Biography - Tom Ballinger

Sensei Tom Ballinger began his martial training, at the age of 5 studying under Sensei Sloan, in what he called Aikido/Karate.  He trained with Sensei Sloan until his untimely death when Sensei Tom was Seventeen.  Later Sensei Tom learned that what Sensei Sloan was teaching could better be described as jujitsu with the army hand to hand combat thrown in, rather than Aikido.  After Graduating high school, Sensei Tom went off to college and started training in Won Hop Loong Chuan, under Sifu McGlade, Sensei Bostick and Sempia Tran.  During a short break from college Sensei Tom studied Tae Kwon Do attaining the rank of Green Belt before returning to college full time.  After graduating from Texas A & M University with a Bachelors degree in Information Technology, Sensei Tom studied various martial arts all over the country while traveling for his job, when he arrived in a city he would look up the dojos that were close by and try and train at a couple of them during the time he was in the town. 

In early 2000 Sensei Tom was finally able to start studying Kenpo, a martial art he had been fascinated with after seeing the movie The Perfect Weapon.  He apprenticed under Sensei Mike Vaughn, earning the rank of Shodan.  It was during this time that Sensei Tom was introduced to Shihan Chamberlain. After attending a couple New Years Day Workouts and a few classes, Sensei Tom realized that Shihan Chamberlain was the Master he wanted to train under and soon after was accepted as one of Shihan's students.  In 2006 Sensei Tom was promoted to the rank of Nidan, by Shihan Chamberlain and granted the title of Sensei.   He continues to train with Shihan Chamberlain and hopes to find a style to cross train in, in the near future.  In the summer of 2008 Sensei Tom began teaching at the Highland Park Dojo as an instructor for Shihan Chamberlain and enjoys working with the kids and passing along the knowledge he has gained over the years.  In 2009 he was promoted to Sandan.

Sensei Tom is an avid lover of his wife, dogs, and was blessed with the birth of his Daughter Katelin Rose in 2008.  He spends his time off trying to keep her and the dogs out of trouble.