Dave Nicchitta

Dave Nicchitta has been training in the martial arts since 1999 . Dave trains members in multiple disciplines including Shin Gi Tai Jujitsu, Combative Self Defense, Muay Thai, traditional boxing, grappling, and risk assessment. Dave has personally trained with Tim Larkin, the founder of Target- Focus Training who has provided hand-to-hand and weapon instruction to the most elite members of various military, law enforcement, and corporate special operations/security units. Dave has received training from Parker Maurer, owner of Maurer Personal Safety Strategies which specializes in personal threat management / risk aversion and unarmed physical protective measures; John Ingallina who is the Chief Instructor at the United Martial Arts Center in Brighton and who has over 27 years of experience in martial arts covering multiple disciplines; and, John Saylor, the founder of Shingi Tai Jujitsu and former coach of the U.S. National Training Squad at the Olympic Training Center. Dave has also attended several introductory classes in Kapap, an Israeli fighting system, instructed by Avi Nardia as well as introductory classes in SYSTEMA, a Russian Martial Art. Training includes: hand to hand combat, grappling, and knife fighting.

Since 2004, Dave has been involved in the instruction of women’s self defense and rape prevention classes and has instructed women from all walks of life including students at Mercy High School, Spencerport High School and St. John Fisher College.

Dave has received extensive law enforcement training in both armed and unarmed combat. While attending both the Police Academy and Court Bureau Academy, Dave’s martial arts skill helped him become a 2 time winner of the Instructor’s Award for Defensive Tactics which is awarded for high academic achievement, outstanding classroom performance and an unfailing display of the “Fighting Spirit”. Dave is currently a DCJS Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Dave has previously provided personal security for the Monroe County Executive and has worked as a member of the Airport Security Unit. Dave has also been involved with public and private security details to ensure the safety of several high profile individuals. He worked closely with secret service agents on Rev. Franklin Graham’s advance security team during his recent visit to Rochester, and most recently, was part of Abby Wambach’s personal security team during her recent Team USA women’s soccer team visit to Rochester.

Dave’s extensive training back ground and experience make him one of the most sought after practical self defense instructors in the area.

Pam Wright

Instructor Pam Wright has a 30 year background in teaching fitness and almost 20 years teaching the martial arts to both children and adults. Pam holds a 4th degree black belt in Karate and an advanced brown belt in Jujitsu.  She brings her extensive experience to one of our newer programs, Core 4 Fitness.  Core 4 Fitness is a program for teens with ASD which helps them improve their overall core strength, balance, coordination and social skills.  Pam is also involved in teaching the younger kids with ASD in Jujitsu Buddies program. “I love helping children and teens explore their limits through physical fitness and games. Strike Back Martial Arts is the perfect place for that."  

Andrey Hardy

Andrey began studying aikido and karate in 1992. He started training Shin Gi Tai Jujitsu in 2012, earning the rank of first degree black belt in 2017. He has also studied boxing and Muay Thai, and holds a Level 1 certification in Functional Self-Protection, a personal safety program based on Target Focus Training. He uses this functional training to co-instruct women’s self protection seminars. Andrey is an all-ages instructor and focuses on students developing body awareness and the ability to be effective in both stand-up and ground situations.

Jason Voelkl

Jay started training Shin Gi Tai Jujitsu in 2011, earning his first degree black belt in 2019. He has also had introductory-level training in Gracie Brazilian Jujitsu as well as Kapap, an Israeli fighting system instructed by Avi Nardia. Jay holds a Level 1 certification in Functional Self-Protection, a personal safety program designed by Tim Larkin, and is a co-instructor in women's self protection seminars based on the teachings Larkin's Functional Self-Protection. Jay works with students of all age ranges, but focuses primarily on instructing teenagers and young adults.