Black Belt Biographies
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Hello my name is Sensei Jimmy Snowberger,
I’ve been studying Tae Kwon Do since 1991. I am a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Karate Do.
I also help teach Tae Kwon Do & Grappling at Snow’s.
I hold two world titles in Tae Kwon Do and I competed in Hawaii in the 2000 US National Martial Arts Teams World Class Championships. I hope to continue in my Martial Arts and some day be able to open my school. Before I got involved in Martial Arts I wrestled from the time I was 7 years old until I graduated from Delphi High School in 1989.
I started my Martial Arts training in June of 2000 with the want to get in shape and learn how to fight. Once I started I became hooked on the training. The class offered a wide variety of teachings through great instruction from Shihan Jim Snowberger with a family atmosphere, great learning environment, and competitive competition. I learned how and what it took to became a Martial Artist. I strived to achieve my belts and in achieving Brown belt, I began training as a Sempai (student teacher) learning to become a Black Belt. In July of 02 through a lot of learning, training, and hard work I made a great accomplishment achieving the rank of 1st degree Black Belt. I continued to train and began the next steps in furthering my education as a Sensei. In August of 05 tested and received my 2nd Degree Black Belt. I look forward to continuing my journey with Snow's and eventually testing for my 3rdDegree. I would like to begin training in a new style of Martial Arts Jujitsu, Judo, or possibly in some MMA being a big fan of the UFC. I want to continue to train and compete and possibly have a school of my own to teach my future children Martial Arts.
Sensei Randy Calvert
Hello my name is Sensei Joe Bryant,
The first person I can think of that was inspirational in my obsession with martial arts is my dad, he and I would stay up until wee hours of the morning watching Bruce Lee kick & punch his way through two dozen or more bad guys. When you are nine or ten years old your parents are the center of your world and everything that they say at that age is 100 % truth and when my dad said, Bruce Lee is the best martial artist alive and he had never seen any other martial artist as fast as Lee was well to me it was now written in stone that Bruce Lee was the best of the best!
I begged my parents to let me start taking martial arts classes and at that point in their lives they just didn’t have the money to start my training . So I did the next best thing a kid at my age could do I scanned the TV guide from week to week looking for any type of martial arts movies or anything having to do with martial arts so I could tune in.
2 children and give or take some 28 years later I met Grandmaster Jim Snowberger for the first time while taking my children to martial arts class. He was not your standard martial arts instructor his technique of making martial arts fun is what really sparked my interest again, so at age 37 I became a student at Snow’s Tae kwon Do & Karate Do. I can’t say it was easy going to class and working 3 on and 3 off 12 hour swing shifts but I managed and I can also say other than the extra time I spent as a white belt I never missed out on any of the promotions even with my schedule as it was back then. I received my 1st degree Black Belt on the 6th day of April 2008. I intend to continue my training in TKD and Karate Do to achieve the highest rank I can. I received my 2nd degree Black Belt on the 26th day of April 2009.
I am also currently studying grappling under the instruction of Mr. A.J. Demello and have achieved the rank of blue belt.
My name is Melissa DeMello. My maiden name is Frye. I was born in Winamac, Indiana. I graduated from Twin Lakes High School in 1989. I have three amazing kids and a wonderful husband of lOyrs. I began studying Martial Arts in Feb. of 2006. I am a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Karate Do. I also study grappling, currently holding the rank of blue-belt. I train in MMA and have been know to climb into the cage a time or two. Record of 2-0. I am not your average girl. I love to sweat, I love to train hard, I am extremely competitive, and I don't like being treated like a girl. I enjoy physical labor and my job provides plenty of that. I began studying Martial Arts under the direction of Jim & Kelli Snowberger. My son, Skylar, was my motivation and my inspiration. My desire to become a Martial Artist has always been present in my mind. I always feared being attacked and was always afraid of being alone. I also just really wanted and needed something to call "my own". Anyone who studies Martial Arts knows it is very addictive as well as contagious. In a very short period of time my entire family became involved at the dojo. I can't say enough about the strong bond that Martial Arts creates, as well as the foundation it builds and the everlasting friendships it helps to create. Earning my black-belt and fighting in the cage were great accomplishments for me, especially at the age of thirty-eight. Though I have competed in numerous tournaments, taken home lots of trophies and medals, even been named Indiana State Champ many times in several events, I feel my greatest moment in Martial Arts was the day I received my brown-belt and the title of Sempei, becoming a student teacher was huge to me. I enjoy teaching and I am very passionate in all aspects of teaching. I am very fortunate to instruct in TKD and Karate Do. I also am an instructor for P.R.I.D.E. under the direction of Shihan Kelli Snowberger, a program created for women and taught by women. The programs focus is to teach women how to protect themselves. I also assist my husband in teaching defensive tactics to local law-enforcement and I assist local law-enforcement with K-9 training. My future goal is to one day move to North Carolina and open my own gym called SMASH'S (Skylar, Melissa, AJ, Seth & Hope) I love to teach cardio and plan to teach all aspects of Martial Arts. Watching others grow is the most rewarding part of the Arts. I truly believe that Martial Art's is powerful. I believe that a family that sweats together, bleeds together, and sheds tears together, stays together. I am very blessed and thankful to all that love and support me in my journey. 
Snow's Black Belts
Jimmy Snowberger 3rd Dan 10/13/2007
Dwayne Harrison 1st Dan 02/05/2001
Ron Scowden 1st Dan 10/21/2001
Dwayne Harrison 2nd Dan 03/30/2003
Ron Scowden 2nd Dan 03/30/2003
Robin Lee 1st Dan 03/30/2003
David Cain 1st Dan 03/30/2003
Randy Calvert 1st Dan 07/19/2003
Robert Johns 1st Dan 09/11/2005
Randy Calvert 2nd Dan 10/02/2005
Jessie Capps 1st Dan 10/09/2005
Jim Ginn 1st Dan 11/12/2006
Vance Larimer 1st Dan 03/16/2008
Joe Bryant 1st Dan 04/26/2008
Bryan Larimer 1st Dan 12/18/2008
Lori Larimer 1st Dan 11/23/2008
Melissa Demello 1st Dan 01/18/2009
Vance Larimer 2nd Dan 03/22/2009
Joe Bryant 2nd Dan 04/20/2009
Tab Barnett 1st Dan 11/12/2009
