martial arts during my high school education in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. I began training at a Jeet Kune Do Concepts school in 1998. It was at this school, that along with training in traditional Jun Fan Gung Fu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Western Boxing, I was first introduced to Inayan Eskrima through an instructor in Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay's ITO program.
At the time of Mangisursuro's passing in 2000, we as a school decided to have Inayan Eskrima be the primary focus of the school's curriculum and use other arts as supplementary tools. Our school became a satellite location of Inayan Systems International, following the teachings of the IBE (The Inayan Brotherhood of Eskrima, a core group of Senior Inayan Guros, each of whom helped form the Inner Circle under Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay). I realize now the importance of this decision and how much it has benefited and protected me as a Law Enforcement and Tactical Officer in South Florida.
I continued training through my college career from 2001 to 2005. This required me to travel hours back and forth from Penn State University to Pittsburgh for classes or to meet a Guro(Instrucor) who had traveled to train with us in Pittsburgh. This also included training with Tagapayo Cory Hanosh, one of Mangisursuro's original Guros. I also had the opportunity to travel to Knoxville, TN to train with another of Mangisursuro's original Guros, Tagaturo Steve Klement, as well as Lahong Guro Mike Klement, Guro Brad Hill, and Guro James Earles. During my time at Penn State University, I was tasked by Guro Joe Walls and Tagaturo Klement with perpetuating the art of Inayan Eskrima. I did this by starting a Filipino Martial Arts Group and developed as good relationship with the Filipino Society of Penn State who invited us to perform a demo at their yearly Barrio in 2004.
In 2005, I fulfilled another dream when I graduated college and was hired as a Law Enforcement Officer here in South Florida. I continued training and obtaining rank through traveling to Pittsburgh, California, and Tennessee. I also began teaching Inayan Eskrima to a small group here in the South Florida area under Masirib Guro Walls.
In June of 2008 Masirib Guro Joe Walls founded Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts also continues to be known as Inayan Systems Pittsburgh which is a part and major supporter of both Tagapayo Hanosh and Inayan Systems International.
Masirib Guro Walls gave me the opportunity and his blessings to start a larger training group here in Florida, trusting me with the responsibility of the day to day operations and instruction of students. Choosing to stay true to my roots Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts / Inayan Systems West Palm Beach was born. We are the only recognized Florida training location for Inayan Systems International which was founded by Tagapayo Cory Hanosh. In May of 2009 I was awarded the title of Inayan Katulong Guro by Tagapayo Cory Hanosh and Inayan Lahong Guro Joe Walls. On September 17, 2012 I was awarded the title of Inayan Katalungan Guro by Tagapayo Hanosh and Masirib Guro Walls. On October 10, 2014 I had the honor of being promoted to full Inayan Guro by Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Hanosh.
I am still, and will continue to be, a direct student under both Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Guro Hanosh. As a Florida Certified Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor I am coordinating with Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Hanosh to develop and establish Inayan Eskrima influenced Law Enforcement Tactics courses that are recognized and utilized by both Law Enforcement agencies and training centers. My goal is to give back to what has given me so much by perpetuating the art of Inayan Eskrima.
At the time of Mangisursuro's passing in 2000, we as a school decided to have Inayan Eskrima be the primary focus of the school's curriculum and use other arts as supplementary tools. Our school became a satellite location of Inayan Systems International, following the teachings of the IBE (The Inayan Brotherhood of Eskrima, a core group of Senior Inayan Guros, each of whom helped form the Inner Circle under Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay). I realize now the importance of this decision and how much it has benefited and protected me as a Law Enforcement and Tactical Officer in South Florida.
I continued training through my college career from 2001 to 2005. This required me to travel hours back and forth from Penn State University to Pittsburgh for classes or to meet a Guro(Instrucor) who had traveled to train with us in Pittsburgh. This also included training with Tagapayo Cory Hanosh, one of Mangisursuro's original Guros. I also had the opportunity to travel to Knoxville, TN to train with another of Mangisursuro's original Guros, Tagaturo Steve Klement, as well as Lahong Guro Mike Klement, Guro Brad Hill, and Guro James Earles. During my time at Penn State University, I was tasked by Guro Joe Walls and Tagaturo Klement with perpetuating the art of Inayan Eskrima. I did this by starting a Filipino Martial Arts Group and developed as good relationship with the Filipino Society of Penn State who invited us to perform a demo at their yearly Barrio in 2004.
In 2005, I fulfilled another dream when I graduated college and was hired as a Law Enforcement Officer here in South Florida. I continued training and obtaining rank through traveling to Pittsburgh, California, and Tennessee. I also began teaching Inayan Eskrima to a small group here in the South Florida area under Masirib Guro Walls.
In June of 2008 Masirib Guro Joe Walls founded Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts also continues to be known as Inayan Systems Pittsburgh which is a part and major supporter of both Tagapayo Hanosh and Inayan Systems International.
Masirib Guro Walls gave me the opportunity and his blessings to start a larger training group here in Florida, trusting me with the responsibility of the day to day operations and instruction of students. Choosing to stay true to my roots Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts / Inayan Systems West Palm Beach was born. We are the only recognized Florida training location for Inayan Systems International which was founded by Tagapayo Cory Hanosh. In May of 2009 I was awarded the title of Inayan Katulong Guro by Tagapayo Cory Hanosh and Inayan Lahong Guro Joe Walls. On September 17, 2012 I was awarded the title of Inayan Katalungan Guro by Tagapayo Hanosh and Masirib Guro Walls. On October 10, 2014 I had the honor of being promoted to full Inayan Guro by Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Hanosh.
I am still, and will continue to be, a direct student under both Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Guro Hanosh. As a Florida Certified Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor I am coordinating with Masirib Guro Walls and Tagapayo Hanosh to develop and establish Inayan Eskrima influenced Law Enforcement Tactics courses that are recognized and utilized by both Law Enforcement agencies and training centers. My goal is to give back to what has given me so much by perpetuating the art of Inayan Eskrima.
